The Rolling Stone Farm FEI Tests Perpetual Trophy

This award, sponsored by Maurine (Mo) and Jim Swanson of Rolling Stone Farm in Slatington, Pa., is a new year-end award for American Hanoverian Society breeders and owners in 2006. The Swansons have commissioned a beautiful painting that is to hang in the AHS office in Lexington, Ky. Each year, the names of the three winners will be added on small brass plates around the frame.

The winners will be the highest placing AHS-registered Hanoverians, owned by a current AHS member, from the USDF year-end standings lists in the four-, five and six-year-old age groups. The USDF uses a median scoring system to determine a final, year-end score for each horse. A median score is exactly between the highest and lowest of all scores earned. If a horse showed in the minimum of four shows, it is the average of the second highest and third highest scores. If shown in five shows, it is the middle, or third from the top score. For six shows, it is the average of the third and fourth highest scores, etc.

To be eligible to be on the USDF final standings list, horses must compete in the FEI Young Horse tests in a minimum of four different USDF/USEF licensed shows during the competition year. Their scores must come from at least four different judges, and the minimum median score must be 6.0 or higher. For 2006, eligible horses may have been ridden by more than one rider, however in 2007, the horse and rider will be considered a team; i.e. the same rider must ride the horse throughout the show season for scores to count. At the time the scores are earned, the horse must be lifetime recorded with USDF and the rider and owner must be Participating or Business Members of USDF. Also, very importantly, the owner must have declared the AHS as the registry for the horse in their USDF paperwork. If this declaration is not on file with USDF, a horse’s scores won’t count for our awards. This is similar to the All-Breeds Awards – owners must make sure their horse’s breed registry is correct and on file with USDF! Other details about eligibility may be found on the USDF website (www.usdf.org) or in the USDF Handbook sent to the membership every year.

For 2006 and 2007, the USDF has not yet instituted a year-end award for the FEI Four-Year-Old classes, but they provided the AHS with the scores of all of the four-year-old Hanoverians who competed in the tests this year, and our winner was determined using their criteria. We will do the same for 2007. In 2008, the USDF will begin having a year-end award for the four-year-olds also, so their posted results will be used from then on.

Rolling Stone Farm FEI Test Awards Perpetual Trophy Recipients

2008	Selton HW (Sandro Hit-High Priestess/Hohenstein) Four-Year-Old Winner Owner: Cadence Farm LLC Breeder: Irene Hoeflich-Wiederhold
	River Side Lady (Royald Diamond-Deja Vu/Donnerhall) Five-Year-Old Winner            Owner: Robbie Rice Breeder: BG Shroeder & Hanken
	© 2008 Megan Nichols	Cabana Boy (Contucci-Britania/Bordeaux) Six-Year-Old Winner Owner: Hilltop Farm Breeder: Maple Run Farm LLC

2006 (Inaugural Year)		EMC Solstice (Sandro Hit-SPS Wintersong/ Weltmeyer) Four-Year-Old Winner Owner/Breeder: Marefield Meadows, Va.
	© www.phelpsphotos.com	Roter Milan (Rotspon-Melodie/Matcho x) Five-Year-Old Winner            Owner: Dr. Jim Bond Breeder: Uew Heinriches, Ger.
	Donarlicht GGF (De Niro-EM Highlight/Hohenstein) Six-Year-Old Winner Owner: Suzanne Markham Breeder: Hans Henning and Johann Decken, Ger.