INTRODUCTION TO THE SSSH BREEDING PROGRAMME 2022
The Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse is a new breed whose characteristics when fully established will replicate a very beautiful and extremely eye-catching extinct Pure-breed Equine, the Spotted Purebred Spanish Horse, which was widely known in the 16th, 17th, &18th Centuries as the Spanish Spotted Jennet (the word jennet meaning ‘saddle-horse’). The original breed was a favourite mount of Royalty and Nobility throughout Europe, and it features in many paintings of battles, military campaigns, High School exhibitions and upper class social gatherings on horseback which can be found in Museums and private collections around the world. The Spotted Purebred Spanish Horse also provided much of the foundation stock for the Spanish Riding School of Vienna and features in many of the early paintings of the School at work, demonstrating the old breed’s abilities as a riding and high school horse ‘par excellence’.
Fashions changed, and the dominant Lp and Patn1 genes were bred out of the Purebred Spanish Horse population in Spain leaving only plain, sober coat colours of bay, black, and grey.
The current managers of the Purebred Spanish Horse mother Studbook, ANCCE-LGPRE, do not permit the registration of Spotted horses into the PRE Studbook, and new regulations recently imposed via the Spanish Government reinforce this ban.
However the general horse-loving population of the UK (and Europe) strongly desire to own a spectacular baroque Spotted horse of PRE conformation, type, temperament, and performance abilities. Thus the Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Breeding Programme is based upon the modern Purebred Spanish Horse (PRE Horse) which no longer contains the Leopard Spotting gene (Lp) within its world population, combined with two pure-breeds that can provide the Lp and Patn1 genes, the  Foundation-bred Appaloosa and Classic Knabstrupper Horse. These two breeds were selected because they are descended from the historic population of the Spotted Purebred Spanish Horse of the 15th/16th Century which were shipped to the Americas, and of the early 19th Century which left Spotted Purebred Spanish Horses abandoned after a war in the Danish Peninsula where they founded the Knabstrupper breed. Both breeds still evidence some Purebred Spanish Horse body type and conformation and both carry the Lp and Patn1 genes inherited from their Spotted Purebred Spanish Horse ancestors.
There is a keen interest amongst breeders and equine enthusiasts for horses resulting from this Breeding Programme, and currently supply of foals is outstripped by demand. This year saw a doubling of the number of SSSH foals born, and reported Coverings during 2021 indicate a further doubling of SSSH foals to be born in 2022, with 4 new SSSH breeders introducing a range of genetically different bloodlines to the Breeding Program.
 
The Three Breeds contributing to the development of the Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse.
Left: Puma PM – PRE Apto Stallion owned by Eileen Brooks.
Centre: Ulrich’s Papillon – Foundation-bred Appaloosa Stallion, USA, who has Appaloosa descendants in the UK. Right: Helios of Independence, young Classic Knabstrupper Stallion, owned by Penny Rivers. Here he is undergoing his Breed inspection in the USA.

THE AIMS OF THE SPANISH SPOTTED SADDLE HORSE BREEDING PROGRAMME
This 2021 Revised  Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Breeding Programme extends the time period for the breeding programme by 10 years, and introduces a more structured generational mating strategy to guide and encourage breeders to progress the development of the breed.
Over the 50 year period from 1998 to 2048 the aim is to complete the establishment of a new equine breed of noble and baroque type combined with the unusual and spectacular Leopard Spotted coat colours.
The goal of the Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse BP is to replicate the excellent mental, physical, and performance characteristics of a historic equine breed which was extremely popular as a superior riding horse and military campaign/battle horse for the nobility of Europe and Great Britain during the 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries.
The original breed lost popularity across Europe and died out over 230 years ago due a major shift in culture, fashion, and technology which favoured lighter-framed galloping horses in dark solid colours for racing and light cavalry.
The SSSH Breeding Programme details the progressive steps to be followed by breeders, with the assistance and guidance of BAPSH Ltd, using the generational mating strategies, classifications of % PRE blood, genetic assessments, breeding evaluations, and performance awards, to achieve a self-sustaining population of  horses of 90% or greater PRE blood with the Leopard Spotted coat colour patterns; this population will have a broad and healthy genetic background and will meet the requirements laid out in the Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Breed Standard.

