As only mares that fulfil the pre-conditions for the Studbook or the Main-Studbook are registered abroad the rules of both of these sections shall be described in more detail. To be in a Studbook-section certain requirements concerning pedigree, conformation, and movement of a mare must be met.

The Hanoverian Studbook is subdivided in two sections:

1. Main-Studbook (Symbol H)
2. Studbook (Symbol S)
3. Pre-Studbook I (Symbol V)

To be entered into the Main-Stud-Book the requirements are:

a. Four generations of recognized ancestry must be proved. That means the sire, the sire of the dam, the sire of the dam’s sire, as well as the sire of the granddam’s dam had either to be entered into the Stallion-Book of the Verband or to belong to a breed which is recognized by the Verband. The dam of the mare must be entered either in the Main-Studbook or in the Studbook.

b. In its final judgement of conformation and movement the mare must at least reach total score of 6,0 points, and in each of the six main criteria it must come up to a minimum of five points at least.

To be entered in the Studbook the requirements are:

a. Three generations of recognized ancestry must be proved. The dam must have been either a Main-Studbook mare or a studbook-mare or a Pre-Studbook I-mare.

b. At the studbook inspection the mare must reach a total score of 5,0 points. In each of the six main criteria it must receive a minimum of four points.

The scores cover the marks from 1 (the worst) to 10 (the best). The marks in the left column are the main scores and decisive for the studbook-entry. The total score approximately represents the arithmetic mean of the six criteria above. Only full numbers are given.

In the original breeding area the Studbook-Commission is comprised of the Breeding Manager of the Society or his deputy, the manager of the State Stud Celle or his deputy and a selected breeder. In breeding areas of registered Hanoverians abroad the Studbook-Inspection is carried out annually by a representative of the Society.

Attention: Studbook-Inspection and the branding of foals must always be carried out at a central location. An inspection directly on each breeder’s farm is not practicable.

The registration requirements concerning Main-Studbook and Studbook-mares are generally valid for three-year-old mares and older ones bearing the Hanoverian foal-brand.

Mares of other Warmblood Societies which are recognized by the Society can be entered provided that a total score of at least 7,0 points is reached. In these cases, however, our office should always be contacted in advance to ask whether or not a pedigree is acceptable.

As already mentioned at least one inspection trip per year for Stud-Book-Inspection and foal-branding takes place in the individual countries. If you are a member you receive a letter some weeks before the tour begins. This letter contains the times at the individual places as well as a form in which you are asked to advice the Society’s office of the mares and foals that shall be presented.

Before the Studbook-Inspection the mares should be trained in presentation and in handling in walk and trot. It is advantageous to lunge the mare regularly before the Studbook-Inspection. You should ensure that the mare is in good condition (not too fat, not too skinny), has a shiny coat which indicates a good general condition, and also well groomed hooves. Moreover it is the custom to braid the mares’ manes. It is imperative that you bring the pedigree paper of the mare with you because this paper must be handed to the Society’s representative. If the pedigree paper is not procured a mare cannot be registered. First the representative compares the colour and markings noted on this paper, afterward he takes the paper along with him to the Society’s office where the studbook entry is filled in.

The Studbook-Inspection always takes place on a triangular course. The first step is the individual inspection. You place the mare at a distance of about 4 to 5 meters in front of the judges. Here the so-called open position is obligatory.

Now the judges give the individual marks for conformation. Afterwards you are asked to trot one lap with the mare. The judges stay at the same place, and due to the triangular form of the course they are able first to inspect the mare from behind, then its action deployment from the side, and finally its correctness from the front. For that purpose it is, however, necessary to follow exactly the triangular from of the course.

At the trot the mares should be given the chance to move as freely as possible. With regard to very actively moving mares the exhibitor should be someone who is able to move well enough himself to be able to show this movement. When trotting your mare you take both the reins in your right hand.

When a number of mares have been judged at a trot they are assembled in a large circle and judged at a walk. The walk should also be shown as freely as possible. Afterwards the judge will announce the result of the inspection.