Press release March 20, 2000

The Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association confirmed today that a European style Stallion Performance Test (SPT) which has been in the planning stages for two years is scheduled to run from August 8th to September 6th of this year. The SPT will take place at the Equine Facilities ofOlds College in Alberta. Senior trainer Gerd Zuther has agreed to oversee the test which will accommodate up to twenty-eight stallions.

Mr. Zuther has an international reputation as a clinician and test manager, having operated the November Hill 100 Day Test in Virginia for several years. An international cast of trainers, judges and riders is being assembled for the event which is expected to bring togther the best young horses from all across Canada.

In1999 the CWHBA mandated it's Stud Book Committee to develop a Canadian stallion test based in principle on the 30 day Alternative Test proposed by Dr. Axel Brockmann, Assistant Manager of the Hanoverian State Stud in Celle Germany. The 30 day test is designed to give an early evaluationon three year old stallions prior to the first breeding season. After extensive consultation the Test has been redesigned to run later in the year and to allow stallions ofvarying ages and levels of training to participate. A further modification based on the Swedish Warmblood model will permit competition level stallions the option to be tested after participating in only the final ten days.

The emphasis during the SPT is to evaluate the basic qualities of the stallions, both interior (temperament, and trainability) and exterior (gaits and athletic ability). Highly qualified and experienced judges from Canada and Europe will be used to evaluate the horses undersaddle and free jumping along with top test riders who will appraise the riding characteristics.

The Test is open to all breeds. Scores will be given by an independent panel of international judges so other associations may use the results for their own purposes. It is hoped that by achieving broad participation sufficient numbers of stallions will be found to run the test on a regular basis.

Having a made in Canada test will be another enhancement to our Canadian breeding program and will directly affect domestic and export markets for Canadian horses and horse semen as recognition for Canadian bred horses continues to improve. The CWHBA may be contacted for information at 403 201-5996 or www.canadianwarmloods.com

Media Release Contact: Jennifer Ward January 28, 2000 Media Relations Coordinator For Immediate Release Tel: (613) 248-3433 ext. 133 e-mail: jward@equestrian.ca