The breed is a medium sized, highly functional, hardy, intelligent and cooperative riding and performance horse with a talent for advanced dressage, high school, show-jumping, and other sports requiring high manoeuvrability, with a spectacular coat colour which captures the eyes and the heart of beholders leaving a lasting memory of beauty.

Aztecs Ozomatli – FG1 Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse 2yr old Stallion with a lot of PRE type. Bred by Karen Collison, owned by Michelle Snelling

BREEDING PROGRAMME STRATEGIES AND PROCEDURES 2022
1.General Resources and Tools for Breeders/Owners/Riders
2. Detailed Mating Strategies For Each Generation
3. Genetic Health and Evaluation
4. Grading/Evaluation Before Breeding
5. Rewards For Success In Sport
6. Pedigrees and Data Records

1. GENERAL RESOURCES AND TOOLS FOR BREEDERS/ OWNERS/ RIDERS
1.a) Advice and guidance for Breeders on the recommended breeding strategies for the Breeding Program and assistance for Breeders to plan multi-generation studfarm breeding programs including selection of sires and dams, thus maintaining the forward drive for the development of the Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse toward the goal of a healthy population of athletic, heavy weight riding and sports horses matching the requirements of the Breed Standard.
1.b) Providing Breeders with calculable Inbreeding Coefficients for registered horses and for products of potential/planned matings.
1.c) Online Studbook with Interactive Pedigrees with Progeny Listings, Genetic Test Results, Grading Results, Performance Awards, Competition Results, Photographs, etc via the Equidata system.

2. DETAILED MATING STRATEGIES FOR EACH GENERATION
Products from the following certified matings may be registered into the Main Studbook if they meet the ENTRY criteria. Breeders should discuss any alternative mating strategies with BAPSH Ltd to make sure the proposed matings will support the SSSH BP and that the products will be eligible for registration.
PDF Download Version For Detailed Mating Strategies For Each Generation

Foundation Generation (FG1) Spanish Spotted Saddle Horses are produced in two ways:-
1. Breed an Approved for Breeding PRE Mare or Stallion to a registered pedigree Appaloosa of Foundation bloodlines, resulting in horses with 50/50 bloodline combination. Class 4
2. Breed an Approved for Breeding PRE Mare or Stallion to a registered pedigree Knabstrupper from Classic bloodlines, resulting in horses with 50/50 bloodline combination. Class 4
In certain circumstances a non-Apto PRE Mare or Stallion may be given special permission by BAPSH Ltd to contribute to the SSSH breed. The PRE Owner must contact the Studbook to discuss the merits of the horse proposed and the reason/s why she/he cannot or has not been Approved for Breeding. The decision whether to grant entry for a Non-Apto PRE Mare/Stallion into the SSSH BP will be made within 10 working days of the initial discussion with the PRE Owner.
Breeders may choose to mainly breed from Appaloosas and Knabstruppers which are homzygous for Lp and Patn1, known as ‘Fewspots’, to ensure that their FG1 products are ALL heterozygous for Lp and Patn1 and thus have the Leopard Spotting phenotype making them Main Studbook eligible.

Second Generation (G2) The recommended mating for this generation is Option1
1. PRE Apto x SSSH with Lp & Patn1 from FG1 (Class 4) to give a Class 3 product with 75% PRE blood (G2)
2. SSSH with Lp & Patn1 from FG1 (Class 4) x SSSH Class 3, 2, or 1 to give further Class 4 products with either 62.5%, or 68.75 or 71.85% PRE blood

Third Generation (G3) The recommended mating for this generation is Option1
1. PRE Apto x SSSH with Lp & Patn1 from G2 (Class 3) to give a Class 2 product with 87.5% PRE blood (G3)
2. SSSH Class 3 x SSSH Class 3 to give a Class 3 product with 75% PRE blood (G3)
3. SSSH Class 3 x SSSH Class 2, or 1 giving either 81.25% PRE (Class 3) or 84.37% PRE (Class 2)

Fourth Generation (G4) The recommended mating for this generation is Option1
1. PRE Apto x SSSH with Lp & Patn1 from G3 (Class 2) to give a Class 1 product with 93.75% PRE blood.
2. SSSH Class 2 x SSSH Class 2 to give a Class 2  product with 87.5% PRE blood (G4)
3. SSSH Class 2 x SSSH Class 1 to give a Class 2 product with  90.62% PRE blood (G4)

Breeders of Further Generations should work to establish a healthy SSSH breeding population with a high % of PRE blood, Lp and Patn1, and a broad genetic diversity, which can be interbred with minimal recourse to first generation crosses of PREs with Appaloosa and Knabstrupper.

