Results on a more objective measurement of performance traits of stallions in performance testing at station

Abstract For a more objective measurement of merit of stallions in performance testing at station, studies on 185 Hanoverian and 250 stallions of other breeding societies were made from 1975 to 1978. The results obtained are as follows. 1. (1) Phenotypic correlations between various criteria of riding ability and jumping performance are intermediate and show that stallion performance is judged differently by each judging person. 2. (2) Repeatability of riding ability appraised by riders is 0.7, and thus higher than that appraised by distant judges (0.55). Repeatability of free jumping is higher (0.80) than that of show jumping tests (0.65). 3. (3) Due to the higher repeatabilities, appraisal of riding ability by riders appraising independently from each other, and of jumping in free jumping, is recommended for performance testing of stallions.