BREEDING SPANISH SPOTTED SADDLE HORSES (SSSH)

INTRODUCTION
Breeding Spanish Spotted Saddle Horses is to take part in a joint effort to replicate the phenotype and essence of the favourite mount of kings and nobles in the 15th to 18th Centuries and bring this historic horse to life in modern times. However it is important to follow the SSSH Breeding Programme regulations and complete all the paperwork correctly, and on time, in order to be able to register those precious babies in the Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Studbook so we can build the breed up to meet the goals of the Breeding Programme.
The regulations for entry into the Studbook Main Section, or Appendix-A or Appendix-B (horses of SSSH type with uncertified/undocumented ancestry) can be found here – CLICK HERE , including the acceptable breeding combinations for each generation of SSSH or download the PDF for DETAILED MATING STRATEGIES FOR EACH GENERATION 

Foals CANNOT be registered in the Main Section without a correctly completed Covering Certificate issued by the correct authority (Studbook) which has been filed with the BAPSH Ltd Registry Office in the year the foal was conceived. (Some leeway on CC receipt is possible on a case by case decision but costs are higher)

PRE and SSSH Stallions require their own BAPSH Ltd Book of Covering Certificates which will be pre-populated with the Stallion’s basic data – contact the BAPSH Registry Office to buy a new Book of CCs when required. More Information on COVERING CERTIFICATES middle of this page.

Stallion Owners must always inspect the visiting mare’s Passport, whether SSSH, Appaloosa, Knabstrupper, or PRE, and determine to their own satisfaction that the visiting mare is indeed the mare named in the Passport. If the mating is conducted via shipped semen, the Stallion owner should ask for a copy of the mare’s passport to be emailed or posted to him/her before agreeing to the semen shipment from the AI centre.

Mare Owners should make sure that the Stallion they plan to use is Approved For Breeding and registered correctly with the current owner; please contact the BAPSH Registry Office or the relevant Other Breed Studbook for confirmation if there is any doubt.

REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET BEFORE BREEDING

Above: Young SSSH Stallions at play, Aztecs Quetzalcoatl & Ozomatli.
Both owned by Michelle Snelling and Approved for Breeding in 2021. Breeder Karen Collison.

STALLIONS
Disease control and screening
i) Stallions should be tested for the following diseases before commencing covering mares; CEM, EVA, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas. The test certificate should show a negative result for each disease. Mare owners may ask to see a copy of the Stallion’s certificates.
ii) It is strongly recommended that Stallions who are covering naturally should only cover mares which also have a current test certificate showing them negative for these diseases. Where this policy is followed the stallion need not be re-tested annually.
Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Stallions must be:-
1. Registered in the Main Section in the current ownership.
2. DNA typed and Parentage confirmed
3. Tested negative for PSSM1 or born from PSSM1 Negative stock.
4. Approved for Breeding by BAPSH

Aztecs Ozomatli at 5yrs, SSSH FG1 Gold Award Approved Breeding Stallion

PRE Stallions must be:-
1. Registered with BAPSH Ltd in the correct ownership if the Stallion is resident in the UK,  or correctly registered with ANCCE-LGPRE if resident overseas.
2. Approved for Breeding at Basic level by the ANCCE-LGPRE
It is recommended not to use Grey PRE stallions within the SSSH Breeding Programme.

Currante VI – PRE Stallion used successfully to produce FG1 & G2 Spanish Spotted Saddle Horses. Owned by Karen Collison , Aztec Stud.

Appaloosa Stallions must be:-
1. Correctly registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club or with the British Appaloosa Society and must be classified as Foundation-bred stock
2. Tested Negative for PSSM1 and the Grey gene.
3. Over 3 years old.
4. Have Lp and Patn1 genes, preferably homozygous for both.

Haverlands Fireblade – a great type of Appaloosa Stallion (Fewspot LpLp) for the SSSH BP with a number of FG1 foals born in the past 2 years. Owned by Vanessa Grove, Grovewood Stud.

Knabstrupper Stallions must be:-
1. Correctly registered in the Classic Section of  the  KNN, Denmark (Mother Studbook).
2. Over 3 years old.
3. Have Lp and Patn1 genes, preferably homozygous for both.
4. NO Grey gene.

