Minutes of Joint meeting March 11 th to 12 th 2009 March 11 th in Elmshorn: Verband der Züchter des Holsteiner Pferdes Westerstraße 93-95 D-25336 Elmshorn and on March 12th in Hamburg: Maritim Hotel Reichshof Hamburg Kirchenallee 34-36 D-20099 Hamburg Present: Inken Johannsen during item 6, Alison Corbally, Jim Flanagan, Catherine Farrell, Johan Knaap, Siem Korver, Xavier Guibert, Paul Hubert, Thomas Nissen, Klaus Miesner, Rik van Miert, Rudi Eerdekens, Karina Christiansen, Jan Pedersen, and Christina Brogaard Lund (ref.) Agenda 1. Approval of the minutes from Joint meeting in Lyon November 2008 2. WBFSH Young Horse Championships 3. Horse International 4. Strategic plan, review of statutes 5. Annual meetings in Scandinavia a. General frames b. General Assembly c. Seminar d. Secondary meetings (XML, Young breeders etc.?) 6. Young Breeders 7. Members a. Application from Springpferdezuchtverband Oldenburg International b. Application from The Studbook for Slovenian Warmblood Horses c. Application from New Zealand Sport Horse Promotion Board Inc. d. American Futurity 1
e. Societé Hippique Francaise f. Grænseegnens Holstener Hesteavlsforening (GHH) g. Polish Horse Breeders Association 8. Matured membership fees 9. A.O.B. 1. Approval of the minutes from Joint meeting in Lyon November 2008 The minutes were approved. 2. WBFSH Young Horse Championships The concept of a rotation system of hosting the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses (in dressage, jumping, and eventing) is basically considered a good idea in the future. If eventually letting another than the three traditional organizers of the annual WBYHC s host such an event, some basic conditions have to be fulfilled, among which are that the new organizer should be carefully selected and have shown experience and physical capacity to host one of these three big events. Furthermore, this eventual host should have at least 3 consecutive years to host the same event in order to have a satisfiable foundation to collect sponsors and achieve TV coverage. The physical setting must be kept relatively centrally in Europe because of logistics and various other practical reasons. Regarding eventing, Le Lion D Angers has candidated for the championships 2009, and the contract is settled. In an e-mail to FEI the Dutch National Federation has withdrawn their application to host the World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses. These championships have been allocated to Zangersheide for a period of 5 years. Regarding dressage, Verden will provide the setting in 2009 and 2010. From the organizers in Verden the Board and Executive Committee were informed of the intentions for the 2009 event as follows: the time tables of foal championships and the Young Horse Championships will not cross each other at least twice a day there will be time scheduled for exercising the young competition horses in the big arena the overall promotion time in the arena will be reduced all participating breed societies have been offered 5-10 minutes of presenting horses from their breed during the gala dinner 2
3. Horse International Already in 2008, Eric Brüger from Horse International was informed that the WBFSH denounced the contract and it was accepted. However, our logo and name still figures on a page with breeding information. Eric Brüger will receive an official letter asking why Horse International still uses our logo when we have cancelled the contract and we are not paying them anymore. 4. Strategic plan, review of statutes As a direct consequence of the annual plan for 2009 at the General Assembly in Lyon 2009 a review of the Statutes in the following respects was needed: a. Monitor opportunities to become subject to international law rather than the Netherlands law; b. Definition of members and associates c. Mother/daughter studbook relationships criteria for membership d. Other areas with obvious need for updating Re a. Be subject to European or International law rather than Netherlands law As the Board is not aware of any development in European or International law that would indicate a move away from having WBFSH subject to Netherland s law at this time, it was agreed that the WBFSH stays under the Netherlands law for now. Re b. Definition of members and associates Our present form of application does not comply with what is required in the statutes, as it only asks questions. A slightly updated form of application will be produced for the next meeting with clarifying and more specific questions, and it must line up guidelines like that the major goal of a WBFSH member studbook must be to breed horses for the three Olympic disciplines specified as dressage, jumping and eventing, and that breeding such sport horses does not only occur accidentally in this studbook. This specific major goal must also be written into the statutes. It was also decided to include in the statutes that the Board shall have sole discretion to decide whether the studbook can be granted membership or associate status. It was decided to have Members and Associates where Associates are organization having objects consistent with those of WBFSH but are not eligible for full membership. Thereby, it was agreed to amend Article 5.12 to remove the right of associates to compete in the World Championships for Young Horses. However they can participate in the General Assembly and the seminars of the WBFSH. Additionally, the web calendar and news service of the website are at their disposal in accordance with the set of procedures that members must follow as well (All texts in English, no auction digits, etc.). 3
