Cooperation with FEI – World Breeding Championships: In 2009/2010 we had again a real good collaboration with the FEI. The improvements we have made in the schedules of all three FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Horses
so far did had a positive impact. May be that there are few minor changes which can be discussed for in the future. But at least WBFSH Board an Executives are happy about the achieved progress we made.
This years FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses were again organised in excellent way by the Verden organisers. The administrative review was again a positive step for the ground jury to get an equal chance for each horse/rider-combination. The good discussions with new FEI Director Dressage about our proposal for a new judges structure was implemented in this year for the first time and will presumably stay for the next years. That shows the real good collaboration to the FEI headquarters. Again this year the previous pre-eminence from the Netherlands and Germany was stopped. We did had horses from Denmark and the Netherlands in the lead and horses from Germany on the next medal places.
The FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Jumping Horse 2010 will take place at the Domain Zangersheide in Lanaken from 22nd to 26th September 2010.
This years FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Eventing Horse will take place again at Lion d’Angers in France on 21st to 24 th October 2010.
Cooperation with FEI and COPA – Working Group on EU-legislation
Since long time the idea of a common working group on EU-legislation is supported by FEI. After the National Federations of Europe have established the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) this goal could be realised because EEF looks forward to an even closer cooperation with the breeding associations, particularly WBFSH. Therefore a common EEF EU Permanent Working Group was established and met in May. The group wants to deal with matters like horse transportation, African Horse Sickness, Equine Infectious Anaemia, Foot and Mouth crises, FEI Passports, EU consumer protection rules, EU legislation for animal protection, VAT tasks.
This shows the wide-ranging agenda of this group. Much wider than it was planned for a common Working Group on EU legislation. For further information please click here.
Cooperation with European Horse Network
The idea of a European Horse Network was presented at the last General Assembly in Copenhagen. President Jan Pedersen signed a letter of intend that WBFSH wants to be part of this network. The main objective of the network is
- to coordinate the efforts of the economic and social and cultural stakeholders with interests linked to the promotion of the horse sector in all its dimensions and
- to place the horse dimension in all relevant European policies: rural development, sport, animal welfare, environment, transport, taxation, tourism and culture.
At present the European Horse Network consists of 14 member and 2 supporter organisations. Up till now there were four meetings this year in Brussels were the Department Cooperation was representing the WBFSH in the network.
The aims of the European Horse Network are to
- exchange views on political developments affecting the horse sector in Europe.
- discuss and define common interests on the political agenda
- discuss and define technical and R&D issues of common interest to move for development of the horse sector in Europe
- increase the visibility and impact of the horse sector in Europe.
Some of the “Hot Topics” of the European Horse Network are animal health, exotic viruses, surveillance system or transport and identification or welfare and economic development.
The main activity for 2010 is to organise a Conference of the European Horse Network in Brussels. This conference will be held in the house of the Committee of Regions on 17th November 2010. It is planned to have a Keynote talk about the “Economic Impact of the Horse Industry to the European Economic”. The conference program is headed “How the Horse Industry contributes to EU policies”. At least there is a panel discussion planned that bears the title “The European Horse brings along the changes in society – how to develop rural development and employment opportunities?”
For further information please go to www.europeanhorsenetwork.eu
Cooperation with EU-Commission – EU-legislations
This years there were only very few contacts to EU Commission concerning different EU-directives and their interpretation. The court case about value added taxes against Netherlands at the European Court of Justice is still ongoing. As well those cases with the same issue against Austria, France, Germany and Luxembourg. The result of these complaints will be of big interest and importance for all European WBFSH Member Associations.
The EU Commission started a survey about the EU consumer protection rules. This includes the provisions of the rules for animal trade. The underlying EU Directive 1999/44 on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees seems to be implemented in most of the EU member states and has to be checked up now. In many European countries problems did arise, especially because of the burden of proof. This was initially a problem in Germany, but now there are several other member states concerned. Now it is time for close collaboration in order to jointly obtain at least a reversal of the burden of proof.
Cooperation with Young Breeders
Since the WBFSH General Assembly 2008 in Lyon the Young Breeders formed a progressive worldwide organisation, capable to perform activities on a regular basis. In last years WBFSH General Assembly in Copenhagen Inken Gräfin Platen von Hallermund (née Johannsen) reported about the very well organised and successful WBFSH Young Breeders World Championships 2009 in Ireland. The aim of the championship to bring young breeders from different WBFSH member associations together was achieved in a very positive way.
This year's meeting of the International Young Breeders was planned to be held in conjunction with our General Assembly in Philadelphia. Due to travelling costs it was decided to held the meeting during the German Young Breeders Championships in June 2010 in Marbach. It is planned that a written report about this years International Young Breeders activities is available in Philadelphia.
By Dr. Klaus Miesner for the WBFSH
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Minutes of the 2010 WBFSH General Assembly
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2010 World Young Horse Championships