Friesian Sporthorse Registration Guidelines

Friesian Sporthorse Association Registration Guidelines

The Friesian Sporhorse Association is the first registry dedicated exclusively to recognizing and promoting the true Friesian Sporthorse, and this is reflected in our registration guidelines.

Horses must be 25% - 99% Friesian.

Purebred Friesian stallions and mares may be recorded in the Foundation Book if they are being used for sporthorse crossbreeding.

To be eligible for registration, horses must meet certain minimum requirements for pedigree and performance. Horses which are unable to meet those requirements may still be issued a Certificate of Pedigree.

Registration is divided into the following books:

Main Book, Auxiliary Book, and Foundation Book.

Main Book -- Minimum three generation pedigree. Sire and Dam must be one of the following: Friesian, Warmblood, Thoroughbred, Arabian (Gharib or Hamid line only), Saddlebred / Georgian Grande, Andalusian/Lusitano, Main Book registered Friesian Sporthorses, Auxiliary Book Friesian Sporthorse mares who are registered in the Bronze Elite Book or higher, and/or any Friesian Sporthorses Approved for Breeding. Main Book horses are further eligible for Bronze Elite, Silver Elite, and Gold Elite status.

Auxiliary Book -- Maximum 25% draft, Arabian (other than those eligible for the Main Book), Morgan, or Paint (a horse which is more than 25% Paint may still be eligible for the Auxiliary Book if the Paint pedigree can prove sufficient percentage of Thoroughbred blood.) Offspring of any Auxiliary Book horses, or any Elite Book horses, which is otherwise not eligible for the Main Book, is eligible for the Auxiliary Book. Auxiliary Book horses are further eligible for Bronze Elite, Silver Elite, and Gold Elite status.

Foundation Book -- Purebred Friesian stallions and mares which are being used for sporthorse crossbreeding. Foundation Book horses are further eligible for Bronze Elite, Silver Elite, and Gold Elite status.

Certificate of Pedigree -- horses which fail to meet registration criteria for the Main, Auxiliary, or Foundation Books at the time of registration. COP horses are eligible for Bronze Elite, Silver Elite, and Gold Elite status.

Approved for Breeding:

Approved for Breeding (Stallions) -- Approved for Breeding (Stallions) -- Minimum three generation pedigree. All Approved for Breeding horses must be registered in either the Main Book, the Auxiliary Book, or the Foundation Book. All Approved for Breeding horses must have their DNA on file with the Friesian Sporthorse Association. To be fully Approved for Breeding the horse must have a minimum inspection score or in-hand score of 72% AND must meet at least one of the performance criteria for Silver or Gold Elite Book status. Stallions which pass the FPZV stallion testing, or are approved with any WBFSH recognized registry, will be automatically eligible to be Approved for Breeding.

Provisional Approval (Stallions) -- Stallions which have met the inspection/in-hand criteria to be Approved for Breeding (minimum score of 72%) but which have not yet achieved the performance criteria to be Approved for Breeding, may be provisionally approved if they meet one of the requirements of the Bronze Elite Book for either dressage, combined driving, or eventing. Likewise, stallions which have met the performance criteria to be Approved for Breeding (Silver or Gold Elite Book status) but which have not yet met the inspection criteria may be provisionally Approved for Breeding.

Approved for Breeding (Mares) -- Minimum three generation pedigree. All Approved for Breeding horses must be registered in either the Main Book, the Auxiliary Book, or the Foundation Book, and must have their DNA on file with the Friesian Sporthorse Association. Mares may fulfill the requirements to be Approved for Breeding by meeting one of the following criteria:

- Earn two (2) scores above 72% from in-hand classes, inspections, and/or materiale classes (at least one of these scores must be earned when the horse is 3 years old or older.)

- Meet two (2) of the requirements from the Bronze Elite Book.

- Be Approved for Breeding by any WBFSH recognized registry, FHANA, FPS, or FPZV

- Have at least three foals registered in any of the Elite Books

Mare Books:

Star Mares -- Star mare status recognizes quality mares who have accomplished one of the following:

- Earned a minimum of three (3) scores above 75% from in-hand classes, inspections, and/or materiale classes. Must include at least one in-hand or inspection score, and must include at least one materiale score. (At least two of these scores must be earned when the horse is 3 years old or older.)

- Earned Silver Elite Book status

Preferred Mares: Preferred mare status recognizes mares who pass their quality on to their offspring.

To be eligible for Preferred status, mares must meet one of the following requirements:

- Five (5) or more offspring in the Bronze Elite Book or higher, or

- Two (2) or more offspring in the Silver Elite Book or higher.