Thore Vom Pferdehof – fewspot Knabstrupper Stallion with 100% Classic bloodlines. Standing in the UK until late 2021, now in France. Some lovely SSSH progeny in the UK by him.

MARES
Disease control and screening
i) Mares should be tested for the following diseases before commencing covering; CEM, EVA, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas. The test certificate should show a negative result for each disease. Stallion owners will ask to see a copy of the Mare’s certificates.
If the mare is being covered via Artificial Insemination then the requirement to test the mare for sexually transmitted diseases can be waived providing the mare is in good health
ii) It is strongly recommended that mares are only bred to stallions which have a valid test certificate showing them negative for these diseases – this applies to Natural and AI covering. Where this policy is followed the mares need not be re-tested annually within a closed stud.
NOTE:– It is the mare owner’s responsibility to check that the stallion which they use on their mare is accurately identified, registered with BAPSH Ltd,  and is APPROVED FOR REPRODUCTION. If in doubt about the stallion’s status contact the Registrar or look up a PRE horse on the ANCCE-LGPRE Website (Horse Search)

Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Mares must be:-
1. Registered in the Main Section in the current ownership.
2.Tested negative for PSSM1. For more Information go to SSSH Breeding Programme Strategies and Procedures.
3. Over 3 years old.
4. Mares on Breeding Loan must have a Breeding Loan (Womb Rental) Contract, a copy of which must be sent to the BAPSH Registry Office at the start of the Loan period.
5. Breeders/ owners are recommended to present Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Mares for Breeding Approval which provides valuable information for the breed and Breeding Program, but at present there is no ban on breeding from Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Mares which have not been assessed.

Aztecs Shoshana – SSSH FG1 Mare with 25% PRE blood. A great broodmare in the SSSH BP. Bred & Owned by Karen Collison, Aztec Stud.

PRE Mares must be:-
1. Registered with BAPSH Ltd in the correct ownership if the Stallion is resident in the UK or Ireland.
2. Approved for Breeding at Basic level by the ANCCE-LGPRE.
3. Mares on Breeding Loan must have a Breeding Loan (Womb Rental) Contract, a copy of which must be sent to the BAPSH Registry Office at the start of the Loan period.
It is recommended not to use Grey PRE mares within the SSSH Breeding Programme.

Jacaranda CA – PRE Mare in-foal to a fewspot Appaloosa stallion for a 2022 SSSH FG1 foal.

Appaloosa Mares must be:-
1. Correctly registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club or with the British Appaloosa Society and must be classified as Foundation-bred stock
2. Tested Negative for PSSM1 and the Grey gene.
3. Over 3 years old.
4. Have Lp and Patn1 genes, preferably homozygous for both.

Topspotted Taidie – fewspot Appaloosa Mare producing excellent foals for the SSSH breeding programme. Owned by Karen Collison, Aztec Stud.

Knabstrupper Mares must be:-
1. Correctly registered in the Classic Section of  the  KNN, Denmark (Mother Studbook).
2. Over 3 years old.
3. Have Lp and Patn1 genes, preferably homozygous for both.
4. NO Grey gene.

Dragonhead Scarlet – lovely type of Knabstrupper Mare, with one SSSH colt born in 2021, and another SSSH foal on the way for 2022. Owned by Vicky Tournier.

For more Information go to SSSH Breeding Programme Strategies and Procedures.
CLICK HERE to go to the BREEDING APPROVAL & GRADING FOR STALLIONS & MARES Page with all the Information and Application Forms

