UK Studbooks

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nomis

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Is it just me or are the websites of some of the bigger UK studbooks quite un-informative, lack lustre and pretty darn dull???

AES - hardly every updates, nothing new on the stallion front, offspring success etc.. The news page leaves a lot to be desired.... And it reminds me of England winning the Football World Cup with regards to the front page, i.e. "The Olympic Stallions 2004"....what I want to know is what they have done for the last three years...
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SHBGB - quite good and keeps the news coming, except that it only gives you the last news item...and they need to update what they have coming up on their "Whats On"
SSH - New website with half information missing, details on successful horses no longer available (thats a shame), no details at all on any stallions graded (mmm...is this not important??). No email addresses to contact. Old site much more informative...new one seems to be promoting one particular photographer..
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BWBS - Site last updated in September....
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, and with list of stallions and no links to websites nor studcards.. Also no news to report at all on the success of their horses
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You go onto the KWPN, Hanoverian, Oldenburg, Holstein websites etc and you are met with up-to-date information on what is happening, the successes etc etc..

Come on UK Studbooks.......get your acts in order, your hardly marketing yourselves to the worldwide market!!
 
Here here!! Totally agree!!!! Also the picture of stallions etc on some of the sites are VERY poor quality, and sites like the shb keep the original photos from stallions that where graded as 3 y/o's even though they have to go and be regraded, and are likely to look VERY different and much more mature in their frame and way of going!

I dont think they are helping themselves and are reducing the value of a grading with their studbook.... hmmmm kwpn or aes.... I know which one I would choose!
 
I assume all the stud books you are referring to relate to sport horses of one type or another - we do have an excellent record for breeding and promoting our pure native breeds too and I imagine you might find these websites a little more up to date!
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There are several live topics in Breeding which all relate to the professionalism (or lack of it!) of the UK studbooks, and some areas of the UK sports horse breeding industry ... The really strong message is there's a LOT of frustration out there with our studboooks and organisations who are responsible for marketing and improving UK breeding. We compare so badly with the Continent, we REALLY need to get our act together! (Is there another article in this for H&H??!!)
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Well I would agree with everyones comments. The "Sports Horse" ones, not our native counterparts
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, are awful and it does show a lack of professionalism to the industry.

If they cannot even blow their own trumpets (in an up to date way) on their own websites, then what does that say for them as a breed association, or to their paying members??
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Is there one for the Trakehners in the UK? Also the British Hanoverian one is quite up to date, but the yellow background is enough to give you a migraine, its horrible on the eyes!!
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From a personal viewpoint I can comment on the Trakehner one. The TBF website is being totally rebuilt with a web designer working on the new one as we speak. I believe it will be launched at the AGM, but I haven't seen any drafts yet.
now the Trakehner verband website is really good, loads of info and up to date news (if you can speak German)
But one thing in the TBF's defence. The verband in Germany is huge in comparison. they have full time paid staff working for them. The TBF in England is very small and the Committee is made up of a handful of people who all work full time and have their own horses and studs to run. You wouldn't believe how much time it takes me just to do the part bred registrations, plsu on top I am trying to take on other jobs for the TBF as I am passionate about getting the breed marketed better.
Now I assume BWBS and BHHS are similar as being totally volunteer run, even though they are bigger socities. Those of you who are members of one of the sporthorse stud books, have you written to your society with your views? Or even better have you volunteered some of your time to help in some way?
 
Ehhmmm............Mat...............whats the "Abiminable" Snowman...........whaaaaa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.........PMSL ROFL.........
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Next time you ask for a name change.....do you want me to proof read it first......PMSL....
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[ QUOTE ]
From a personal viewpoint I can comment on the Trakehner one. The TBF website is being totally rebuilt with a web designer working on the new one as we speak. I believe it will be launched at the AGM, but I haven't seen any drafts yet.
now the Trakehner verband website is really good, loads of info and up to date news (if you can speak German)
But one thing in the TBF's defence. The verband in Germany is huge in comparison. they have full time paid staff working for them. The TBF in England is very small and the Committee is made up of a handful of people who all work full time and have their own horses and studs to run. You wouldn't believe how much time it takes me just to do the part bred registrations, plsu on top I am trying to take on other jobs for the TBF as I am passionate about getting the breed marketed better.
Now I assume BWBS and BHHS are similar as being totally volunteer run, even though they are bigger socities. Those of you who are members of one of the sporthorse stud books, have you written to your society with your views? Or even better have you volunteered some of your time to help in some way?

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Volatis...........most studbooks in the UK are all run by volunteers, but I guess its trying to make sure you have enough of these to do all the jobs, which I know is very difficult at times. Plus you then have those members that try their best to do as much as they can, while others just do nothing.

Personally I have been there, done that and got the matching shirt and jacket.....LOL
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At times you realise that sometimes no matter what you do it will never never work....
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Mat...love the resemblance of you in your new avator......
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Its meant to be abominalble_snowmat_b!
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Its me before Ive had an all over body wax!!
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Love the name change!
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Its meant to be abominable_snowmat_b!
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Its me before Ive had an all over body wax!