Other Acceptable Matings
1. Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse (Classes 1to 3) x SSSH Appendix-A mare or stallion (Apto) without Lp gene
2. PRE Apto (non-grey) or SSSH (Classes 1 to 3) to a grey SSSH Appendix-A mare or stallion (must be Apto) with Lp gene
3. Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse (Classes 1to 3) x SSSH Appendix-B mare or stallion
4. PRE Apto (non-grey) x SSSH Appendix- B mare or stallion
5. Other mating combinations may be proposed in writing by email or letter by any breeder to the BAPSH Ltd at least 1 month prior to the planned date of the proposed mating. The reasons for the proposed match must be clearly detailed in relation to the Breeding program. A decision on the mating will be given to the breeder, within 10 days of receipt of the proposal and the reasons given.

If the breeder proceeds with an ineligible mating for the SSSH Studbook the resulting foal may be registered in the PRE Fusion Horse Studbook providing the documentation meets that Studbook’s requirements

CLICK HERE for MORE INFORMATION on REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET BEFORE BREEDING and PERMITTED BREEDING PRACTICES.

3. GENETIC EVALUATION
i) PSSM1 – The muscle function defect PSSM1 is known to be present in some Appaloosas and Knabstruppers, breeds which are important contributors to the SSSH foundation generation, and the SSSH BP desires to prevent this defect appearing in SSSH Studbook and especially in the breeding population.
Best practice is for breeders to ensure that all their Appaloosa and Knabstrupper breeding stock is already certified negative for PSSM1 before starting to breed from them for the SSSH BP. Occasionally it is not possible to test the parent stock, and then it is the resultant foal that must be tested for PSSM1 before registration into the SSSH is completed.
SSSH Foals/Horses with a positive PSSM1 test result cannot be bred from within the SSSH Studbook BP but will be registered in the Appendix-A with full pedigree passports and may compete in all competitive arenas without restriction.
The aim is to reduce to zero the incidence of known, testable, genetic defects within the Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse.
Genetic defects currently tested for in Appaloosa and Knabstrupper foundation stock :-
PSSM1
Genetic defects under consideration for testing:-
HYPPD, GBED, HERDA, MH
Testing Procedure – Hair samples (40+ Hairs with Roots attached) are extracted by a Veterinarian at the time of Foal Registration or adult Grading and sent to BAPSH Ltd in a clearly identified and Veterinary certified envelope with the appropriate fee. The sample is processed by Animal Genetics UK and the results certificate returned to BAPSH Ltd for database entry, scanning and copying for BAPSH records, and then forwarded to the owner of the horse

ii) Homozygous Leopard Spotting (LpLp) and CSNB
The Lp gene is a natural semi-dominant mutation that occurred at least 25,000 years ago in wild horse populations in Europe and Asia. A single copy of Lp produces the characteristic Leopard Spotting phenotype which is so highly prized. Around the world people have been breeding horses with the Lp gene for thousands of years and there are many famous breeds in different countries which make a feature of this beautiful coat colour pattern.
A horse with two copies of the semi-dominant Leopard Spotting gene (Lp) is a huge asset for the breeding of Spanish Spotted Saddle Horses, and for all of the many other breeds worldwide with Lp genetics, because these LpLp horses will always pass on one copy of the Lp gene to ALL their progeny, guaranteeing that they will have the characteristic Leopard Spotting phenotype. However it has recently been discovered that all Lp/Lp horses will also be affected by a condition named Congenital Stationary Night blindness (CSNB) which is typified by:-
i) impaired or absent night vision
ii) present at birth
iii) non-progressive, ie the condition is unchanging from birth throughout life hence the term ‘stationery’.
iv) horses with a single copy of Lp are NOT affected by CSNB.

