The minutes of the first ISBC meeting record that it was decided to:

• set up an International forum for standardisation of Conditions of Entry for Stud Books;
• finalise criteria for promotion to Thoroughbred status;
• establish effective communication tools for dissemination of proposals and decisions to all Stud Book Authorities;
• create the ISBC as a separate but complementary organisation to the IFHA’s Paris Conference, with a Secretariat provided by Weatherbys, but with minutes circulated with those of the Paris Conference  (later this was replaced by delivery of a report by the Chairman of the ISBC annually to the Paris Conference).

The early years of operation were occupied with tackling and reconciling the many different approaches and practices of the major Stud Book Authorities.