HANOVERIAN PREMIUM MARES (HAN.PR.M)
CALLED ELITE MARES IN AUSTRALIA UNTIL 2013
1. Mares must be birth registered Hanoverian or Rhineland mares AND/OR mares must be Main Stud Book classified with the Hanoverian Horse Society of Australia or the Verband
2. The dam of the mare must be Main Stud Book classified with the Hanoverian Horse Society of Australia or the Verband, or relevant Main Studbook if she has been classified into the HHSA Studbook.
3. Mares must be presented for classification as a three or four year old and receive a Total Score no less than 7.5. If a mare scores a 7 for her classification and does an exceptional Mare Performance Test the classifier at their total discretion can allow the mare to become a Hanoverian Premium Mare Candidate.
4. Mares must be performance tested at the ages of 3 or 4 and receive the following scores:
Dressage Mare
Mares must achieve an average of 7.25 between paces and rideability
Jumping Mare
Mares must achieve an average of 7.25 between jumping and rideability, with at least an average of 6 for paces.
Dual Purpose Mare
Mares must achieve an average of at least 7 for paces, an average at least 7 for jumping, and an average at least 7 for rideability.
Mares that fulfill these first four requirements but are yet to foal are known as Hanoverian Premium Mare Candidates.
If a mare performance test is not completed, Han. Pr Mare Candidate can be given to a mare who scores 7.5 in her classification and achieves 3 placings first to fifth (with 7.75 or better score) in Official 4 or 5YO Young Horse Dressage classes, or three placings first to fifth in Official 4 or 5YO classes for young jumping horses, or three placings first to fifth in Official Young Horse classes for 4 or 5YO young eventers. For eventers, alternatively three placings of first to fifth in official 80cm eventing classes with a final penalty score less than 35.
These mares need to have a registered foal before becoming Han. Pr. Mares.
In order to complete their Hanoverian Premium Mare award:
The mare must produce one registered live foal with no age limit. The mare then receives the title of Hanoverian Premium Mare.
Notes:
Five year old mares may be performance tested if they have foaled in the preceding years, however, an age penalty may apply.
Hanoverian Premium mares will have their pedigree papers endorsed with this award as well as those of their progeny born after the awarding of the title.
Special circumstances: If a mare that scored a 7 in her classification does a particularly good performance test, then the judge/s have the discretion to make this mare a Hanoverian Premium Mare candidate.
As of 2025/2026 The Hanoverian Premium Mare award can also be given to mares from other societies (i.e. AWHA, Oldenburg, KWPN) if they fulfill above requirements (including in person classification into the HHSA studbook). In these cases, mares that have already received an award from another society, the premium title (not candidacy) can now also be taken over and is listed as a name affix.
Pictured is PrM Salamanca DS, photo by Kate Sheffield Photography