Breed rules

- North Swedish Horse, mare
- North Swedish Horse, stallion

North Swedish Horse, mare

(established 1 February 2006)

A curb bit may be used during the performance test (usage test).

Approved colours
Brown, blackish-brown, black, chestnut, golden brown, cream-coloured, yellowish-black and drab variants of these colours. Bleached dapples of colour can be traced to the so-called "blue colour" in Norway. Markings on the head and legs are permitted.

Health
If the officiator assessing status suspects mane or tail scurf, this is to be noted in the inspection record.

Diploma
Assigned to a mare that at 3 years of age has received at least 40 points for its exterior with no subpoints under 7 and has passed a performance test at an official assessment location before an assessment officiator or an inspector appointed by such.

Category B

The mare is at least 4 years old with at least one living offspring that can be accepted into section 1 of Riksstambok. If the mare is no more than 10 years old, it is to have at least 34 points for its exterior and have been awarded no subpoints under 5 during its assessment. An older mare is to be considered of the lowest corresponding quality if assessment did not include the award of points.
The mare has been shown with a foal of acceptable quality at its side, or with an older offspring shown at the same time, or there is a veterinary certificate on living offspring or certificate on older offspring's merits during previous assessment, competition or the like.
In addition, the mare's measurements are to be taken for size from withers to front hoof, chest size, carpus size and front shin width. An approved performance test is to be passed at the time of breeding valuation regardless of any previous performance test.

Category AB

The mare must fulfil the minimum requirements for category B, must have received at least 38 points for its exterior at no earlier than three years of age and must fulfil one of the following conditions:
approved test as per the rules of the FM driveability certificate,
completed driving, ploughing, forestry competition in district or masters class or regional driving competition.
As crossover, mares born before 1998 that have received a diploma and at that time completed a performance test are assigned breeding class AB.

Category A
The mare must fulfil the requirements of category B and

have had at least five living offspring with good exterior condition
assessed offspring shall have lineage that entitles them to be included in the stud book for the breed.
The mare must achieve at least 70 offspring points, of which at least two offspring with no fewer than 20 points or
one offspring with 50 points.

Class ELITE (can be awarded posthumously no later than three years after the mare's death). The mare must fulfil the requirements for class A and

- have borne at least 6 living foals of good nature
- assessed offspring must have lineage that entitles them to be entered into the stud book for the breed
- have earned at least 120 offspring points, of which at least two offspring with 30 points and two offspring with 20 points, or

- 120 offspring points, of which three offspring with 30 points
- 120 offspring points, of which one offspring with 50 points and two offspring with at least 20 points
- 120 offspring points, of which two offspring with 50 points.

Point scale - offspring points
When tallying points, each offspring is only tallied once:

10 points

- living foal

20 points

- of which is included in the stud book with at least 37 exterior points
- driveability certificate approved for the race with at least 37 exterior points
- awarded at least 38 exterior points at three years of age
- placed in a driving, ploughing or forest driving competition at no lower than the national championship class

30 points

- diploma mare
- AB or A ranked mare
- placed in a driving, ploughing or forest driving competition at no lower than the national championship class and awarded at least 38 exterior points

50 points

- approved stud
- ELITE ranked mare

Breeding valuation decision
Decisions regarding breeding value class are made by the show officiator at the summer showing.

North Swedish Horse, stallion

(established 11 January 2006)

Individual assessment

Approved colours
Brown, blackish-brown, black, chestnut, golden brown, cream-coloured, yellowish-black and drab variants of these colours. Bleached dapples of colour can be traced to the so-called "blue colour" in Norway.

Lineage
Any stallion is to be included in section 1 of the Grundstambok (Register) and both the mother and father are to be registered in the Riksstambok (Swedish Stud Book).

Health
Stallions are to be approved by a veterinarian. Any mane or tail scurf is to be noted in the inspection record. In order to be eligible for licensing, a stallion must be cleared of lateral cartilage ossification via X-ray. A stallion cleared by X-ray and/or approved in Norway does not need to undergo a new X-ray examination of the lateral cartilage for breeding assessment in Sweden. For reasons of future research needs, the X-ray plates should be re-read in Sweden. Regardless of the results of re-reading the X-rays, the stallion is considered cleared via X-ray.

Exterior evaluation
During each individual assessment, the exterior of the stallion is evaluated. During individual assessment, the stallion's measurements are to be taken for size from withers to front hoof, chest size, carpus size and front shin width.

Quality classes

Quality class ELITE can awarded posthumously.

Performance test
Stallions four years of age and older must undergo a performance test to be allocated to a quality class. The stallion can undergo a driving test no earlier than three years of age. Assessments are graded on a ten-point scale. The driving test requirement does not apply to stallions that have undergone offspring assessment.

The following elements are assessed:

a. Hitching and unhitching (an assistant may be used).
b. Starting off plus pulling technique and desire to pull when driving.
c. Halter.
d. Backing (working harness recommended).
e. Temperament, willingness to cooperate and obedience.

Driving test
The test is conducted on a 300-500 m track. A four-wheel cart loaded with a standard load of about 900 kg is used. The load should be adapted to the surface and terrain. The stallion is driven as instructed by the judge. It must stop and remain stationary for 10 seconds and then back up about 5 steps as instructed by the judge. The hitching attempt may not take longer than 5 minutes. If hitching is unsuccessful, a new attempt can be made later that same day.

The judge awards 1-10 points for each element. The points are then added together and divided by 5. The minimum point average for approval is 5. The only element for which subpoints under 4 are allowed is backing.

Showing requirement
In order to remain eligible for licensing, the stallion must be shown for a soundness check every other year at the summer showing , during standard breeding valuation or at a national show. In order to remain eligible for licensing, any stallion not shown at the summer showing must appear at a standard breeding valuation for a soundness check.

Competition merits
A performance test can be replaced with competition results. Stallions that have completed an official driving competition at the debutant class or have completed a distance, performance or forest driving competition do not need to carry out the performance test.