Licencing of Stallions out of Section B Mares

In July 2021, following presentation of scientific evidence to the Council that genetic diversity in the breed is being lost due to a rapid narrowing of bloodlines in the current stallion population, the Council amended its January 2021 decision to allow correctly marked colts out of Section B grading up mares to be provisionally licenced as stallions. It was decided that, in addition to such colts out of grading up mares, the pool of colts eligible to become stallions could be easily be further expanded by also allowing correctly marked colts out of mismarked Section B mares to become  licenced stallions under a carefully controlled and monitored provisional licencing system.  Any such colts must meet all other licencing requirement to be considered for a provisional licence.

The provisional licence allows the stallion to sire a maximum of 5 registered foals after which the licence will be reviewed. If the stallion has sired 4 or more Section A foals, then the provisional licence will continue for a further 5 foals, of which a 4 or more must be Section A. If these criteria are met, then a full licence will be issued with no further restrictions.

If the stallion has sired less than 4 Section A foals at either of the 5 foal provisional licence review points, then the licence will terminate and the stallion will no longer be a licenced stallion.

The Council will review all provisional licences annually and reserves the right to end the provisional licencing scheme at any time should the percentage of mismarked ponies within the breed increase.

Procedure

The application for a stallion licence is submitted, meeting all licencing requirements in place at the time.

The Council reviews the application and accepts, rejects (with a reason) or requires further information.

Following acceptance by Council, a provisional licence is issued using the next available licence number annotated P e.g. 234P. The passport and database are updated.

The Registrations Secretary monitors the number of registered foals sired by the stallion, and whether they are section A or B. The Secretary will notify the owner whether the licence will be extended for a further 5 foals or revoked.

The Registrations Secretary continues to monitor the number of registered foals sired by the stallion, and whether they are section A or B. The Registrations Secretary will notify the owner whether the licence is permanently confirmed or revoked. The passport and database are updated accordingly.

All provisional licences will be reviewed by Council annually and individual licences may be revoked early if Section B limits are exceeded before the full quota of foals is reached.

Any variations to this procedure must be approved by Council.

This policy replaces the Policy on Licencing Colts out of Grading Up Mares issued in January 2021. This policy will apply equally to colts out of grading up Section B mares, and downgraded mismarked Section B mares.