Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

A survey about Riding Horse Quality Test for Swedish Warmblood horses.
In Sweden, there is a field performance test for four-year-old Swedish Warmblood horses (SWB) called Riding Horse Quality Test (RHQT). Five-year-old broodmares are also allowed to participate. The records from the test are used for estimating breeding values and to select good horses for breeding. In 2016, the participation in RHQT reached the lowest level since the start in 1973, when only 169 horses participated. A reduced number of tested horses in RHQT could slow down the genetic progress of SWB since less information will be available about young horses to make accurate estimations of breeding values and select good mares and stallions for breeding.
The aim of this study was to investigate why the participation in the RHQT has been reduced and if, and how, horse owners want to test their young horses in the future. The study was performed as an open web-based survey and everyone that was interested could participate. In total, there were 30 questions about the respondents’ thoughts and experiences of RHQT. The respondents were also asked to evaluate different suggestions for possible changes of the test. There was a large interest and the survey got 836 responses. The results from the study can help the Swedish warmblood association to make changes to increase the interest and participation in the test.
The results of this study showed that the respondents have been content with the RHQT the past eleven years. With this said, there was an interest in attending in RHQT but not in the same way as the test is designed today. According to the respondents, the most wanted changes were that the test should welcome both three-, four- and five-year-old horses, that horse owners get to choose discipline to show their horse in and that the test should be spread out throughout the year so horse owners get more than one chance to get an evaluation of their four- or five-year-old horse. In 2017, SWB has introduced some changes that were desired by the participations of this study and more suggestions are under discussion based on the results of this study.