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so thats you and AnusTinsel that have both admitted to waxing today..... me thinks there is something going on here........ some sort of pain fetish maybe!!
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got to agree with the AES the website is past its sell by date there arent Novs Grading Results up yet a member off here posted them..
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though i find them most helpful when i ring them
 
Well I could say that if some of us have time to spend on here, we could find time to update a website!! Honestly though once it is all set up how much work is there to update? The Internet & email are for most people the way of communication. Same with banking, I dont use cheques, it is all transfers & that is how I prefer to pay for my membership. This is something that should be available via the websites, you fill in the forms, including payment method. No need to rumage around finding an envelope/stamp then relying on the post! We live in an electronic age, but it would appear that some areas need to catch up (not just the horseworld). I am a member of TBF & this is their website http://www.trakehnerbreeders.com/
and if you want to fill in a form for the mare grading with the SHBS http://www.sporthorsegb.co.uk/forms/Mare%20Grading%20Entry%20Form.pdf

Talk about make if harder then it needs to be. I understand this technology comes at a price & is reliant on volunteers but I thought that was what subs contributed to.
 
Have to say that the SPSS one is pretty good and up-to-date with grading results, but that's entirely down to Phil's hard work and devotion -- as a volunteer of course -- to keeping it right.
 
Yes the SPSS is kept well up to date
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and when you send info in, it put on fairly quickly within a week usually which is quite speedy considering the work levels of the volunteers
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. Some of the other studbook could cetainly get some tips!!
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...I had a wry grin reading this thread. I was approached by a committee member to create a website for the SSH - which they declined. (Im a web designer by trade - feel free to critique www.palegallery.com) - apart from that my biggest bug bear is the TBF - or Trakehner Breeders Fratenity, whatever that means - Ive been seeing the same stuff on the same site for at least three years. That little "pokey" format does nothing at all to improve the breed standing in the UK - (admittedly I bought mine 15yr ago whilst working in Germany). It seems that certain "breed societies" of warmbloods have taken it upon themselves to decide no animal is worthy unless bred by a certain few studs, or has a prefix/suffix.

Id love to see websites of UK stallions kept up to date (as are thousands of owner/breedres sites!!!) So why is it our "frats, books, societies lack?

Yrs Respectfully,
Scotia
 
Is it the good ole Brit tradition of preferring the amateur approach, and secretly rather despising the professionalism and glitz of the Continentals that's partly at work here, do you think? But from the examples, its obvious that some societies and studbooks DO get their act together ... good point about volunteers, though, and I now feel guilty and will offer services to the studbook that's quite local to me and see what happens! I have to say that I have never seen a request for volunteers, or for specific input on website design/updating/etc .... and scotia2k7 your post is an example of what can happen when you do offer your services! I think that there's a lot to put right here, but hey, maybe some of us (I'll start with myself)
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should try harder .... (Edited to say love your website, and how cool is that interactive lemon??!!)
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I don't think all of the studbooks are run on vounteers though (smaller ones yes but not all the bigger ones). The AES for example was advertising the other day for a new PA for handling passport paperwork and the salary was certainly nothing to sniff at and so I don't see why they for example cannot spend a bit of money maybe hiring someone every now and then to upgrade or update their websites....if doing that brought in one or two more customers it would eventually pay for itself.
 
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Well I could say that if some of us have time to spend on here, we could find time to update a website!!

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Totally agree Magic. The news from the North Of The Border Foal Show was added to the website at 10.40pm the same day the show took place including the full list of results, following a 10am to 5pm day at the show itself commentating, despite recovering from surgery, in a cold drafty room. Fully supported by my own volonteer family members who I hasten to add have NO interest in horses for the benefit of the SSH membership.

With 24 hours photographs the report was sent to press and the full report added to the website which has already been published in the Scottish Farmer.

As many of the posters on this thread are fully aware, the SSH website is under redevelopment. Regretably the old website was not industry standard and many members complained that they found navigation exceedingly difficult. The website frequently crashed as framed template websites are unable to cope with PDF downloads, and expereinced regular down time periods and bounced e-mail deliveries. So HG I am glad you appreciated the previous website however that was not the general consensus of many SSH members, especially those without ADSL/Broadband operating on older PC operating systems.

Whilst the dedication, commitment and efforts of maintaining the website are commendable the SSH website had to be brought up to industry standard.

Simon, regretably the data of the previous website has not as yet been transferred thus much of the information, photographers details, stallion data, results, press releases cannot be added at present to the website but I am sure the SSH will endeavour to gather as much information from its membership to bring it up-to-date as quickly as is possible.

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Is this not important?

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Yes it is VERY important and a stallion directory, classifieds feedback forms, links and sponsors etc will be added in the coming weeks.

Regretably and frequently the problem when depending on volonteers to do the work rather than engaging the services of a professional company under contractual obligations can lead to the loss of data as has been discovered. This of course will not happen again as the information, website data etc is contractually the property of the SSH.

Scotia as you have asked for comments I would suggest that you investigate BOBBY compliance as your websites most certainly do not comply. Your graphic skills and presentation are indeed a credit to you but these skills are best fitted to print. I gave up browsing many of the flash based websites waiting to load, and could not read much of the text, and found navigation exceedingly difficult. I am not visually impaired but I struggled.

