Owners of Brabants who are not registered with the EBRA are asked to provide proof of European Brabant heritage through existing registration paperwork for their horse (or their horse's sire and/or dam) from one of the following registries:

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• Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America (BDHCA)

• Canadian Belgian Horse Association (CBHA)

• American Brabant Association (ABA)

• Koninklijke Maatschappij Het Belgisch Trekpaard (KMBT)

• Koninklijke Vereniging Het Nederlandse Trekpaard (KVTH)

• Vlaamse fokkers van het Belgisch Trekpaard (VFBT)

• Association Wallon Cheval Trait Belge (AWCTB)

• Cheval de Trait Ardennaias

• Syndicate d’ Elevage du Cheval Trait Noord

• Cheval de Trait Luxembourgeois

• Le Cheval Auxois

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Please Note: Standards of accepted European breeds and assigned heritage percentages vary amongst registries. For the purposes of the EBRA Virtual Horse Show Series, EBRA standards and practices will apply when classifying horses who are not registered with the EBRA. Click HERE details.

Your Brabant will be categorized by percentage and type based on EBRA standards. The designations are as follows:

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• European Brabant >93.75% (Purebred)

  • This designation is for imported horses, offspring of two 100% horses, or horses who have a minimum of 93.75% verifiable European Brabant heritage with lineage from another heavy draft breed.

• European Brabant Stock >47%

  • This designation is for horses who have a minimum of 47% verifiable European Brabant heritage, and lineage from other heavy draft breeds.

• Appendix Brabant >23.5% (Draft Type)

  • This designation is for horses who have a minimum 23.5% verifiable European Brabant heritage, and lineage from other heavy or light draft breeds, as well as those who do not meet breed standards for color and conformation.

    • ​A few Appendix Brabant (Draft Type) examples for this designation would be: Spotted Draft x Brabant, Gypsy Vanner x Brabant, Norwegian Fjord x Brabant, Haflinger x Brabant and Friesian x Brabant crosses.

• Appendix Brabant >23.5% (Warmbloods)

  • This designation is for light horse crosses and mules who have a minimum 23.5% verifiable European Brabant heritage.

    • A few Appendix Brabant (Warmblood) examples for this designation would be: Thoroughbred x Brabant, Quarter Horse x Brabant, Tennessee Walker x Brabant and Morgan x Brabant crosses.

• Appendix Brabant >23.5% (Mules)

  • This designation is for all Brabant Mules

Each Halter Class designation offers classes based on your Brabant's age and gender. The Halter Classes are as follows:

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European Brabant (>93.75%) Designation

• Halter: Fillies, Geldings and Colts (born in 2023)

• Halter: Fillies, Geldings and Colts (born in 2022)

• Halter: Mares over 2 (born 2021 or prior)

• Halter: Geldings over 2 (born 2021 or prior)

• Halter: Stallions over 2 (born 2021or prior)

European Brabant Stock (>47%) Designation

• Halter: Halter: Fillies, Geldings and Colts (born in 2023)

• Halter: Fillies, Geldings and Colts (born in 2022)

• Halter: Mares over 2 (born 2021 or prior)

• Halter: Geldings over 2 (born 2021 or prior)

• Halter: Stallions over 2 (born 2021 or prior)

Appendix Brabant Draft Type (>23.5%) Designation

• Halter: Halter: Fillies, Geldings and Colts (born in 2023)

• Halter: Fillies, Geldings and Colts (born in 2022)

• Halter: Mares, Geldings and Stallions over 2 (born 2021 or prior)

Appendix Brabant Warmbloods (>23.5%) Designation

• Halter: Foals (born in 2023)

• Halter: Fillies, Geldings and Colts (born in 2022)

• Halter: Mares, Geldings and Stallions over 2 (born 2021 or prior)

Appendix Brabant Mules (>23.5%) Designation

• Halter: Molly and John Mules (born in 2023)

• Halter: Molly and John Mules (born in 2022)

• Halter: Molly and John Mules over 2 (born 2021 or prior)

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PLEASE NOTE: Depending on participation numbers per class, the EBRA reserves the right to consolidate classes.

A "Halter Class" focuses on judging the horse. They are evaluated and scored for their resemblance to the breed standard and/or general conformation and movement.

A "Showmanship In-Hand Class" focuses on you, the exhibitor. You will be judged for your personal presentation as well as your ability to handle your horse and execute the posted pattern.

A horse may only compete in one Halter Class designation, but may be used for both Youth and Adult Showmanship In-Hand Classes an unlimited number of times. Each unique handler must complete a registration form. A handler may exhibit more than one horse, but will be required to submit a new registration form per horse.