The cause of CSNB in LpLp horses is unknown because both direct and microscopic examination of the eyes show no physical abnormalities. Current thinking is that there is a physiological abnormality in the functioning of the retina, almost certainly it is a problem in the transmission of impulses between the rod photoreceptor in the retina and the bipolar cells that lie below them, thus preventing visual information passing to the optic nerve bundle in low light or lightless conditions.
CSNB can be diagnosed by testing retinal function using an Electroretinogram (ERG) which measures the retinal cells’ electrical activity in response to light stimuli. Horses with CSNB have a very characteristic abnormality in the ERG when it is performed in dark-adapted conditions. However there is little need for this procedure now that horses can be tested for Lp homozygozity from the DNA found in a hair-root sample.
CSNB does not prevent a normal life for an affected horse because CSNB does NOT affect anything a horse does in the daytime, their vision is fully functional in daylight or the artificial light of indoor arenas and a horse with CSNB can see everything any other normal horse sees. CSNB only affects LpLp horses from dusk to dawn or in poorly lit/dark stables. The only time that riding an LpLp horse may be unsafe is at night, but this is not an absolute, some LpLp horses with a great bond and depth of training with their rider can successfully and safely be ridden in the dark due to their excellent understanding of each other.
Horses with CSNB are born with it and do not know any different; they grow up learning to negotiate the world using their other senses in lowlight level situations. All horses after dark on moonless cloudy nights know their paddock boundaries by their sense of touch via their feeler whiskers, or by the sound of an electric fence wire buzzing. On dark nights the locations of other horses are determined by all the equine senses that function so well in the dark to keep wild horses safe from predators  – their sense of smell, their acute hearing with directional focus, their sensitivity to vibrations through the ground, and their super sensitive sense of touch which will detect the slightest of change in air movement around them.
Owners need to know that their LpLp horse has CSNB – it’s part of the genotype, and with this knowledge owners can make sure that they understand the sensible precautions to ensure both equine and human well-being.
i) In a poorly lit stable a CSNB horse will see less clearly, just shades and shadows, so it is important to talk to your horse and let them know where you are; this is also good practice with horses in general.
ii) LpLp horses adjust more slowly when changing from bright light to lower light levels and it is important to give them a  minute or two to adjust to the change in light levels. This includes loading into poorly lit horse trailers or lorries – remember that the trailer/lorry may appear completely dark inside to a horse with CSNB, so careful and thorough preparatory training for loading into trailers must be done to ensure safety. Extra lights should be added  inside the trailer or lorry if possible.
iii) Preferably install extra lighting to create well-lit stables, corridors and yards where you keep an LpLp horse, particularly if you are bring them in or turn then out during the long dark hours of winter.
iii) A hazard free stable or paddock without projections or obstacles is important for the safety of all horses.
iv) If you have to change the location of containers, feeders, hay piles etc, we recommend that this is done during day light so that the LpLp horse can memorise the new location before dusk.
v) Moving to a new paddock or a new stable is also best done in daylight hours so that the horse can get familiar with the new boundaries – this is also good practice for normal horses.
vi) It is very important for the owner to educate anyone who may come into contact with their LpLp horse about CSNB causing lack of vision in the dark or in low-lit areas. Owners should make sure everyone knows the sensible precautions to take when working with or visiting an LpLp horse in low-light conditions, including friends, vets, farriers, trainers, and general visitors.

BAPSH Ltd register LpLp horses into the SSSH Main Studbook or Appendix-A according to the normal SSSH entry criteria detailed elsewhere, these horses are valuable to the breed and are healthy and safe to keep providing the above measures are followed. However BAPSH strongly advise all breeders of SSSH who sell LpLp horses to make prospective new owners fully aware before purchase that all LpLp horses have CSNB. Breeders should explain the sensible precautions that must be undertaken for equine and human well-being when owning and caring for an LpLp horse. BAPSH Ltd also advise both breeders and owners of LpLp horses to make sure that they are fully insured in case of unforeseen incidents.
BAPSH Ltd are including the above information and advice on our website pages dedicated to the Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse.

4.BREEDING EVALUATION (Grading/Evaluation/Assessment) for Horses aged 3yrs old or older
Introduction
Stallions – Breeding Evaluation is compulsory for Stallions registered in the Main Studbook before they may be used to cover mares.
Owners of high quality grey SSSH Stallions with the Lp gene which are registered in Appendix-A solely due to their Grey gene, ie., all other Main Studbook registration requirements are met, may request permission to enter the horse for Breeding Evaluation. Minimum age for Evaluation/Grading and for Covering is 3yrs old.
Evaluation for a Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Stallion consist of Two Stages,
Stage 1 – the Veterinary Reproductive Examination. Plus DNA Typing and Certificate of freedom from the relevant genetic diseases if not already completed when the Stallion was first registered.
Stage 2 – Grading Evaluation at the central venue.

