The Elite Mare title (E.M.) is equivalent to St.Pr.St (Staats Prämien Stute) in Germany.
An Elite Mare must meet the following requirements to be considered for registration into this part of the Studbook:
- Mares must be birth registered Hanoverian mares.
- Mares must be Main Stud Book classified with the Hanoverian Horse Society of Australia or the Verband.
- The dam of the mare must be Main Stud Book classified with the Hanoverian Horse Society of Australia or the Verband.
- Mares must be presented for classification as a three of four year old and receive a Total Score no less than 8.
- Mares must be performance tested at the ages of 3 or 4 and receive the following scores:
Dressage mare – average of 7.25 over paces and rideability, with a jumping average of at least 5.
Jumping mare – average of 7.25 over jumping and rideability, with a paces average of at least 6.
Dual purpose mare – paces average of at least 7, jumping average at least 7, rideability average at least 7.
Mares who fulfil these first five requirements, but are yet to foal, are known as Elite Candidates. They must complete either option 1 or 2 below to be awarded the Elite Mare status.
Mares have the following two options to complete their Elite Mare award:
- With a financial premium: the mare has to produce at least one registered live foal before the end of her 6th year. The mare then receives the financial Premium (a one off payment of $1000 when a live registerable foal is born), plus a commemorative plate for an Elite Mare.
- Without financial premium: the mare has to produce one registered live foal with no age limit. There is no financial Premium or commemorative plate.
Both mares receive the title of Elite Mare.
Five year old mares may be performance tested if they have foaled in the preceding years, however, an age penalty may apply.
Elite mares will be entered into the Elite Stud Book and have their pedigree papers endorsed, as well as those of their progeny born after the awarding of the title.