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A New Brand for AHS in 2008
2008-05-12 15:17:32
Posted by: American Hanoverian Society

A New Brand for AHS in 2008
Source: Hugh Bellis-Jones and Dr. Ludwig Christmann May 12, 2008 - 10:49:51 AM

Following last fall's referendum, the American Hanoverian Society (AHS) membership, by a two-thirds margin, voted to retire the H-US brand that had been used since 1993 to mark the foals of Studbook and Main Studbook mares. The membership voted to introduce the H brand effective with the foal crop of 2008. The AHS is one of four daughter societies that issues its own registration papers; the others are Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. The German Hanoverian Society (HV) issues the registration papers for foals born in Canada and in all other countries in the world where Hanoverians are registered. The daughter societies abroad either brand with an H plus the two country initials (H-AU, H-NZ ) or with an H plus two numerals (Great Britain). Canada currently brands using H-CD while in all other countries an H with two numerals is used.

The AHS uses the Hanoverian brand in the United States under exclusive license from the HV and in accordance with German law. It is precisely this agreement with Germany and the reciprocity of our respective studbooks that gives the American Hanoverian Society breeding program such credibility in this country.

In Germany the brand plays an important role in the identification of an individual horse. The Hanoverian brand used in Germany consists of an H with two numerals which are part of the horse's Universal Equine Life Number (UELN). For example, an HV-registered horse whose life number is 31-85764-08 would be branded with H-64. It will be seen that the numbers used in the brand equate to the sixth and seventh digits of the UELN. As in the United States, the final two numbers of the UELN indicate year of birth, in this example 2008.

In the context of globalization and the ongoing harmonization of Hanoverian breeding rules internationally as far as is possible, the Hannoveraner Verband intends to phase out the use of the H-CD brand in Canada and replace it with a system similar to that used in Germany. As AHS is the largest daughter society and sets the lead for others, it is important that AHS adopt a brand containing numerals that help aid in an individual horse's identification.

Accordingly, by joint agreement between the HV's Executive Board and the AHS Board of Directors, it has been determined that this year the AHS will utilize an H-08 brand. Such a brand would satisfy the requirement of incorporating two digits from the life number, in this case the last two numbers which indicate 2008 as the year of foaling. This system will be used going forward which means that in 2009 foals will be branded with H-09, etc.

In announcing this agreement, AHS President Doug Leatherdale stated that this decision confirmed the strong bond, mutual trust and cooperation that exists between the American and German societies. Added Dr. Christmann, "This decision shows that the AHS is a strong member of the international Hanoverian family. The brand that will be used this year in America is now totally equal to the brand applied in Germany, although the specific American conditions are met as well."

© 2008 by www.hanoverian.org