In the Halter Classes, the judge will evaluate the horse’s conformation, type and way of moving. Horses competing in the European Brabant and European Brabant Stock designations will be judged against the EBRA breed standard, which you can find HERE. Horses competing in the Appendix Brabant designations will be judged on general impression, conformation and movement. All decisions by the Judge are final.

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The judge will be scoring on a scale of one to five - one being the lowest score (not to standard or least desirable) and five being the highest (gold standard or most desirable).

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European Brabant and European Brabant Stock Halter Classes: The highest possible total score is 50 points.

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• Overall Impression: Breed Type, Expression and Proportions - 5 pt allowance

• Breed Standard Qualities - Total possible score of 35 pts 

  • Head - 5 pt allowance​

  • Neck/Chest - 5 pt allowance

  • Shoulder - 5 pt allowance

  • Back - 5 pt allowance

  • Croup/Hip/Loin - 5 pt allowance

  • Hindquarters - 5 pt allowance

  • Leg Position (front/back) - 5 pt allowance

• Movement

  • Movement: Balanced, free going, ground covering, straight, efficient and true, with lateral extension and limited vertical action – 5 pt allowance

  • Carriage: Relaxed, alert and confident at the walk. Proud head carriage and bright expression at the trot – 5 pt allowance

Appendix Brabant Halter Classes: The highest possible score is 50 points

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• Overall Impression: Expression and Proportions - 5 pt allowance

• Qualities - Total possible score of 35 pts

  • Head - 5 pt allowance​

  • Neck/Chest - 5 pt allowance

  • Shoulder - 5 pt allowance

  • Back - 5 pt allowance

  • Croup/Hip/Loin - 5 pt allowance

  • Hindquarters - 5 pt allowance

  • Leg Position (front/back) - 5 pt allowance

• Movement

  • Movement: Straight and true at the walk/trot – 5 pt allowance

  • Balance: Balanced and collected at the walk/trot – 5 pt allowance

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The Showmanship In-Hand Class is a performance competition in which the handler is judged on his/her ability to show the equine. Contestants individually perform a posted pattern to demonstrate their control and training of the horse. The same horse may be used for multiple competitors in the Youth and Adult Showmanship In-Hand Classes.  

You will compete against others in your age group, which are:

• Junior Showmanship In-Hand - aged 10 and under

• Youth Showmanship In-Hand - aged 11 to 17

• Adult Showmanship In-Hand - aged 18 and over

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The judge will be scoring on a scale of one to five - one being the lowest score and five being the highest.

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Showmanship In-Hand Class: The highest possible score is 30 points

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• Showmanship In-Hand

  • Horse: Grooming and body condition - 5 pt allowance

  • ​Exhibitor: Neat in appearance - 5 pt allowance

  • Attitude: Positive and confident - 5 pt allowance

  • Presentation: Overall showing horse at best advantage – 5 pt allowance

  • Posing: Horse set-up & posing that best showcases horse's confirmation – 5 pt allowance

  • Pattern: Proper execution of pattern – 5 pt allowance

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Not at all! All tack and equipment should be clean and in good working order. Tack should be properly fitted to your horse. While white leather and/or bio thane show halters are encouraged, such equipment will not be given preference over simple, functional tack. You also have the option of using a bridle and bit (no driving bridles with blinders/blinkers). 

Generally, you should be neat in appearance and wear a collared long or short sleeved shirt. There's no limit on shirt color or pattern, so have fun and wear something that shows your personality. No t-shirts please. If it's cold, you're free to wear a sweater/vest/jacket/coat. We recommend denim jeans, slacks or full length skirts. No shorts please. Boots or hard soled shoes only. No soft-soled shoes, tennis shoes, or sandles are permitted. You can wear a cowboy hat, brimmed hat, or (PPE) helmet, but that is up to the exhibitor's discretion. No baseball caps please. 

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For the Halter and Showmanship Classes there are no set grooming rules. Generally, horses should be brushed, groomed and presentable. Feel free to give them a bath if the weather is good. 

A horse’s sensory hairs around the eyes and muzzle, as well as inner ear hair, are functional to the animal, therefore the EBRA permits the handler to choose whether to trim or leave these hairs natural.

Since the European Brabant boasts a thick fall/winter coat. When shown during colder months, a clean, groomed, full winter coat is permitted. The handler may choose to trace clip, blanket clip, strip clip, or full body clip their horse for competition.