PERMITTED BREEDING PRACTICES

Above: Starbright with SSSH colt Valle Asombroso at foot.
Bred by Juliette Riley

1.NATURAL COVERING – either in-hand or running out with mares.
If a stallion is running out with mares and it is possible to monitor the situation then the Covering Certificates can be issued as soon as covering activity is observed and a copy sent to BAPSH Ltd within 1 month of the last observed covering.
Alternatively the stallion owner can wait until the end of the covering season to issue the Covering Certificates but all the foals born the following year will require DNA Typing and Parentage Testing.
2.ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION (AI) – fresh, chilled and frozen is permitted. Covering Certificates are issued as normal by the BAPSH Ltd upon receipt of a request from the Stallion owner.
All Stallions must be over 3yrs old and Approved For Breeding before being collected for AI.If a Stallion with stored frozen semen is sold or leased, an agreement must be made at the time of sale between seller and buyer or lessee concerning the future issuing of Covering Certificates. For more detailed information on the correct procedure and example contract –  Go To DETERMINING CONTROL OF COVERING RIGHTS OR THE RIGHT TO USE DOSES OF SEMEN WHEN YOU SELL OR LEASE A STALLION
3.LEASING A STALLION FOR BREEDING
For detailed information on the correct procedure and example contract – Go To DETERMINING CONTROL OF COVERING RIGHTS OR THE RIGHT TO USE DOSES OF SEMEN WHEN YOU SELL OR LEASE A STALLION
4.EMBRYO TRANSFER is permitted using as a host any healthy mare with a good temperament and similar size and substance to the donor mare. Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Mares may have more than one foal registered from them each year via the use of host mares.
All Mares must be over 3 yrs old before being put in foal and of a similar size or larger than the donor mare.
A detailed Loan of Mare for Breeding (Womb Rental) contract should be written between the owner of the donor mare and the owner/s of the host mare/s, covering all the variables that are deemed essential, including the start and finish of the loan period, insurance, etc. There should be a separate contract for each mare that will be a host mare and a copy of this agreement must be lodged with BAPSH Ltd at the same time as the Covering Certificate is received ie within 1 month of the last date of ‘Covering’. For an Example Contract and more information – Go To LOANING A MARE FOR BREEDING, also known as Womb Rental
5.LOAN/LEASE OF MARE FOR BREEDING –  to carry her own foal for a person who is Not her Owner.
The registered owner of the mare must draw up a detailed written contract with the person who will have the mare on Breeding Loan so that the loanee/lessee will be eligible to be the Breeder of the resulting foal or foals. The contract should specify the start and finish point of the Loan, whether the contract can be renewed without the return of the mare, insurance cover, loss of foal or mare, etc.
A copy of this agreement must be lodged with BAPSH Ltd at the same time as the Covering Certificate is received ie within 1 month of the last date of Covering.
For More Information – Go To LOANING A MARE FOR BREEDING, also known as Womb Rental

COVERING CERTIFICATES & DNA TYPING/ PARENTAGE TESTING FOALS

Covering Certificates for PRE Stallions and Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Stallions for the production of Spanish Spotted Saddle Horses can be obtained from the BAPSH Registry Office in Books of 10 Certificates.
Each Book of Certificates is specific to an individual stallion and the basic stallion data is already printed on each numbered CC.
Covering Certificates for Appaloosa and Knabstrupper Stallions must be obtained promptly from the relevant Studbook with which that stallion is registered.
1. The Stallion Owner should request a copy of the Mare’s passport to check her identity and ownership BEFORE covering the mare.
2a. Studbook authorised Covering Certificates should be issued by the Stallion Owner after the Mare is covered, and the Mare Owner’s section given or posted to the owner of the Mare.
A Copy of the Stallion Owner’s Certificate Stub/Page must be sent to the BAPSH Registry Office by the Stallion Owner within ONE Month of the last date of covering. This can be via Email or the post.
NOTE:- If this ONE Month deadline is not met the subsequent foal must be DNA typed and parentage tested before registration can be completed.
2b. All Covering Certificates should be at the BAPSH office at the latest by 1st December of the year of covering.
2c. Covering Certificate stubs/copies received after the end of the covering year are subject to a late receipt fee.
3. The foal should be registered with BAPSH Ltd whilst it is AT FOOT with its Dam and BEFORE 5 months old by its Birth Date. The Veterinarian performing the Registration Identification must confirm whether the foal is still ‘at foot’ or ‘not at foot’ and sign this statement.
If either requirement 2a or 3 are NOT met then the Foal MUST be DNA typed and parentage tested before registration is completed.

Above: Pinta – Class 4 SSSH mare (50% PRE) born in 1998.
One of the first Spanish Spotted Saddle Horses born in the UK, bred by Mrs M E Andrews at the Alto Stud, Derbyshire.
Sire: Jardinero X (PRE), Dam: Candy (Appaloosa)