At the various inspections, a wealth of data is collected through the scoring of horses. Breeders receive information about their horse via the linear scoring form. Recently, several new elements have been added to this form. In the evaluation of show jumpers, two new elements have been included, while for dressage and Gelder horses, seven new elements have been added.

For dressage and Gelder horses, the walk is now assessed in more detail. In addition to space and correctness, the purity of the walk is now also evaluated—irregularities such as short-long steps can be marked as a fault. Furthermore, the strength, activity, and suppleness of the walk have been added to the form.

More targeted breeding

A good walk involves more than just space and correctness. The KWPN aims to provide a comprehensive overview of what constitutes a good walk, so breeders can clearly see the strong points and where there is room for improvement. This enables more targeted efforts to improve the walk in future breeding.

Adjustability

Adjustability is now included in the trot and canter. For dressage and Gelder horses, adjustability is scored in both the trot and canter. For show jumpers, only adjustability in the canter is assessed.

Advantage in sport

As the level in show jumping or dressage increases, adjustability becomes increasingly important. A horse that maintains posture and balance while collecting on the hindleg and continues to use its body correctly, will always have an advantage over a horse that cannot lengthen or shorten its stride effectively from the hindquarters.

Tail carriage

Tail carriage is now included in the evaluation for show jumpers, dressage, and Gelder horses. At inspections, a crooked or poorly carried tail can be marked as a deviation on the score form. Tail carriage provides valuable insight into a horse’s functionality, symmetry, and freedom of movement. While it was previously considered in the overall impression, it was not yet a structural part of the score form. By including it in the scoring and recording it systematically, patterns can be identified and connections made over time with other observations, such as movement or conformation abnormalities.

No impact on final evaluation

The additions to the linear score form do not influence the overall evaluation in the upper section of the form. Horses will not be judged differently this inspection season than in previous years. In addition to informing breeders, the collection of this data serves a broader purpose. Once enough data has been gathered over several years, the genetic profile for these traits can be expanded. Eventually, this can be linked to a horse’s career development or health, contributing to a better understanding of the relationship between certain traits and performance.

Text: KWPN

Photo: Sandra Karman