Mares – Breeding Evaluation is currently optional for Mares before they are bred from, however it is recommended to increase a Mare’s status and the value of her foals. Minimum age for Evaluation/Grading and for Covering is 3yrs old. The optional nature of SSSH Mare Evaluation will be reviewed every 5 years by BAPSH Ltd, and when the numbers of regularly breeding SSSH Mares of Classes 3 to 1 have reached a level where increased selection via Grading is advantageous rather than restrictive the BAPSH will introduce compulsory Grading for SSSH Mares prior to being bred from.
Evaluation for a Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Mare consists of a single Stage,
Stage 2 – Grading Evaluation at the central venue. Plus DNA Typing and Certificate of freedom from the relevant genetic diseases if not already completed when the Mare was first registered.

Procedure
Stage 1 – Veterinary Reproductive Examination
The Owner contacts the BAPSH Office to obtain the Application For Breeding Approval – Stage 1 blank Vet Certificate, and a DNA Envelope if necessary.
An experienced Equine Veterinarian is booked by the Owner to assess the horse and to complete the BAPSH Stage 1 Vet Certificate.
i) Static Physical inspection to determine the presence or absence of inheritable defects including the mouth, eyes, throat, limbs, and hernias (genitalia, inguinal, scrotal).
ii) Movement inspection at walk, trot & reverse to determine freedom from Locking Patella, Stringhalt, and Wobblers disease, and lameness.
iii) Hair Sample pulled out of mane or tail by the examining Vet to consist of 30 to 40 Hair Root Bulbs. The Hair Sample is placed into the labelled sample envelope provided by BAPSH, and the Vet signs dates and Stamps the envelope across the seal.
iv) The Owner sends the completed Stage 1 Vet Certificate, the DNA Sample, and the Application form for Stage 2 Grading and the current Fee to BAPSH Ltd.
v) Providing the results of the Stage 1 Veterinary Reproductive Examination are of sufficient quality to be approved, the horse is booked into a slot for Stage 2 at the next BAPSH Grading Event.

Stage 2 – Grading Evaluation
i) Conformation & Type – 27 conformation measurements are taken, and the horse is assessed for overall type and conformation in relation to the Breed Standard using the Linear Conformation Assessment method developed by the ANCC-LGPRE, Spain and tested rigorously over the past 14 years.
ii) Movement and athleticism for Riding and Sport. Walk is assessed in-hand, and trot and canter are assessed in Freedom
iii) The horse is assessed loose over a series of jumps down a short jumping lane with a video record made.
iv) The horse’s temperament, behaviour and overall attitude is assessed throughout the Evaluation.

Approval for Breeding
A minimum score of 5/10 for all parts of the Evaluation must be achieved before BAPSH will award the Approved For Breeding Stamp and Update the Passport and Database Records of the Studbook.
Horses which fail to achieve 5/10 on all sections can be re-assessed in 12 months time.

Awards Recognising Above Average Quality
Horses with an average score of 6/10 across the assessment are recognised with the Bronze Award.
Horses with an average score of 7/10 across the assessment are recognised with the Silver Award.
Horses with an average score of 8/10 or above across the assessment are recognised with the Gold Award.

The appropriate Breeding Approval Sticker is added to the Grading page of the horse’s Passport, overstamped, signed and dated. The Owner is issued with an Award Certificate that details all the horse’s physical measurements and the scores awarded for all sections of the Grading Evaluation.
All the data accumulated for each horse is recorded in the BAPSH Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Breeding Book. The information gathered is used to monitor the development of the breed and to assist breeders to make informed choices when planning their own Stud-farm breeding programmes.

Above: Valle Asombroso, the first SSSH Stallion to achieve Breeding Approval in 2019 under the new SSSH Breeding Programme. Owned by Lisa Kimm. Bred by Juliette Riley.

CLICK HERE for MORE INFORMATION on BREEDING APPROVAL/ GRADING FOR SSSH Link not yet active

5.REWARDS FOR SUCCESS IN SPORT
PERFORMANCE AWARDS for Competitive Sport.

