Monday was a day off followed by training at the owner's discretion on Tuesday through Thursday. On Friday, the testing resumed with the first of two special discipline tests. According to their age, the stallions performed the FEI young horse test at one level under their age, i.e., a 6-year-old did the FEI 5-year-old test.
On Saturday the stallions were ridden by the dressage guest rider, the Danish dressage professional Mikala Gundersen.
The test concluded on Sunday with another dressage test, this time at the stallions' age levels. While Rosall's first test with a score of 8.50 was better than his second, both he and Diamunde dominated the scoring with scores in the high 7s. The same was true of the guest rider scores, with Diamund earning an 8 and Rosall a 9. So it was no surprise that these two were the top scoring stallions, although all five of the stallions passed the performance test.
During the entire two-week period, the stallions were observed both under saddle and in the stable by testing director Helmut Schrant, a veteran director of the American 100-day tests. Schrant scored the stallions in four temperament related categories: Character, Temperament, Ability to Work and Willingness to Work. Schant says, "This particular group of stallions had unbelievably good temperament and character. We had no stabling issues with any of the stallions, which was not always the case in previous 100-day tests. They were super well behaved."
Rosall's rider and trainer, J.J. Tate was a guest rider at a previous 100-day test, allowing a comparison between the old and new tests. "It was a lot less stressful on the horses, they weren't so exhausted at the end. You had full control over your training and could stay on your program." she adds. " I would definitely recommend that a stallion be sent to the trainer who will ride it for at least three months beforehand for adequate preparation."
Training director Schrant was pleased with how the testing came off. "It was the first time for this kind of test and everyone didn't quite know what to expect with the new format. It's like when the FEI young horse test first came out; riders didn't know how to ride it. Now it's been around for a while and riders have figured it out. I think some of the horses could have been a little better conditioned. They did get tired, especially after the gallop in the basic gaits. This testing format is harder on those without resources. They could just drop their horses off at the 100-day test before, even unstarted. Now the owners have more control over their horses, but they also have the responsibility to prepare them. The shorter the testing is, the better prepared the horse has to be when he arrives. Down the road I think the 10-day test is the way to go."
Petra Wilder, owner and trainer of the stallion Diamunde said, "I personally would bring any of my stallions back to this form of stallion testing. I am a very protective owner/trainer and felt that all my needs regarding care for my boy were addressed."
With the demise of the 100-day test, a new independent 30-day and 70-day testing site is now starting at Silver Creek Farm in Oklahoma, slated to hold its first 70-day testing this fall. "The 100-day test (or the 30 or 70-day test) may be the best format for young stallions and, of course, will remain an accepted test format for the Registry. But for the true evaluation of a more advanced stallion the new format is by far the better choice," according to Brysch .
Currently the Advanced Test is only accepted by the ISR/Oldenburg North America, but the registry is hopeful that other registries will join in recognizing the new format. Reinhard Baumgart, an experienced judge from the Hanoverian breeding area in Germany, said at the presentation of the results that this new test format is totally competitive to the 100-day test but more horse- and owner-friendly. "I do not need more that 10 days to find out about the quality of a stallion" he said. The ISR-Oldenburg Registry N.A. plans its next Advanced Stallion Performance Test for March 2010.