Re c. Mother/Daughter studbook relationships Some guidance needs to be given in the rules on the way daughter studbooks should relate to their parent studbooks. These might be included in the statues but do not have to be. There are two main issues related to Mother Daughter studbooks: 1. Do they cater for the same horse breed or different breeds. This has implications for rankings and for entry to Championships 2. Procedures for deciding on new member applications. This matter can best be dealt with by developing a set of procedures for deciding on new applications for membership that includes specific questions and decisions related to the possible status of the candidate as a Daughter studbook. The following set of procedures was adopted: 1. The profile of application form must include a question on whether or not the candidate is or might be considered a Daughter Studbook - by, for example, including the name of another horse breed in its name or specifically registering horses whose parent/ancestors are entered in another named studbook. 2. Seeking the comments/views of the possible Parent studbook(s) before deciding on the application. 3. Include as part of the decision on the application the kind of relationship that WBFSH expects to be maintained between the Daughter Studbook and the Parent Studbook. This to include a decision on whether the studbooks cater for the same breed or different breeds for purposes of rankings and entry to competitions. Re d. Other areas where the Statutes might be amended The following amendments were agreed: 1. Delete the last section on Transitional Provisions as this is no longer relevant. 2. Article 5.6.2 should be Article 5.6.b for consistency. Also the Board rather than the General Assembly should have the power to change the status from Associate to Member. 3. The last two sections of Article 7 should be numbered 7.2.c and 7.2.d 4. Article 11.4 requires the prior approval of the General Assembly to enter into agreements in respect of sponsoring, television and radio broadcasting rights, contracts representing a monetary value in excess of 2,500 or exceeding one year and agreements regarding the organization of world championships. We may not have been observing this and it was the general opinion that such matters should be part of the remit of the Board rather than the General Assembly whose role should be determining policy rather than deciding on implementation issues. 5. Article 14.1.2 should be Article 14.1.b and Article 14.1.4 should be Article 14.1.d 4
6. Article 24.2.b requires that the Annual Report by the Board and Financial Report by the Executive Committee presented to the General Assembly be signed by the members of the Board and the Executive Committee. Wording should be changed to signing on behalf of the Board and Executive Committee by at least two members, and we will start to do so as per 2009. 5. Annual meetings in Scandinavia a. General frames The provisional suggestion for physical frames and overall program was approved. b. General Assembly The agenda of the General Assembly was slightly changed to include a review of statutes with motions from the Board and a possibility for the Young Breeders contact person to bring an annual report. Also, the HRH Princess Haya/FEI will be invited. Therefore, three hours in stead of two have been scheduled for the General Assembly. c. Seminar The overall subject of the seminars will be Breeding for an improved health and longevity in horses, including a range of presentations from Scandinavian projects and maybe one from a German scientist. Additionally, Deon Griessel from South Africa will be asked if he will elaborate on African Horse Sickness in terms of what it is, how they have dealt with it in South Africa, and how we could limit the spread of the disease in Europe. Furthermore, the chief consultant of the Danish Agricultural Advisory Centre, Joergen Kold, will be asked to make a presentation on the new legislation on keeping horses in Denmark, thereby mirroring the two latest adduced items on the WBFSH Annual Plan for 2009; 14. Coordinating horse welfare issues 15. Give consideration to increase knowledge awareness as regards what should be done to hold the spread of African Horse Sickness d. Secondary meetings (XML, Young breeders etc.) The steering group committee of approx. 12 persons from the Young Breeders Int. would like to have a meeting room available. XML may have made a lot of progress during the coming year, so it is likely that on November 5 th, there should be a meeting in the afternoon on this item. 6. Young Breeders Inken Johannsen from the steering group of Young Breeders International joined the meeting during this item. She and Alison Corbally informed of the development in the association and the official launch of this year s YBWC in Ireland which had a lot of press coverage. The budget for the YBWC in Ireland is expected to be 22,000 and some of it will be covered by entry fees and some through a sponsorship of Sport Horse Ireland. 5
