my colt's AWS inspection
Last post 10-30-2009 4:09 PM by crittergirl. 11 replies.
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10-28-2009 11:06 AM
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TamaTala
  - Joined on 09-30-2009
- south central PA
- Foal
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It went really well and he earned a Blue Preferred, I am so happy and so proud of him. He hopped right on the trailer, rode well except he somehow nicked the back of his left hind pastern, but it didn't bother him much. We cleaned it up and settled him and his dam in their stall and went for the briefing, watched several other foals go, and then I watched my husband and our friend bring in our mare & foal...during which I of course became so involved in listening to what the judge/inspector had to say (it was Jean Brooks, the founder and National Director of AWS!) that I didn't snap very many photos at all.
He was so good though, and in spite of that tiny boo-boo, he moved pretty well and she made lovely comments on him. She was also shocked that Anna was a TB mare and commented to me that she looks and moves very nicely, more warmblood type and I loved that.
Everyone was so lovely and friendly, and we all asked questions, cheered one another on, and Jean gave a lot of great feedback on every comment she'd made on every horse, and answered all our questions, and encouraged more. I really liked that a lot!
He earned a 75.25% thus earning Blue Preferred making me quite happy, and was also eligible for branding, which we did decide to go ahead with. Please, no flaming remarks if you are against this, I have my reasons for it, and believe we made the right choice. He did not leap forward or sideways, he didn't even flinch away, stood like a rock. Every one that was eligible did brand and I didn't see one horse or foal jump, hear any screaming...they were not traumatized by it in my opinion in being there and observing every single one being done.
It has healed very well, is very clear and easily distinguishable as to what it is. I just wanted to share my good news.
"The grace of God is found between the saddle and the ground." 
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dressagedude
  - Joined on 12-10-2007
- Minneapolis, MN
- Ground Training
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Re: my colt's AWS inspection
Congratulations!!!! When I was at a barn where they were doing branding I think other horses in the barn reacted more than the ones being branded. It doesn't smell very good.
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Nicole
  - Joined on 08-03-2005
- Illinois, USA
- Horse of the Year
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Re: my colt's AWS inspection
Congrats! Inspections can be so much fun. I was so proud of my girl when she got her First Premium with AWR, as well as her two foals.
Shame you don't have pictures though!
*~Nicole~* 
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Re: my colt's AWS inspection
He's a cutie! What breed is his sire? I wish our filly had gotten branded at her inspection.. She's 5 now but came in second after her half sister at her AWS. She matured to be very TB looking, but is still a nice mare. Congrats on your boy! Love to see more pics of him!
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TamaTala
- Joined on 09-30-2009
- south central PA
- Foal
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Re: my colt's AWS inspection
His sire is Senter Stage, a bay pinto GOV registered, and AWR approved stallion. Senter was sired by Spectrum who is by Rainbow, and out of Presidio who is by Peron. Peron is the stallion that Michelle Gibons rode in the Olympics, and he is the highest scoring Olympic horse to date. The lines are Trakehner, ZfDP, etc. as is the case with most German verbands.
The dam is a TB with lines to Take The Rap, Northern Dancer, Bold Ruler, Man O War, etc. She was a successful show jumper until retirement. Lovely mare, very lofty suspension, correct conformation. I'm sad to say due to so many circumstances we are placing her and I will really miss her, she is a love.
I'll post additional photos as soon as I get this figured out, apparently I don't know what I'm doing lol!
"The grace of God is found between the saddle and the ground."
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crittergirl
 - Joined on 06-24-2009
- Yearling
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Re: my colt's AWS inspection
Congrats! Just to show my ignorance here (most people that brand around here are the 'cowboy I'm tough so I am going to burn an owner brand on this here horse and sell it in about a week' types) so what is the purpose of the brand you are talking about? Does it just prove AWS? What is AWS? so ignorant....
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Jaimie Tausch
- Joined on 10-09-2009
- Foal
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Re: my colt's AWS inspection
Congrats on your little boy! Jeans Brooks is a fabulous horsewoman, cherish those comments from her!  It is great to hear that the AWS inspection was a fun and friendly experience for you. Was this your first inspection? What are your plans for this little guy? I also brand my babies. I have never had one that seemed bothered by it, and have never seen one at the inspections that did anything more than stomp a foot. It is not the torturous, horrible event that some people may think. Really, it is quick and over before they even realize it. And it's a nice status symbol 
Jaimie Tausch
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TamaTala
- Joined on 09-30-2009
- south central PA
- Foal
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Re: my colt's AWS inspection
I'm from the west, and out there most people brand if they have large ranches and a registered/certified brand, and those are recorded, then every time a horse is sold an inspector comes out to check the brand, so it helps with stop loss.
AWS is American Warmblood Society, and branding of warmblood and sport horses is done to yes, identify which registry or association your horse is licensed/registered/approved at or with. They aren't merely registered based of bloodlines and sending in an application; they go before approved judges/inspectors and are judged on conformation, temperament, movement, etc., and then those are calculated into an overall percentage to see where your horse falls in that particular associations classification scale.
