November 5th, 2018

INTERNATIONAL THOROUGHBRED BREEDING COMMUNITY REAFFIRM STANCE AGAINST ARTIFICIAL BREEDING METHODS (Press Release)

Members of the International Thoroughbred Breeders’ Federation (ITBF), unanimously voted against the use of artificial breeding methods in thoroughbreds at the General Meeting of the 2018 ITBF Conference on November 1st in Lexington.

The agreement re-affirms the federation’s long held stance against such processes including (but not restricted to), artificial insemination, embryo transfer, cloning, sexing of sperm, genetic engineering/manipulation.

The meeting, attended by representatives of 16 ITBF member countries on 5 continents, was part of a wider programme of events hosted by the Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder Association (TOBA).

Delegates discussed global trends in the thoroughbred breeding industry, particularly the polarisation of the market at sales, the ageing demographic of breeders, race prize money levels and racehorse ownership numbers.

The ‘middle market’ was discussed by a panel of leading industry figures; Geoffrey Russell (Keeneland), Terence Collier (Fasig-Tipton), Brian Graves (Gainesway), and Pete Bradley (Bradley Thoroughbreds), whilst the success of the Retired Racehorse Project in the USA was shared in a presentation by Jen Roytz. A similar presentation was made by the French delegates, who introduced Au delà des Pistes, their official charity for the promotion of retraining racehorses.

In addition to ITBF delegates, veterinary professionals were invited to attend the federation’s Veterinary Meeting on Wednesday, October 31st, which carried accreditation from the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners as continued professional development.

The full day veterinary session featured discussions on equine infectious diseases, the importance of biosecurity measures, EHV vaccine development and genomics research. Two keynote speeches were delivered towards the end of the day, the first was presented by Dr Peter Timoney, on the Importance of Equine Infectious Diseases in Impairing Reproductive Efficiency in the Horse. This was followed by Dr Jeff Berk’s talk which addressed the ethics of medication at thoroughbred horse auctions and interestingly highlighted the wide tolerance discrepancy on this issue between e.g. the American and other thoroughbred market places.

World Equine Veterinary Association (WEVA), representative Professor Warwick Bayly also addressed delegates on the shared aims and mutual interests of WEVA and ITBF. The speech laid the foundations for a stronger working relationship between the two organisations, on items of shared interest.

ITBF Chairman Kirsten Rausing commented: “The 2018 ITBF Conference was a distinct success. We have built on the developments from the last conference in South Africa and continue to be united in our passion for the long term health of the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry around the world. The discussion of issues and trends in regions serves to highlight differences in the challenges – and rewards – the various ITBF member countries face.

“I would like to thank all sponsors and supporters of this year’s ITBF conference and of course our hosts TOBA who have co-ordinated an excellent programme of meetings and events.”

November 1st, 2018

IRANIAN STUD BOOK UNANIMOUSLY GRANTED APPROVED STUD BOOK STATUS

The Iranian Stud Book was unanimously granted Approved Stud Book status by the International Stud Book Committee (ISBC) at its two-day Annual Meeting in London in October.

This followed a thorough inspection and examination of their Rules, processes and procedures and a full review of Volume 1 of their Stud Book by Regional Reviewers of the ISBC’s Asian Stud Book Committee (ASBC).

The ISBC’s assessment process ensures that Stud Books are operating in accordance with the Requirements and Guidelines for Gaining and Maintaining Approval as a Thoroughbred Stud Book.

As an Emerging Stud Book, an initial inspection of the National Equestrian Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (NEFIRR) was carried out by the ISBC in May 2017.

Following the ISBC’s inspection report, the Keeper of the Stud Book, Ms Shery Amir Aslani established a list of imported horses eligible for inclusion in the Stud Book and reviewed the Rules and the Forms required to be used for the registration of horses in Iran.

Horse racing thrives in Iran. Racing takes place at several tracks around the country, several times each month. The sport can be traced back to 550 to 330 BC. when races took place between Persian and Greek horses in Greece.

Requirements for the horse, the rider, and the race, were consistent with many of today’s regulations. The training of racehorses was considered an old and respected tradition among neighbouring tribes, notably the Turkmen.

There are reports of European-style horse races being watched in the second half of the 19th Century and in 1890 the Shah ordered the formation of a body charged with the task of building a racecourse. Races were held after the end of the New Year’s holiday on a track in the northwest corner of Tehran.

In the early 1980s, the races were transferred to Nowruzābād, where Tehran’s Spring and Autumn races, featuring Turcomans, Arabians, and Thoroughbreds, currently take place.

Gonbad is the centre of horse breeding in Iran.

Iran was granted membership of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) at its General Assembly in October this year.

Iran is a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Dr Masoud Khalili from the IREIF said:

“On behalf of the Iranian Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners, the Equestrian Federation of IR would like to extent its deepest gratitude to the ISBC for the International recognition of the Iranian Thoroughbred Stud Book.

“The IRIEF would also like to thank all those who made this possible.”