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Generally, leg feathering shall be clean, combed, and free flowing at a minimum. At your own discretion, you may clip the feathering. Manes should be combed and neat in presentation. The mane may be presented down and natural, pulled, or roached. Manes may also be presented in a single running braid with or without yarn and raffia or a double-sided running braid with or without yarn and raffia. Tails should be combed and neat in appearance. The tail may be presented down and natural, bobbed at or above the hock, banged at or below the chestnut, or in a single, centered hunt-style braid with or without raffia.

Only those competing in the "Traditional Yarn and Raffia Braiding Competition" must present their horses in the formal Dutch/Belgian way. Those competing horses must have a double-sided braid, with three skein of yarn (any color combo) and raffia. Tails must have a single, centered hunt-style braid with raffia twill. Click HERE to learn how this grooming style is done.

This is a Fun Show Class where you deck your horse out in the traditional Dutch and Belgian way with yarn and raffia! Competing horses must have a double-sided braid, with three skein of yarn (any color combo) and raffia. Tails must have a single, centered hunt-style braid with raffia twill.

Never done this before? Don't worry, just do your best and have FUN. You can click HERE to learn how this grooming style is done.

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The judge will be scoring on a scale of one to five - one being the lowest score and five being the highest.

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Traditional Yarn & Raffia Braiding Competition: The highest possible score is 20 points​

• Overall Grooming & Neatness - 5 pt allowance

• Creativity, Expression, & Color Choices - 5 pt allowance

• ​Execution of double running braid - 5 pt allowance

• Execution of tail braid - 5 pt allowance 

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This isn't a photo contest, so just do your best! Here's guidance on the photos required for your Halter Class and Fun Class photo submissions and how best to capture them. The horse should be clean, with no saddle or harness. Allow adequate space around the animal – Do not crop into the horse. Please do not apply color or distorting filters. You will be required to submit a total of five pictures. Please see below:

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• Full Left and Right-Side View Images: The camera should be positioned horizontally while capturing these two side view photos. Position the camera center-mass of the horse (mid-ribcage) and lower yourself until the horizon line goes straight through the middle of the horse. Imagine there’s a grid over your horse and try to keep shoulders and hips squared within the grid. This will ensure you are truly square to the horse and not capturing any unwanted distortion that may skew their conformation. Click HERE for more in-depth tips to capturing confirmation pictures.

• Full Front and Rear-View Images: When capturing the rear and front views, be sure to orient the camera vertically. Center the camera on the horse’s chest/tail, then lower yourself until the horizon line goes straight through the middle of their body. Imagine there’s a grid over your horse and try to balance their body within the grid. This will ensure you are truly square to the horse and not capturing any unwanted distortion that may skew their conformation. Braid or tie up the tail if legs are not visible so the judge may have a clear view of the horse’s confirmation. Click HERE​ for more in-depth tips to capturing confirmation pictures.

• Head Shot: When capturing your horse’s portrait, be sure to orient the camera vertically. Their head should fill the frame with some space above the ears and below the muzzle. If possible, capture their ears in a forward position. Click HERE​ for more in-depth tips to capturing confirmation pictures.

NOTE

Pictures should be captured between now and November 14, 2023. Email your photos to Info@europeanbrabant.com or upload them to the EBRA Google Drive HERE. Be sure to include the handler's full name and the horse's registered name in the email.

The short answer is just do your best! Below you'll find our recommendations for capturing the best possible video for your Virtual Horse Show submission. For those competing in the Halter Class, you may submit one continuous video executing the entire pattern, or one video per step of the pattern. For those competing in the Showmanship In-Hand Class, you must record the entire pattern execution without any breaks in video. 

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Video Recording Suggestions:

• Use a friend or family member to serve as your videographer. If you don't have a helping hand, no worries. You can prop your recording device up on a fence and record yourself. 

• Ideally, videos should be recorded in any open space with flat ground. If you don't have flat ground, no worries.

• When possible, keep lighting in mind when choosing a place to record. If it's too dark, we won't be able to see you and your horse.

• Zooming in should be done if possible, keeping the entire horse and you, the handler, in the frame.

• To reduce distortion, we suggest situating your camera at the horse’s chest height, ensuring it is as level as possible.

• Try not move the camera excessively - that may detract from your horse. 

• Please do no apply any fancy filters to your video.

• Record videos in landscape orientation (phones horizontal or longways)

• Videos should be short - not to exceed 5 minutes.

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Video should be captured between now and November 14, 2023. Email your video(s) to Info@europeanbrabant.com or upload them to the EBRA Google Drive HERE. Be sure to include the handler's full name and the horse's registered name in the email.