Not every horse is allowed to be branded, they have to earn that right based on their score(s). With AWS only the top three levels of classification are eligible, and the top level earners are branded free. My colt earned the 2nd highest tier and did very well, we are very pleased with him.
In my case I actually went to every person I know who breeds warmbloods or sport horses and asked their reasoning behind why they do or do not brand, what they feel it adds, etc. Overwhelming response was that it does contribute to the horse's value as it is an instant proof of entitlement to the association or registry, and instant proof that they are indeed registered with it. Several people mentioned that they really regretted not getting the brand for their association and if they could go back they'd definitely do it.
I guess it is part prestige, part proof of registration, part identification, etc. My colt is a minimally marked chestnut, this is an additional marking that I have photo documentation of should the need to help identify him ever arise. If I should come to a point and need to sell he also shows outwardly in a glance that he is AWS, and that he earned the right to carry it.
ps. I believe I finally figured out my photo gallery, so if you want to see more of him, see his sire, I have a few loaded in there now.
"The grace of God is found between the saddle and the ground."
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TamaTala
- Joined on 09-30-2009
- south central PA
- Foal
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Re: my colt's AWS inspection
Jamie,
I thoroughly loved Jean, she is a lovely person, just loved her! It was our first inspection, I missed even going to just watch one to see what it was like due to emergency surgery, so was very nervous, but everyone was great and very calming.
He is, hopefully, going to be my future dressage horse. He is sort of my Cinderella fella lol, I found his dam on COTH and paid $1 to make it a legal transaction, but that mare...she is really something, just a fantastic mover, truly beautiful suspension, nice tracking, and moves well in all 3 gaits. I just fell for her instantly when she began to move. Then I entered this drawing for a breeding to his sire and won...you could have knocked me over with a feather :D seriously! All we had to pay was a small booking fee & mare care, and they really took care of Anna, fell in love with her as well. In fact, that stallion manager/trainer is whom I'm placing Anna with.
Then the ultrasound and preg check down in VA went well, second ultrasound and check here did as well, and my vet put goggles on me and I got to see him rather clearly which was so nice. Every night I talked to that developing foal, stroke her sides and he'd kick against my cheek and hand. Then she came due and didn't foal, then a few weeks went by and I called the vet, who made plans to come out by a certain date...Anna foaled the day before lol, and there he was, in all his long-legged glory.
Of course I'd prayed for a bay pinto filly and got a chestnut minimal white colt...but what a love bug he is. He has always left mama and food to come trotting up to get oohed over and scratched on. We all just love him dearly.
Look, I wrote you a book replying, ha! Can you tell I'm still floating here? :D
"The grace of God is found between the saddle and the ground."
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Jaimie Tausch
- Joined on 10-09-2009
- Foal
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Re: my colt's AWS inspection
Most warmblood societys brand their babies with their own symbol. For example, AWS stands for American Warmblood Society. AWS is not what is branded on the horse, ![]() each society has their own logo. Having that brand on the horse's hip shows everyone that that particular horse is registered with the American Warmblood Society. A few other warmblood societies that brand are the AHS (American Hanoverian Society), the Oldenburg Registry NA, the ATA (American Trakehner Association). European warmblood registries also brand, and their brands look a bit different than the same American registry, etc....all of these different types of european warmbloods have unique looking brands representing their different society. They are actually pretty neat, google them to see them! I think it gives a horse a beautiful touch.
Jaimie Tausch
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Solaris
  - Joined on 07-03-2006
- Durham, NC
- Forum Hall of Fame
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Re: my colt's AWS inspection
Cute baby. I never have been "into" the whole branding thing but if that's what blows up your skirt and it doesn't bother your horse, then go for it.
I have to pipe up in defense of a couple of comments about things like "even though mare is a TB, she moved like a warmblood or was very nice despite that." I gotta stick up for the TB's! I want a TB to LOOK LIKE a TB and a true warmblood to look like one. Each have their own merits as each were bred for a very different purpose and one is not inherently better than the other. As an eventer, I DON'T want a TB to be all warmbloody like, I want it to look like a TB and move like a TB and have the speed and heart and lighter build of a TB and I'm sure dressage people think exactly the opposite. Anyway, I know it's dumb, but those little things get to me sometimes, no offense meant towards OP. Congrats on achieving your goal and best of luck with your baby!
 Solaris -- 16 hh Appendix Quarter Horse = MY DREAM COME TRUE! Wander With Wild ThingsWe Are Flying Solo
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crittergirl
- Joined on 06-24-2009
- Yearling
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Re: my colt's AWS inspection
Oh, k. You guys did an awesome job of explaining yourselves, thats for sure! I gotta say I'm more with Solo on the look thing though. I am not really partial at all to any breed (though it looks like I am partial to TB and App: one horse is 1/2 and 1/2, one full TB, and one part of both and add a few other breeds (oh, and Rascal, my Morab is neither)), but I like a horse to move more, hmm, true to itself if that makes sense. I'm won't sell my colt unless something big makes me, but even though he's not branded, he has pretty recognizable markings: http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae170/crittergirl_photos/pics013.jpg And that pick is a few months old, he has about double the white spots now. Congrats again on your cute little boy, and I hope he grows into everything you want him to be!
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