German bred horses take first places in the world ranking lists jumping, dressage and driving. They are very successfully used in western and endurance riding and they are popular leisure time partners as well. 17 breeding associations all over Germany take care of the versatile "German Riding Horse". It is rooted in several breeds, each with special characteristics. To achieve the "German Riding Horse"  the breeding associations 1975 jointly stated a uniform breeding goal:

„Breeding is aimed at producing a noble, large-framed and correct horse with dynamic, spacious and elastic motions - well suited for any riding purpose because of its temperament, its character and its ability to provide an easy ride."

Most of the German breeding associations work regionally: Supported by the federalist structure of Germany there is a breeding association mainly in every single state of our country. Additionaly there are nation-wide associations as well. Each breeding association is state-approved and autonomous within the limits of German Animal Breeding Law.

Main functions of the breeding associations: 

The co-ordination of the activities of the breeding associations and representation of these associations with ministries and other national and international organizations are the responsibility of the Breeding Department of the German Equestrian Federation.

By maintaining the National Studs the State supports the breeding work.

The German Animal Breeding Law prescribes breeding associations to carry out breeding programmes.  For "German Riding Horse" the programme is based on different selection steps with an  interplay of assessing  performances and exterior of the horses.

The station test is the essential performance test in the riding horse breeding. With environmental conditions being standardized to large extent it allows to obtain sufficient data. An early selection of the sires without prolongation of the generation interval can be guaranteed. For the stallions it guarantees an early and relatively secure estimation of the breeding value.

For stallions a station test is obligatory. For the "German Riding Horse" the  station test consists of a preliminary test of at least 100 days and a subsequent performance test directed towards "Riding". The preliminary test includes marks for character, temperament and horse's keenness to work (interior). Additionaly movements, ridability, and talent in free jumping and jumping of a course are tested. These marks are given by the director of training. In the final performance test the stallions are judged by an expert jury and test riders.

Appearance and performance of a horse itself is not in all cases transferable to the quality of its offsprings. The estimation of the breeding value increases the predictive value in breeding, because it eliminates non-genetic influence factors on competition results. It objectivizes acc. to genetic-statistical evaluations. All necessary pedigree information is combined with the performances and/or the offspring information. Every information about placings of the stallion in competitions (own performance) and of his offsprings, brothers and sisters and ancestry flow into the breeding value. The more information about a stallion is available, the more secure is it to predict his heredity. The breeding values are published in the Yearbook "Breeding" of the German Equestrian Federation.

For assessing and selection of brood mares, there is a performance test for mares at station of 30 days and of 1 day in the field. In general, the tests are for mares of 3 and 4 years, however, older mares can take part as well. Judged are the basic gaits, interior and free jumping.

The German Equestrian Federation - Breeding Department - keeps a performance studbook to register brood mares, which were assessed as being above average in the total mark. Mares are entitled to be registered in this book only if they had at least two foals in four breeding years. A registration in one or more sections of the performance studbook gives an objective indication of the positive prerequisites of a mare as a brood mare to improve the population.

Sections of studbook: