The 30-day test was developed in Germany to provide stallion owners an avenue to fulfill their stallion's licensing requirements at an earlier age using a combination of standardized on-site testing and performance results. In North America, as in Germany, the 30-day test evaluates a young stallion's interior values (character, temperament, willingness to work and athletic ability), gaits, rideability, and jumping ability. The breed association uses this overview of the stallion in work to determine his ability to improve the sport horse characteristics in the breeding population. Successful 30-day test results must be followed either with the final 70-day stallion test (making up the total 100 days of the traditional stallion test), or completion of specified performance requirements.

In 2005, the RPSI hosted its first official 30-day test at Kasson Ridge Farm in Bethlehem, CT, hosting a total of 7 young stallions. Since then, tests have been held annually at a central location - Silver Creek Farms in Broken Arrow, OK. Beginning in 2008, tests will be offered two times per year.

All RPSI stallions 3 to 6 years of age who have been presented and entered into Studbook 1B are required to complete this 30 days testing as the first step in retaining their Studbook 1 status. Any Studbook 1B stallion who does not complete this testing will be downgraded to studbook 2, or Recorded Status.

RPSI Recorded Stallions in Studbook II who enter and successfully complete the 30 days testing may re-present to the commission at the end of the testing to be considered for upgrading on the basis of their test results and pedigree documents.

Stallions from all sport horse registries are welcome to participate. The test will be OPEN enrollment for all Warmblood, Arabian, Anglo-Arabian, Thoroughbred and Pony stallions, 3-6 years, who wish to add this performance result to their credentials. Stallions are required to be started under saddle prior to attending the testing.

The 30-day test is conducted in accordance to the rules and regulations of the FN (German Equestrian Federation) and BMELV (German Federal Ministry).

History of the 30-day Test

The history of the 30-day test begins in the early part of the 19th century, when the sport horse breeding industry first established testing specifically for breeding stallions. Beginning in1822, special races tested imported English Thoroughbred stallions. By 1830, those breeding districts that used Thoroughbred and Thoroughbred-cross stallions were regularly testing stallions at specially-held races. But until the early years of the 20th century, racing was the only testing criteria applied to Thoroughbred-cross stallions. As demand increased for more versatile, multi-purpose horses, a more complex test was developed, including the adaptation of other testing elements, such as the pulling test used for stallions in Westphalia beginning in 1905. The first formal testing facility for stallions was established in East Prussia, for Trakehner breeding, in 1926. The on-site testing, which was copied by the Hanoverian state stud at Celle two years later, tested three-year-old stallions over the course of a year. Most of the basic criteria evaluated in these early testings was similar to those we have today - temperament, willingness to work, health and soundness, and quality of movement. Some special criteria were a bit different, such as the pulling contest, and have been replaced over time by more pertinent criteria, such as jumping technique and capability.

In 1974 German law established mandatory stallion testing over a minimum period of 100 days. More recently, the full testing period has been reduced to a combination of 30 and 70-day tests, with the most popular option being a combination of a 30-day test followed by successful competition participation at lower level classes. Stallion performance testing is carried out at state-approved facilities throughout Germany, including the traditional State Stud at Zweibrucken.

In America, while the 100-day test has been offered since 1986, the RPSI was the first to sponsor and develop the 30-day test. In 2005, the first fully accredited 30-day test was held at Kasson Ridge Farm in Bethlehem, Connecticut. The RPSI plans to continue offering 30-day tests twice a year, in March and November, to accommodate stallions of different birth dates and their owners' schedules as well. The North American 30-day tests are recognized by the Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International (RPSI) and the Oldenburg Horse Breeders Society, the official North American representative of the German Oldenburg Verband (GOV). Recognition of the 30-day testing is still pending with the American Trakehner Association (ATA), the Westphalians for USA (the official representative for the Westphalian Pferdestammbuch e.V. Germany) and the American Holsteiner Horse Association (AHHA).

The 30 days of testing is divided into a pre-testing and training period, and a 2-day Final Testing. Officials and Staff will consist of a Training Director and two training riders. For the Final Testing, two judges and two test riders will evaluate each stallion.

During the first 28 days of the test, the German PRPS Verband Training Director oversees riding of the stallions and gives scores on the following criteria before the Final Testing:

• Interior values - character, temperament, willingness to work, and athletic ability
• Gaits - walk, trot, and canter
• Jumping ability - free jumping scope and technique

During the Final Testing (last 2 days):

• Stallions will be presented to the judges under saddle (walk, trot, canter) by 2 test riders to evaluate the gaits and scores will be given
• Stallions will be given scores for rideability after being ridden by each test rider
• Stallions will be presented in the free jumping chute and will be given scores for technique and capability

The judging team for the final days will be chosen directly from the German PRPS Stallion Commission and all judging will be carried out as per the rules of the Verband.