SSH Stallion Grading

The Scottish Sport Horse Stallion Grading is held annually each spring. The Stallion Grading is open to all sport horse and pony colts and stallions in the year that they reach their third birthday or older.

Stallions are assessed for correctness of conformation, quality of movement, health and soundness, and jumping ability.

Stallions undergo a full two stage vetting at the grading and can only be presented for the loose schooled phase of the assessment providing they pass the veterinary inspection.

X-Rays must be submitted to Rossdales & Partners, Newmarket for assessment. X-Rays must be submitted directly by the entrants own veterinary practitioner. Newmarket will only divulge the results of successful candidates to the SSH respecting the stallion owners confidentiality.

Once Newmarket has announced the results to your veterinary practitioner that they have passed inspection, entry forms are to be submitted to the SSH with the accompanying fees. (Photo Ingliston Twister L2 Stallion by Tornado x Voltaire)

The Scottish Sports Horse has two initial levels of grading at which a stallion can enter the studbook to commence his breeding career.

• All stallions that successfully pass the grading regardless of the scores awarded, that do not meet the three generation pedigree requirements, will be granted L2 status.
• All stallions are re-assessed after four years from initial assessment and must be presented under saddle alternatively proof of compeition records can be provided. A further two years may be granted at the discretion of the StudBook manager.
• Pony Stallions must not exceed 1.53m

NB. Stallions not reaching the minimum average score of 65 will not be granted breeding rights.

L1: A stallion that has achieved an overall average score of 70% or over.

• L1 stallions can be promoted to Approved status providing that they compete successfully in Dressage (65% at Medium), Showjumping (1.30m Double Clear), Eventing (Intermediate) or Endurance (75mile Gold Series) and produce a minimum of 12 foals forward for grading achieving marks of no less than 68, seven of which must be 1st premium foals during his first four seasons at stud.
• Must pass standard Fertility Test and provide written confirmation.

L2: A stallion that has achieved a minimum average score of 60 - 69% (65 - 69% if graded after 2008) or a stallion that does not have a complete three generation pedigree.

• L2 stallions can be promoted to L1 status providing that they compete successfully in Dressage (65% at Medium), Showjumping (1.30m Double Clear), Eventing (Intermediate) or Endurance (75mile Gold Series) and produce a minimum of 12 foals forward for grading achieving marks of no less than 68, five of which must be 1st premium foals during his first four seasons at stud on the provision that it has a complete three generation pedigree.
• Must pass standard Fertility Test and provide written confirmation.

Approved Stallions: Fully Approved Status is only granted to SSH stallions that have successfully met the pedigree, fertility, health, progeny and competition requirements as outlined in the above sections.

Elite Stallions: Awarded to L2 stallions that do not full fill the pedigree requirements of Approved status but have shown exceptional performance results and produced a high standard of progeny that have proved themselves successful in sport as follows.

• Own Performance - Grade A Show jumper, Prix St George Dressage Horse, Advanced Eventer or Gold Series 100 mile Endurance
• Breeding Performance – Consistently sired 1st and 2nd premium progeny
• Progeny Performance – Proven ability of progeny at affiliated level. Evidence of which must be provided.

NB Official competition results by a recognised governing body must be produced for any stallion seeking promotion, e.g. BSJA, BD, BE, FEI etc