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SPORTS PONY STUDBOOK SOCIETY A DEFRA approved Passport Issuing Organisation Studbook Office: The Last House, Keysoe Row West, Keysoe, Bedfordshire MK44 2JJ Tel: 07703 566066 Email: |
| Note that the SPSS Office relocated in April 2014 and the contact details at the top of the page should now be used for all contact with the SPSS | ||||
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2021 SPSS eGradings |
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Click here to jump to Entry Information
Planning is now underway for a blended approach to SPSS Gradings in 2021.
We anticipate running full in-person stallion & mare gradings at a
limited number of venues in August (COVID restrictions & God willing!)
We will once again be offering virtual Stallion Pre-assessment as an
option this year and online Mare eGradings will also be possible over
the summer.
SPSS Youngstock Evaluations will be conducted, as for the previous two
years, alongside the British Breeding Futurity evaluation series. So now
all we need are fair winds and following seas! Stallions can
either be entered directly for "in-person" grading or be presented for a pre-grading virtual assessment “eAssessment” that,
should they pass, will allow them to cover as interim stallions for
2021/2022 and issue SPSS Covering Certificates for this period. They
will be then be required to be presented at a full SPSS stallion grading
in 2021 or 2022. Read more about the Stallion Grading Pathway etc here. Mares can be
presented for entered directly for "in-person" grading or for “eGrading”.
Both "in-person" and eGrading" give permanent graded status into
the appropriate Mare Studbook depending on their score and completeness
of pedigree. Read more here. Note that it is unlikely that SPSS Mare Performance Testing
will take place in 2021. Youngstock
which are evaluated through the British Breeding “Virtual Futurity”
(which is also being done via video clips) and are SPSS passported or
overstamped will also be eligible for an SPSS Premium, based on their
Futurity Evaluation score. The scores of all eligible youngstock will be
taken forward to the SPSS end of year awards which we anticipate will
include a Youngstock Champion and Reserve Champion, as well as rosettes
for the top scorer in various categories. Should any SPSS passported
pony/horse not be eligible for the Futurity due to their requirement for
the sire to be licensed then please contact us directly as we will
endeavour to facilitate their assessment. Read more
here. There’s a
summary of the video requirements for anyone wanting to present a
stallion for eAssessment or a mare for eGrading here. Entry Window - "In-person"
events - TBD once event dates known "Virtual"
grading/eAssessment - 1st July - end 2021 for virtual but note that only mares for which all stages of eGrading
have been completed by 1st November will be eligible for the 2021 Mare
Grading Championships.
Anticipated judges:
Hans-Heinrich Bruening & Jacke Mathieson
If you have any questions or queries, please call the SPSS Studbook Office on 07703 566066 |
Jump to:
More about:
Rosettes and Sashes waiting to be posted to the top youngstock and mares in 2020
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Meeting the challenge of 2021 in association with the British Breeding Futurity |
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Stallion Grading
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STALLION GRADING PATHWAY
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eAssessment Process
Stallions can be presented for a pre-grading virtual assessment that, should they be assessed by the SPSS as acceptable, will allow them to cover as interim stallions for 2021/2022 and issue SPSS Covering Certificates for this period. They will be then be required to be presented at a full SPSS stallion grading in 2021 or 2022.
Entry for eAssessment will be any time in 2021. Please send your video(s) showing conformation and paces (correctness and athleticism), completed entry form, membership application/renewal form (if not a current member) and scans/clear photos of the pedigree & other key pages in the passport to us via WeTransfer (wetransfer.com). The fees due can be paid either by bank transfer (details on forms) or by posting a cheque. Once all the necessary information has been received and the fee has been paid, there are 3 stages to acceptance.
Notes:
Stallion 2021/2 Grading Entry Fee (including 2021 eAssessment if done)
Note that:
We hope that Hans-Heinrich Brüning & Jacke Mathieson will be the judges for the 2021 Stallion Gradings. |
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Mare Gradings | |
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Mares can be presented for entered directly for "in-person" grading or for “eGrading”. Both "in-person" and eGrading" give permanent graded status into the appropriate Mare Studbook depending on their score and completeness of pedigree. Read more here. Note that it is possible that SPSS Mare Performance Testing will take place in 2021.
"In-person" Grading
For 2021, following the success of this route in 2019, British Breeding Futurity have kindly agreed to allow SPSS Mare Grading at all their 2021 evaluation events. This opportunity is open to barren mares (of any age) as well as mares with foals entered for the Futurity. All mares MUST meet the Futurity equine influenza vaccination requirements (see their website here). See the Info & FAQ page Grading section for more about what happens on the day including turnout and preparation.
We are currently awaiting dates from the British Breeding team. |
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eGrading
Entry will be anytime before mid October 2021 (to ensure entrant eligible for 2021 Mare Grading Championship); later entries will be allowed but won'd be eligible for the championships. Please send your video(s) showing conformation and paces (correctness and athleticism), completed entry form, membership application/renewal form (if not a current member) and scans/clear photos of the pedigree & other key pages in the passport to us via WeTransfer (wetransfer.com). The fees due can be paid either by bank transfer (details on forms) or by posting a cheque. Once all the necessary information has been received and the fee has been paid, there are 3 stages to acceptance.
The scores of all mares for whom Stage 3 has been completed will be taken forward to the SPSS end of year awards where, as long as at least 5 mares have been graded, the 2021 Mare Grading Champion and Reserve Champion will be declared (based on scores received). Should 10 or more mares be graded then regional groups (of at least 5 mares) will be formed and Regional Champions & Reserve Champions be declared with the top mare overall being the Supreme Mare Champion.
Mare Grading Entry Fee (eGrading or In-person)
N.B. Owners need to be paid up SPSS Members to make a Mare Grading entry.
