Holsteiner Fun Facts
Submitted by Linda Caroff

• Colts are named with their sire's inital, but filles use a yearly letter scale. This is the only German warmblood variety to do so.
  
  
• "Bonits" are the series of seven numbers which are the scores given to every Holsteiner at his or her inspection. Awarded from 1 to 10 in each category, the categories are, in order: Type, Topline, Depth Of Body, Front Legs, Hind Legs, Correctness Of Gaits, and Balance and Impulsion. These numbers are preceded by the horse's year of approval.
  
  
• A horse's "stem" or "stam" line identifies by number the mare family he or she came from. If no letter preceeds it, it originated in German. If a "Q", it originated in America with a Thoroughbred mare. If an "A", it also originated in America but with a non-Thoroughbred mare.
  
  
• Mares given the suffix "HSP" (Germany) or "MMP" (America) have been advanced to the highest, "premium" mare book.
  
  
• A Holsteiner's year of birth will be the last two numbers in its registration number, in almost all circumstances.
  
  
• By far the most common color is bay; preferably dark bay with minimal white markings. Next is grey. In fact, in Germany, chestnuts are generally disliked and sometimes discriminated against. Also, if a stallion throws a lot of foals who are "light bays with washed out black points", it is a serious fault and may contribute to his removal from stud duty. The same goes for extensive white markings- no sabinos in this breed!

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