I would also question the integrity of clientel confidentiality as with all professional service providers one would not expect to see any company discussing such matters on a public discussion forum. Perhaps it is just as well the SSH chose not to engage your services.

All set aside, I am sure that once the SSH website is completed it is very much intended to offer a service to its members that is bright, regularly updated, easy to navigate, but most importantly informative, a website that meets industry standards of usability, operates on industry standard web servers that do not suffer from frequent down time periods and is BOBBY compliant.
 
Opie I note with interest your reply....however I notice your quote

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Fully supported by my own volonteer family members who I hasten to add have NO interest in horses for the benefit of the SSH membership.


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Well its very good to hear that as you are associated with website development (via your husband) that you have not taken any costs towards the new website (i.e. its been done on a volunteer basis only, with no personal gain)...very comendable
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, especially with your position within the society (being Vice Chair), as I am guessing that this would have looked pretty bad otherwise.

On another note - if the new SSH website if fully independent (as you state above) why does it load up under pages of your own network and not a completely independent website? - "www.horse-sales.com/index" ...bit funny that, so what then happens if somebody else wants to update the website other than yourself or your husband...does not sound very independant?

With regards to the stallions....surely the first thing you would have done would have been to transfer all the data from the old website to the new one (before going live with a new website)....seems very odd thing not too, being a breed association and all. Also all those adverts on the old website....bit of a shame for those that put them in, and not to have been transferred across..

And with no email contacts....bit of a pest if you are someone who is hard of hearing and does not like to use the phone....and maybe I am wrong, but as a charity do you not have to come under the Disability Discrimination Act on these areas??? Not sure......
 
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Yes it is VERY important and a stallion directory, classifieds feedback forms, links and sponsors etc will be added in the coming weeks.


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Sorry forgot this bit, and I am glad you see this as important, but how difficult is it to have a page of all your graded stallions...why on earth do you need weeks to do this, as the information should be at your fingertips. Even if it is only those stallion names and the grade they are under, at least mare owners then know what stallions are still on your books???

And as people are now looking at stallions for 2008, this should be one of the most important areas to get online ASAP, otherwise you are only being detrimental to those stallion owners who pay their fees to the association...
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Oh lastly think you made a mistake on the following under "Stallion Status Explained":

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All stallions that successfully pass the grading regardless of the scores awarded, that do not meet the three generation pedigree requirements, will be granted Listed status.


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Basically you have stated in black and white that any stallion will be granted a breeding licence regardless of scores or if they have no breeding details at all..... Perhaps you would find that it would read more sense without this statement....
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So for all those lucky stallion owners out there, they are guaranteed success as long as their stallion turns up on the day.....
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SPSS studbook site -

Hi I have been trying to find on this site the stallion grading rules, full results & requirements. I see some stallions are graded just for the year and some are permanently graded - how does a stallion progress from one to the other, what are the distinction between these stallions? What are the actual requirements of the grading?
Thanks in advance
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MACHNO CARWYN - wow he looks impressive and British bred??
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Quote:
All stallions that successfully pass the grading regardless of the scores awarded, that do not meet the three generation pedigree requirements, will be granted Listed status.
Basically you have stated in black and white that any stallion will be granted a breeding licence regardless of scores or if they have no breeding details at all..... Perhaps you would find that it would read more sense without this statement.... So for all those lucky stallion owners out there, they are guaranteed success as long as their stallion turns up on the day.....

I don't think that is the correct interpretation. I think this means that if the stallion passes the grading, whether the score was high enough for approved or registered because the pedigree is incomplete the highest grade could only be listed. Some stallions can still fail, I think the grade rate is typically 30% similar to other UK studbooks.
 
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SPSS studbook site -

Hi I have been trying to find on this site the stallion grading rules, full results & requirements. I see some stallions are graded just for the year and some are permanently graded - how does a stallion progress from one to the other, what are the distinction between these stallions? What are the actual requirements of the grading?
Thanks in advance
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It's odd that you cannot find this information as the rules of eligibilty for stallion grading are on
http://www.sportpony.org.uk/registration.shtml

There is also a very interesting article on how the grading actually runs and how to prepare your pony on
http://www.sportpony.org.uk/grading-report2004.shtml

As for what the difference is between stallions given temporary approval and those given permanent ones, the latter are either (i) already fully approved /performance tested with a recognsied sports pony studbook or WBFSH member in Europe or (ii) have achieved a high score at grading and have either a good performance record under saddle themselves or (iiI) have progeny that have performed well. Tempiorary status is given to stalliuons that reach the required standard on incpection (including conformation, paces loose and under saddle plus loose jumping /jumping under saddle if the pony is a jumping pony) but does not have sufficient personal or progeny performance.

Progression from temporary to permanent is eother upon reaching the required level of own or porgeny performance or by progeny inspection.

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MACHNO CARWYN - wow he looks impressive and British bred??
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Yes and he has a fabulous son MALFORIN MAC BALOUBET just graded this year who has a stunning jump and a super attitude too.

HTH
 
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