It has been agreed to buy 3 perpetual trophies for the future Young Breeders World Championships as follows; One for the best junior individually, one for the best senior individually, and finally one for the overall best team. The cost of these trophies is covered by the WBFSH. The remainder of the WBFSH budget for Young Breeders in 2009 was suggested to be utilised for international press publicity for the event, and this was approved. Regarding entries for the championships in July 2009 in Ireland, the Schweizer Jungzüchter had enrolled as well, but they are not allowed to enter, as they are not member of the WBFSH. It was expected that a French team would have enrolled for the YBWC, but since the present young breeder group is a part of Association France Dressage and not Selle Francais, it needs some clarification whether they can enter in a constellation with Selle Francais. It was decided that each year at the General Assembly of the WBFSH, the chairperson or the contact person in the Board or Executive Committee (at present time Alison Corbally) will present an annual report to the assembly. 7. Members a. Application from Springpferdezuchtverband Oldenburg International It is not a daughter society, but an independent society with their own ranking and abbreviation for FEI. The association has its own UELN and studbook and it will be a part of the voting- and fee system of Germany. The Board decided to accept the studbook as a member. b. Application from the Studbook for Slovenian Warmblood Horses The Board decided to accept the studbook as a member. c. Application from New Zealand Sport Horse Promotion Board Inc. The Board decided not to accept the studbook as a member, as it is not a breeding organisation, but rather a promotion Board and a register of different breeds. d. International Jumper Futurity Studbook The association will receive a letter telling that the WBFSH considers the application, and that the preparation of a motion at the General Assembly regarding associates might facilitate their being granted associate status within the WBFSH. e. Societé Hippique Francaise The association will receive a letter telling that the WBFSH considers the application, and that the preparation of a motion at the General Assembly regarding associates might facilitate their being granted associate status within the WBFSH. f. Grænseegnens Holstener Hesteavlsforening (GHH) The GHH has requested the German Holsteiner Society to become a part of their organisation. Since the geographical presence of the GHH is Denmark, 6
the German Holsteiner society has requested the German Ministry of Agriculture for allowance to act outside their regional and national borders. If the GHH becomes a part of the German Holsteiner Society the GHH is not a member of WBFSH. g. Polish Horse Breeders Association The Polish Horse Breeders Association was already an associate member of the WBFSH and applied for full member status in 2008. The Board decided to accept the studbook as a member. 8. Matured membership fees The American Warmblood Society has systematically paid the fees only every second year inspite of numerous letters. They have received a letter informing them that if the total amount of the perpetual fees are not paid at the latest on July 1 st 2009, the membership of WBFSH is cancelled. The Anglo European Studbook deliberately pays one year too late. The American Holsteiner Horse Association, the Australian Performance Horse and Pura Raza Espagnol have not paid this year s membership fee. Regarding the PRE this might be based on a possible merge with the Caballo de Deporte Espanol, so we await information. 9. A.O.B. WHIRDEC/XML Following the meeting in Lyon November 2008 there has been a good development and since the EC has made a regulation stating that it shall be possible to link horse databases internationally, the Haras nationaux has requested the EC for subsidies for helping the databases to link. Subsidies could still be granted for 2010. EAAP In August 2009, the EAAP will host their annual seminars and Alison Corbally, Jim Flanagan and Xavier Guibert will attend. Horses born in the southern hemisphere A request from Brazil has been sent to the FEI regarding allowing the young horses born in the southern hemisphere after August 1 st to be considered as 1 year younger when participating in the WBYHC in Verden, Lanaken, and Le Lion D Angers. This should neither be valid for non-pedigree horses nor for horses exported to the southern hemisphere. FEI will receive our answer by letter or email soonest possible. VAT meeting The Netherlands are sued by the EC for keeping a low VAT rate for the agriculture sector. Representatives of The Dutch, Belgian, German, and French 7
studbooks as well as COPA will have a meeting in Belgium. The President was asked to send a supportive letter from the WBFSH Board. A wish for Legislation in horse trade as an item for next meeting was registered. Vilhelsmborg April 3 rd 2009 8