At the Trakehner grading this year four of Arentino’s daughters came up for grading and all graded into the main stud book.
 
Singing Genie out of Holme Grove Gineta was awarded 50 marks, she pleased the German guests which came and congratulated us on breeding such a wonderful filly saying that they felt she was a bit under graded and could have had a couple of marks more but they would still love to have taken her home to Germany. However Kerrie loves her filly and would never let her go and we think she did very well with her grading marks.
 
Singing Ultraelegance out of Ultravioletta was awarded 49 points disappointing both owner and us at the stud as this mare really has the most amazing trot so should have had a couple of more points had she been more awake. Her owner Caroline did slip out that she had left Ultraelegance in the field until the day of the grading and if a horse is field tired then one can not expect to much from it, It would be wonderful if she could be regarded. However Ultraelegance is certainly a filly that we would welcome home again either as a broodmare or a sports horse.
 
Singing Honolulu (a full sister to the graded stallion Singing Horatio) out of Holme Grove Hawaii was awarded 51 points pleasing her owners Keatinge Stud and us her at the stud.
 
Singing Lantana out of State Premium and Premium mare Luana von Steinberg was awarded a very poor 48 point shocking many spectators, German guests as well as English for not to say her owners Keatinge stud and us here at The Singing Stud. There were two different reasons given by two different judges at two different times on the day. First the owners where told Lantana was to fat, by a English judge) which was just stupid, as she was the one mare at the show, which was in perfect show and grading condition and she was also the mare there with the best conformation and movements. Keatinge stud had her in excellent show and grading condition (something they saw at Neumunster grading in Germany later in the year) The second judge (German) told us that there was something wrong with her in the back which didn’t make her track up properly and again this was really stupid, however we didn’t argue and let it be but not forgotten. Lantana really deserved premium status something the German guests also remarked on, as they could just not understand the outcome of the grading. We think that perhaps this years judges should go on a judging course before being let out to judge horses again and that perhaps the Verband ought to send judges that they would use at Neumunster only and not people that even the best breeders in Germany would never have grade their horses.

 

Sadly I have come to the decision that people who used to say that the grading standard in England was very poor and way below the German Verband and other Trakehner societies in Europa is right and it is really sad and bad for the Trakehner breed in this country that they allow to grade any poor quality mare with premium status to keep owners happy. One example ... in year 2006 a mare graded with 48 points and the breeders and owner put up such a fuss it was quite stupid as the mare got the marks it deserved (yes it was NOT a premium mare and believe me it is still not a premium mare) the following year the mare comes up for grading again and receives an amazing 55 points... talk of a horse that improved in a year   yes when I tell other Trakehner breeders from other countries about this mare they also lift eyebrows and start to laugh and then comments that it is a real shame that the English allow themselves to do this to the bred as other people is not going to want to buy the breed as the quality on premium horses are so bad ... I totally agree but also have to blame the German Verband for allowing this to happen by going along with it all very sad and VERY stupid as what other English competition people want to go to the Trakehner grading and auction when they see the quality in this country. However I understand the Trakehner breeders involved as they HAVE to be champion and have graded premium mares as this is what sell to the English people so from their point of view I understand as they need to sell the horses they breed, however it is just such a shame for the bred and I hope real serious competition people would still go to other countries and have a look at the quality they can get there but do be aware... If you want REAL quality then you will have to dig very deep in to your pockets as quality do sell for very good money abroad.