PLAN and GUIDELINES

for Föreningen Nordsvenska Hästen's activities as stud book and register keeping association for North Swedish Horses in Sweden (2 November 2005)

CONTENT

1. ORGANISATION

1.1 Financial resources
1.2 Board
1.2.1 Office
1.3 Decision on stud bookkeeping and registration
1.4 Application of Administrative Procedure Act

2. REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-DISCRIMINATION AND PUBLIC ACCESS

3. BREED DESCRIPTION

3.1 Distinctive features of the breed

4. BREEDING GOALS AND NUMBER OF STUDS

4.1 Stud goals
4.2 Number of studs

5. IDENTITY

6. LINEAGE

6.1 Number of branches in the lineage
6.2 Conformity with original stud book

7. REGISTRATION

7.1 Registrar in charge
7.2 Requirements for addition to the "Grundstambok" ( Register )
7.2.1 Grundstambok part I ( register )
7.2.2 Grundstambok part II ( B-register)
7.2.3 Appendix to stud book ( crossbreeding )
7.3 Control of registration

8. STUD BOOK

8.1 Requirements for addition to the "Riksstambok" (Swedish Stud Book)
8.2 Stud book divisions
8.3 Use of breeding valuation in conjunction with stud bookkeeping

9. PRINCIPLES FOR SWITCHING SECTION IN STUD BOOK

10. REGISTRATION OF HORSE WITH INCOMPLETE LINEAGE

1. ORGANISATION

1.1 Financial resources

Föreningen Nordsvenska Hästen's activities are financed through membership fees, registration and stud book fees, contributions and interest earned on the society's shares and bonds.

1.2 Board

The society is non-profit. The board, which is appointed at the annual meeting for a period of four years, consists of seven members and three deputy members. It takes four members to make a quorum. No fees are paid to the members.

1.2.1 Office

The society's office is located in the secretary's home c/o Gösta Bengtsson, Almvägen 65, 183 40 Täby. Tel & fax 08-758 76 47.

1.3 Decision on stud bookkeeping and registration

The society keeps a "Riksstambok" (Swedish Stud Book) and a "Grundstambok" (Register) for horses of the North Swedish breed and imported horses of the Dölehest breed type heavy horse. The board has decision-making power regarding stud books and the size of registration and stud book fees. The administrative duties concerning the register and stud books are delegated to a stud bookkeeper and registrar appointed by the board. Documents regarding registration and stud bookkeeping are the property of the society. Originals and copies of documents are stored in designated locations.
The society's decision on stud bookkeeping and registration can be appealed to the board of Föreningen Nordsvenska Hästen.
The written appeal shall include the decision to be appealed, the change requested for the decision and the circumstances referred to as support for the requested change. The decision shall indicate how appeals to the board of FNH are to be made.

Appeals regarding the registration and stud bookkeeping are made to the Board of Appeals. If the ruling of the Board of Appeals goes against the complainant, he or she will receive the reason for the ruling and information on the following conditions:

1.4 Application of Administrative Procedure Act

In matters concerning stud bookkeeping and registration, Föreningen Nordsvenska Hästen is obligated to apply the Administrative Procedure Act (1986:233) in matters regarding the rights of a party to obtain information on challenges as well as the reasoning behind, reporting of and appeal of decisions.

2. REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-DISCRIMINATION AND PUBLIC ACCESS

The basic principle behind the application of these rules is non-discrimination of horse owners or breeders. The data on registration and stud bookkeeping is public.

3. BREED DESCRIPTION

3.1 Distinctive features of the breed

The North Swedish Horse is an average-size cold blooded horse that is 145-160 cm from withers to front hoof. Permissible colours are 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 allowed.
The head is comparatively small with a somewhat inward-curving or straight profile.
The neck is medium length, muscular and often broad.
The shoulders are long and well positioned with a sloe that is suitable for a workhorse. The chest is often broad.
The back is long and muscular. The loins should be long and broad.
The legs are strong with broad joints and strong tendons.
The tissue has very good quality. Movements are energetic and well paced.

4. BREEDING GOALS AND NUMBER OF STUDS

4.1 Breeding goals

In recent centuries, the breed has been bred for use in forestry work. Due to its driving characteristics, it has been prioritised in breeding valuations and has developed into one of the world's best suited breeds for this purpose.
In recent years, the breed has also shown its versatility through use in horse tourism and other work applications.
The goal is to use breed valuation based on offspring assessment, exterior assessment and mandatory work tests to maintain and improve the breed's extremely good pull team characteristics and soundness.
The North Swedish Horse's preservation value must be prized highly.

In order to maintain a robust population in the long term, Föreningen Nordsvenska Hästen intends to work to limit inbreeding and increase the size of the population.
The society intends to work to increase the number of breed mares fertilised and to maintain a large number of breeding stallions. In order to increase demand for North Swedish Horses, the society actively works with measures that promote practical usage.