Above: Aztecs Zafira – Class 5 SSSH mare (25% PRE) jumping with great height and lovely style at Holmside, Feb 2013. Owner Caroline Howlett, bred by Karen Collison. Photo: Chris Lax Event Photography

Horses (mares, stallions, and geldings) that compete in Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Driving, and Endurance at the higher Affiliated levels can gain points for achieving specific scores or %. The number of points required to achieve the ‘Sport’ designation is dependent upon the Sport; points must be achieved across a minimum of 5 shows/competitions in a particular sport over a 12 month period. The Owner of the horse must submit documentation to the BAPSH at the end of the 12 month period to prove the achievements. The horse is then awarded the title of Sport-Drs, Sport-SJ, Sport-Ev, Sport-En, or Sport-Drv, or any combination of these titles.
Mare or Stallions who have four progeny (mares, stallions, and geldings) who all achieve a Sports Performance Award are given the title PREFERENT. This is shown on their online records and pedigree and assists breeders in designing their breeding programmes.

Retrospective Performance Awards
Applications from owners for BAPSH to recognise, retrospectively, Sports points achieved in previous years before this Performance Award Scheme was initiated will be considered on a horse by horse basis providing the documentation provided is solid.
The appropriate Award Sticker for any of the above Awards is added to the horse’s Passport, overstamped, signed and dated. The Performance Award achievements are shown on the online records and pedigree (Equidata system) for each horse and this information assists breeders in designing their own Stud-farm breeding programmes.

6. PEDIGREES AND DATA RECORDS
Maintenance of Accurate Pedigree and Data Records is an essential component of the Breeding Program and is done in the following ways:-
PRE Horses
All PRE Horses used in the SSSH Breeding Program must be registered in the PRE Mother Studbook, ANCCE-LGPRE of Spain and must be Approved for Breeding for products to be registered in the Main Studbook; PRE Horses resident in the UK must be registered in the BAPSH Ltd PRE Studbook.
The ANCCE-LGPRE provides BAPSH with full access to their online pedigree and identity database for PRE horses worldwide from 1880 onwards, ensuring BAPSH has reliable pedigree and DNA identity records to utilise to supplement our own records.
Checking PRE sires/dams: –
The identity and pedigree of PRE horses contributing to the Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse Breeding Book are checked and confirmed several times in their lives;
1.PRE foals are microchipped, DNA typed and parentage verified prior to registration in the PRE Studbook.
2.PRE horses presented for Breeding Approval (Grading) have their identity and parentage checked and confirmed by an ANCCE-LGPRE Delegate Veterinarian.
3.PRE horses imported into the UK have their microchips checked and markings recorded by a UK Vet within 30 days of arrival in the UK as part of the UK registration procedure into the BAPSH Ltd PRE Studbook.
The identity of a PRE sire/dam can be checked at any time via Microchip and/or DNA and the pedigree confirmed.
4. PRE Stallions used in the SSSH BP must have BAPSH Ltd Covering Certificates issued specifically to the Stallion with Name and UELN pre-printed (Available in Books of 10 from BAPSH Ltd). Within ONE Month of the last date of Covering, the PRE Stallion Owner provides the Mare Owner with a detailed Covering Certificate containing both Stallion and Mare data, and a COPY of the Covering Certificate is immediately emailed to the BAPSH Ltd Studbook and receipt confirmed.

Appaloosa  Horses and Knabstrupper Horses
Appaloosa Horses must be registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club or with the British Appaloosa Society and must be classified as Foundation-bred stock with PSSM1 Negative Certificates.
Knabstrupper Horses must be registered in the Classic Section of  the KNN, Denmark (Mother Studbook) or in the BAPSH Ltd SSSH Studbook Class- F-Knabstrupper PSSM1 Negative Certificates.
Checking the Appaloosas & Knabstruppers contributing to the Foundation Generation of the Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse BP:-
1a. Before Covering, the PRE Stallion Owner must be shown the Appaloosa/Knabstrupper Mare’s Passport or Registration Certificate and be provided with a copy of the pages with the Mare’s Studbook information. The Stallion Owner should also check as far as possible that the Appaloosa/Knabstrupper Mare is registered to the person purporting to be the owner.
1b. Before sending a PRE Mare for Covering or Booking the Semen shipment for AI, the PRE Mare Owner must be shown the Appaloosa/Knabstrupper Stallion’s Passport or Registration Certificate and be provided with a copy of the pages with the Stallion’s Studbook information. The Mare Owner should also check as far as possible that the Appaloosa/Knabstrupper Stallion is registered to the person purporting to be the owner
2.Within ONE Month of the last date of Covering, the Stallion Owner provides the Mare Owner with a detailed Covering Certificate containing both Stallion and Mare data, and a COPY of the Covering Certificate is immediately emailed to the BAPSH Ltd Studbook and receipt confirmed.
Appaloosa/Knabstrupper Stallion Owners must supply either a Covering Certificate from the Appaloosa or Knabstrupper Studbook of Registration or a Stallion specific Covering Certificate issued by the Studfarm Owner.
3. At the time of foal registration, Breeders of Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse FG1 foals must provide a clear copy of the Equine Passport with an extended (4 or 5 generation) certified pedigree for the Appaloosa/Knabstrupper sire/dam, and a copy of the Appaloosa/Knabstrupper’s DNA Type Certificate, and PSSM1 Certificate.
4.BAPSH will contact the PIO/Association/Breeding Book for the Appaloosa or Knabstrupper sire/dam if more information is required concerning the extended pedigree, correct ownership, or the correct identity of the sire/dam used to breed the FG1 foal/s.