Performance Books:

The Performance Books are divided into Bronze, Silver, and Gold Elite.

All horses are eligible for the Performance Books. To be eligible for the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Elite Books, the horse must meet the following criteria:

Bronze Elite:

Performance requirements for Bronze Elite registration (one of the following):

- Dressage: USDF recognized Open classes, minimum score of 65% at Training Level Test 2 or higher, or minimum score of 62% at First Level Test 2 or higher.

- USEF In-hand classes (Open): score above 70%

- Inspection score, from a recognized sporthorse breed registry inspection: score above 70%

- Combined Driving (ADS recognized competitions): Training level or above, maximum 50 penalties dressage, without elimination or retirement or withdrawal.

- Eventing (USEA recognized): Novice level or above, with maximum 45 dressage penalties, no elimination, withdrawal, or retirement.

Silver Elite:

Performance Requirements for Silver Elite registration (one of the following):

- Dressage: USDF recognized Open classes, minimum score of 62% at Third Level, or a minimum score of 60% or higher at Fourth Level.

- USEF In-hand classes or Inspection scores: not applicable. (Silver Elite Book status may not be earned on in-hand or inspection scores alone.)

- Combined Driving (ADS recognized competitions): Preliminary level or above, maximum 50 penalties dressage, without elimination or retirement or withdrawal.

- Eventing (USEA recognized): Preliminary level (or higher) with maximum 45 dressage penalties, no elimination, withdrawal, or retirement.

Gold Elite:

Performance Requirements for Gold Elite registration (one of the following):

- Dressage: USDF recognized Open classes, minimum score of 60% at Intermediare or higher, or minimum score of 58% at Grand Prix.

- USEF In-hand classes or Inspection scores: not applicable. (Gold Elite Book status may not be earned on in-hand or inspection scores alone.)

- Combined Driving (ADS recognized competitions): Intermediate level or above, maximum 50 penalties dressage, without elimination or retirement or withdrawal.

- Eventing (USEA recognized): Intermediate Level (or higher) with maximum 50 dressage penalties, no elimination, withdrawal, or retirement.

*Inspection and in-hand scores: In-hand scores must be earned at USEF recognized competitions or USDF DSHB classes. Inspection scores must be from breed registry inspections from registries which are members of the WBFSH, or FHANA or FPZV inspections.

Bloodline Verification, DNA Testing, and Breeder's Affidavits:

Bloodlines must be verified by supplying copies of registration papers of both parents along with a copy of a signed Breeder's Affidavit, Covering certificate, Breeding certificate, or other similar document signed by the owner of the horse's sire, to verify the breeding, OR by supplying copies of previously issued registration papers from any WBFSH recognized registry or any legitimate Friesian registry (Dutch, German, or their American counterparts.)

DNA testing is required for all horses prior to being Approved for Breeding. This service is not currently offered thru the registry, but can be done privately, or if the horse’s DNA is already on file with another registry, we will accept that with a DNA case number.

If a horse already has registration papers previously issued by any WBFSH recognized registry or any legitimate Friesian registry, then DNA or a signed Breeder's Affidavit is not required. A copy of these papers must be submitted to the Friesian Sporthorse Association along with the Application for Registration. (DNA testing is still required for all horses prior to being Approved for Breeding.)

If the bloodlines cannot be verified 100%, the horse may still be eligible for a Certificate of Pedigree, but only if there is sufficient documentation verifying the horse is at least 25% Friesian.

Approved for Breeding

Once a horse has fulfilled the requirements to be Approved for Breeding, the original Registration Certificate will be returned to us, along with documentation verifying the criteria has been met, and DNA test results, and a new Registration Certificate will be issued to indicate the new status of the horse. If the horse is already eligible to be Approved for Breeding at the time of registration, please include documentation along with the Application for Registration.

Elite Book (Performance Book) status & Mare Books

Once a horse has fulfilled the requirements for one of the Elite Books and/or Mare Books, the original Registration Certificate will be returned to us, along with documentation verifying the criteria has been met, and a new Registration Certificate will be issued to indicate the new status of the horse. If the horse is already eligible for one of the Elite Books at the time of registration, please include documentation along with the Application for Registration. If you would prefer not to have a new Registration Certificate printed, we will be happy to issue a status sticker (free of charge) which may be affixed to the horse's Registration Certificate to indicate the new Elite Book status.

Membership

Membership is automatic when you register a horse with the Friesian Sporthorse Association. However, it is not mandatory to register a horse with the FSA to become a member.

Please click the link below to see our Forms and Fees