4.2 Number of studs

In recent years, the number of studs has been consistently about 90 stallions and 2,000 breed mares.
About 650 breed mares are fertilised per year, which leads to the birth of about 400 foals.

5. IDENTITY

All horses are to have an identity document. This shall include identification number, name, gender, colour, breed, lineage going back three generations, date of birth, breeder, owner, contour diagram, description of any distinguishing marks and appendices for identity control, horse flu vaccinations, laboratory examinations, medical treatments and certificates regarding whether the horse can be used in food production.
The relevant registrar issues and signs the documentation.

6. LINEAGE

6.1 Number of branches in lineage

Lineage requirements for addition to the Grundstambok are three generations, which can be certified through Riksstambok for North Swedish Horses or the Norwegian Stambog for Dölehest. Lineage requirements for addition to the Riksstambok are four generations for stallions and three generations for breed mares as per the requirements above. All stallions of the three respective four lineage branches plus the mother of the stallion up for registration in the stud book must be part of the Riksstambok or Stambog for Dölehest under its own number.

6.2 Conformity with original stud book

The Swedish Riksstambok for North Swedish Horses is the original stud book for the breed. The only foreign breed approved for inclusion in the stud book is the Norwegian Dölehest type heavy horse.

7. REGISTRATION

7.1 Registrar in charge

The board appoints a registrar in charge.

7.2 Requirements for addition to "Grundstambok" (Register)

For a North Swedish Horse to be added to the Grundstambok, the horse's owner must apply for such in writing. The original stud report, which must be correctly filled in and signed by both the stallion and the breed mare owner, is sent in to the registrar. A contour diagram with description of distinguishing marks issued by the ID controller approved by the Swedish Horse Board is to be submitted. Offspring register for fertile years and birth year are to be submitted.
The specified registration fee is to be paid.

7.2.1 Grundstambok section I

This section covers horses for which the father is in the Riksstambok and whose stallion owner has a stud license for the year in question and the mother is in the Riksstambok and/or Grundstambok section I.
A North Swedish Horse added to Grundstambok section I is allotted an identification number based on SH's stud book and registration regulations. The breed code is 22 with number series 0001-4999 for mares and 5001-8999 for stallions/geldings with one number series per foal season.

7.2.2 Grundstambok section II (B-register)

This section covers horses from parents in the Grundstambok where the father has had a stud certificate or stud evidence for the year in question.
A horse added to the Grundstambok section II is allotted an identification number based on SH's stud book and registration regulations. The breed code is 22 with number series 9001-9499 for mares and 9501-9999 for stallions/geldings.

7.2.3 Appendix to Grundstambok (crossbreeding)

Horses with incomplete lineage can be incorporated into this appendix. The father must be a North Swedish Horse. The horse is allotted an identification number with breed code 72, birth year and a sequence number from the series 9001-9499 for mares and 9501-9999 for stallions/geldings.

7.3 Control of registration

The registrar checks the accuracy of the data of the offspring register drawn up by the stallion owner and the lineage data for the horse's parents in the stud books approved for the breed. In the event of uncertainty, the registrar can require a DNA analysis.
The documents used as the basis of decision making and a copy of the registration document are filed at the registrar.

8. STUD BOOK

8.1 Requirements for addition to Riksstambok (Swedish Stud Book)

In order to be added to Riksstambok, a North Swedish Horse must be in Grundstambok section I, be assessed for breeding purposes and fulfil the established quality requirements for that breed. For stallions, both the mother and the father must be in Riksstambok. Stud stallions must be identified and lineage must be verified through DNA analysis or the like.
For mares, the father, maternal grandfather and maternal great grandfather must be listed in Riksstambok.
Stallions and mares of the Dölehest breed that have horses with trotting lineage (T-number) within the last four respective three generations, cannot be premiered and included in Riksstambok for North Swedish Horses unless it is supported by Föreningen Nordsvenska Hästen and an exception is made.

Offspring of mares fertilised by a Döle stallion referred to above cannot be premiered or added to Riksstambok for North Swedish Horses unless granted an exception.

8.2 Stud book divisions

Riksstambok is divided into a stallion section and a mare section.

8.3 Use of breeding valuation in conjunction with stud bookkeeping

The achieved results and information for a mare regarding offspring is reported in Riksstambok under the horse in question.

9. PRINCIPLES FOR CHANGE OF SECTION IN STUD BOOK

The society does not have different sections in Riksstambok, which is based on the merits of the horse.
Change of section is not possible.

10. REGISTRATION OF HORSE WITH INCOMPLETE LINEAGE

The society does not have an appendix to the Riksstambok for registration of horses with incomplete lineage.