Checking Spanish Spotted Saddle Horse (SSSH) identity and pedigree prior to registration:-
1.The Registration Identification for a SSSH foal must be done whilst the foal is at foot with its dam and before 5 months old by a registered Equine Vet. The foal’s Microchip is inserted at the time of the ID and a 40+ hair root sample is pulled from the foal’s tail by the Vet and placed in a clean envelope labelled with the foal’s name, DOB, parentage and breeder, with the Vet’s signature and stamp placed across the seal.
The Equine Vet performing the Foal Identification must Sign the ID page of the document to certify that the foal is at foot with its dam, and that all the data entered is correct. The Vet’s name, Practice, and contact information must be clearly provided on the ID form.
2.A DNA type and parentage test for the foal to establish its correct parentage/pedigree will be required if,
a) The Covering Certificate was not issued the previous year within 1 month of the last covering,
b) If there is any doubt about the veracity of the Covering Certificate
c) If there is any doubt about the relationship of the foal to the mare, ie., is the mare actually the mother.
d) If the Registration Identification is completed by the Vet after the foal is 5 months old or the foal has already been weaned.
3.Adult horses, whether imported or UK born, can be registered into the SSSH Breeding Book providing they are re-identified by an Equine Vet onto the appropriate BAPSH registration application form, a hair sample is pulled by the identifying Vet following the procedure in point 1, and documentary proof is supplied that the horse meets the entry requirements.
4.Providing the following criteria have been met:-
i) the registration and identification form has been received fully and correctly completed
ii)any required DNA Type & parentage verification result is received and is satisfactory
iii)any coat colour genetics and/or genetic health test results have been received and are satisfactory.
All SSSH Foals will be registered into the appropriate part of the SSSH Studbook, and will be issued with an SSSH pure-breed passport containing the horse’s ID data,  microchip code, DNA status, 5 generation pedigree, zootechnical certificate, breeder data, owner data, and non-statutory pages for the recording of Grading and Competition data. All passports have a smart-chip embedded holding the horse’s passport data electronically which enables digital downloads and uploads for updating equine and owner records.
Adult horses registered into the SSSH Studbook may have their ID or Partbred passport cancelled at the owner’s request and be upgraded to a re-issue SSSH Pure-breed passport containing all the horse’s previous Vaccination and ownership records in addition to the standard contents detailed above.
NOTE:- Appaloosas and Classic-bloodline Knabstruppers used in the SSSH BP are recorded in the SSSH Main Studbook Class F-Appaloosa and Class F-Knabstrupper and their identities confirmed as described above.
No horses are ‘transferred’ into the SSSH Studbook from another Studbook.

OUTSOURCED TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES
Equiventus Ltd
48 Blackberry Way, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Somerset, BA3 2RN.
Tel: 0845 388 3678;
Email: info@equiventus.com
Service:- Supplying BAPSH Ltd with an online Breeding Book including 5 generation pedigrees, performance records, genetic test results, linear conformation assessment scores; Equine Passports and Zootechnic Certificates.

Animal Genetics UK
1 Mount Charles Road, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 3LB
Tel: 01726 247788
Email: info@animalgenetics.eu
Website: www.animalgenetics.eu
Service:-  DNA Typing, Parentage Testing, DNA Coat Colour Genetic Tests, Genetic Disease Testing.