Note that it is unlikely that SPSS Mare Performance Testing will take place in 2021.
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Video Requirements
What do I need to do?
The online entry system will open on 1st July 2021 and run for two months. This means that if you have several ponies you would like to enter, you can spread them out a bit, making it more manageable for you.
You will start your entry online through the British Breeding Futurity portal which will have the option to do a Studbook eGrading/eAssessment alongside or instead of a Virtual Futurity entry. At the end of the entry process, you will be asked to submit your video files online. There are links to example videos on our website for you with some useful hints and tips to show you what to watch out for. We will then invoice you directly and then, once our judges have viewed your mare/stallion’s videos, we will contact you with the result.
Your mare or stallion will not be assessed on the quality of the video footage or your editing skills, so keep it simple, and don’t worry, videos taken on a smart phone or tablet are perfectly suitable for this. Equally, you can use any type of arena or other surface you have available. If you don’t have an arena, a straight bit of paddock is absolutely fine, as long as the grass is nice and short.
Above all, please ensure you stay safe and adhere to the latest government guidelines including maintaining appropriate social distancing. We have designed this year’s approach with that in mind.
The first section of videos will cover the conformation assessment. For this, you need some hard standing, and a straight bit long enough to show as few steps of walk and trot. You will show your pony standing up and then in hand walking and trotting away from and towards the camera. When your pony is stood, please include footage of both sides from side on as well as from the front and back (from the top of the hindquarters all the way down).
The second section of videos will cover the walk, trot and canter assessment. Loose jumping MUST NOT be included. You will need to get some footage of your pony on both reins in all three gaits. Try and get as much footage side on as possible, as this makes it easiest to assess. For this part, you can use a fenced arena if you have one available, but if not, a flat paddock with short grass is equally fine. Think about the practicalities of having to catch your pony in a large field, and choose one that is not too big, with good, safe fencing. Please avoid anywhere with long grass or tall weeds (or get them mowed first!), as this will obscure parts of the movement.
The walk is usually best shown in hand, make sure you take long and active strides, as this will encourage your youngster to do the same. The trot can be shown loose or in hand, or you can opt for a combination of the two. The canter will need to be shown loose. Ideally, please show at least a 20m circle of walk in hand and 20m circle of trot in hand, then a decent length of video of your mare free in trot and canter on both reins.
Happy Filming! If you have any questions or want some further advice, we are only every a phone call away, so do not hesitate to get in touch - plus we have included links to sample videos below: |
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Video of whole process - here Standing your equine up - here We wish to thank the British Breeding Futurity team for their support with our eGrading and eAssessments and we hope that our breeders will also enter their foals for the Virtual Futurity |
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Entry Portal - for Stalllion eAssesment or
Mare eGrading
Stallion eAssessments can be done at anytime in the year. Mare eGrading entries will open on the 1st July and will remain open until the end of the year.
Once we have venues and dates for the "in person" events, we will open entries for those too.
Download the entry forms here once available.... |
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Please send your video(s) showing conformation and paces (correctness and athleticism), completed entry form, membership application/renewal form (if not a current member) and scans/clear photos of the pedigree & other key pages in the passport to us via WeTransfer (wetransfer.com). The fees due can be paid either by bank transfer (details on forms) or by posting a cheque.
Once the entry has been made via WeTransfer, the videos uploaded will be checked then once we have the payment and all information that we require your entry will proceed to the judging phase.
Only members can enter stallions & mares for eAssessment/eGrading - if you want to join ahead of entry, here is the form, but it's fine to enter as a non-member and we will just add the membership fee to the invoice.
Youngstock Evaluations are open to non-members
Stallion 2021 eAssessment and 2021/2 Grading Entry Fee
Note that:
Mare Grading/eGrading Entry Fee
N.B. Owners need to be paid up SPSS Members to make a Stallion eAssessment or Mare eGrading entry.
Youngstock Evaluation Fee £10 for passported or overstamped youngstock evaluated through the Virtual Futurity (free for foals passported SPSS by 1st October) There is a discount for multiple youngstock owned by a current SPSS member with the fee reducing to £8 each for 2 youngstock and £5 each for 3 or more youngstock.
Entries for in-person events will be around 2 weeks before the event; for virtual eGrading/eAssessment, entries close at the end of 2021 but note that only mares for which all stages of eGrading have been completed by 1st November will be eligible for the 2021 Mare Grading Championships.
The latest SPSS Rule book can be download here.
As the video footage is required at the point of entry, there is no anticipated reason for withdrawing; hence, it is unlikely that there would be a refund for anyone withdrawing their pony from the process once the entry has been made.
For more information about the 2021 Gradings & eAssessments or the video requirements please follow the links at the top of the page.
The judges for the 2021 Gradings/eAssessments are anticipated to be Herr Hans-Heinrich Brüning and Mrs Jacke Mathieson.
Hans-Heinrich is a well known German judge and breeder of Hannovarian dressage and jumping horses at his family farm, Hof Brüning, which is well-known for its solid preparation work of horses for licensings, mare shows, stallion and mare performance tests as well as auctions, shows and championships. Hans-Heinrich has judged at the SPSS mare and stallion gradings since 2010.
Jacke Mathieson is a breeder of warmblood horses and sports ponies. She owns the warmblood Wolkenderry and competes him and his progeny in dressage. Jacke also imported the SPSS graded pony Classic's Charmeur who initially stood at stud with her before being sold to a young rider, with whom Classic's Charmeur has competed at FEI Pony level internationally. Jacke has been SPSS Chairman and judged SPSS Gradings & Evaluations since 2014.
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The Sports Pony Studbook Society Studbook Office: The Last House, Keysoe Row West, Keysoe, Bedfordshire MK44 2JJ Tel: 07703 566066 Email: |
