Part Two: The WAHO World Registrar Meeting, BAHRAIN : Talks and Results from the Conference. The WAHO Conference 2017 Photo: Ali Alawadhi Text and Photos: The Kingdom of Bahrain, “The Pearl of the Gulf”, had invited the WORLD ARABIAN HORSE ORGANIZATION (WAHO) MONIKA SAVIER for their 22nd General Assembly in Manama. From the breathtaking ancient history and fascinating traditions to Editing and Condensation of the talks: the modern times, impressive architecture and important Arabian horse breeding, there was much to see and to BETTINA BORST do in Bahrain for over 200 guests from all over the world. The Conference Patron was H.M. King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa and it was hosted by his grandson H.H. Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, chairman of the High Organizing Graphic Design: MARIO BRUNETTI committee. The Conference was officially opened by H.R.H. Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy to the King and Crown Prince, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. WHAT IS WAHO? In part 1 of our report on the WAHO conference, TUTTO ARABI informed you on the history and today of Arabian horses in the rabian Horses are unique, as for centuries island nation of Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf. In the current issue now, they have not only been found in the of TUTTO ARABI, read about the decision-making processes and Arabian countries but are citizens of the the debates on the topic of horse registrations and management world, living and reproducing in almost a hundred within the world-wide umbrella organization for Arabian horses Acountries all over Earth. With that enormous globa - that is WAHO, as well as short versions of the up-to-date lectures lization, this horse breed evolved from the war horse offered by international experts there. of greater Arabia to a favorite animal for a great num - ber of people of all classes and ages all over the world. With their world-wide prevalence that also However, WAHO’s goal is not just “to promote served to spread the history of the Arabian culture uniformity in terminology, definitions and proce - they are connected to, they created a bridge and bond dures relative to the breed of Arabian horses”, as of understanding and friendship between people of the fundamental cornerstone of the organization is many countries. WAHO, then, is the formal frame for the definition of the breed, “to preserve, improve all of them, the microcosmos that serves to anchor and maintain the purity of the blood of horses of WAHO controls the procedures and specifies them for WAHO has succeeded in making a positive the history of individual horses and their offspring the Arabian breed and to promote public interest the member states. With the conferences every two years, connection between the cultures of the East and to commit all of that history to writing in an ag - in the science of the breeding of the Arabian the organization has created a platform for the represen - and the West. This is a success that needs to be gregate studbook. In WAHO, all horses are equal. Horse.” Owing to the application of selection cri - tatives of the national associations (the registrars, for accredited to the Arabian horses, too. By way WAHO is the umbrella organization of the national teria, which was followed by the studbook being example) to meet in order to discuss any pending proce - of the conferences and the experts’ talks given “local residents’ registration offices”, so it’s WAHO closed in 2004, Arabian horses as defined by dures, taking part in the decision-making. The chair then there, WAHO supports information and on - that regulates the guidelines and rules for the inter - WAHO were acknowledged as an international makes the proposals from the registrar meeting into re - going education of her members and delega - national trade relations between breeders and ow - breed. Consequently, WAHO was able to state: “A solutions (for example: cloning is not permitted) or re - tes. Usually, the excursions that can be taken ners of Arabian horses in more than 80 member purebred Arabian horse is one which appears in commendations (for example: such as not to register to experience the hosting countries are an un - states, also harmonizing them wherever possible. any purebred Arabian horse stud book or register more than two embryos per mare per year). forgettable highlight. This is not an easy task, and coordination is only pos - listed by WAHO as acceptable.” sible using perception, instinct, and geopolitical In many Arabian countries, the purebred Arabians know-how. More often than not, the studs in the va - are meanwhile called “WAHO Arabians”. 2017 WAHO WORLD REGISTRARS’ MEETING rious member states are subject to highly differing To put it differently: a purebred Arabian can only be laws and regulations as to animal welfare, (embryo) called that if he is registered in a WAHO ackno - Within the frame of the WAHO World Confer - transport rules, and methods of registration and wledged studbook. At the same time, if somebody ence in Bahrain, 31 national studbook registrars identification of horses – all of which are necessary sells an Arabian with a WAHO passport, exporting of member countries held their meeting on to make international transfers possible at all. For the him from his own country into another country, that February 8. They were supplemented by two globalized market, the WAHO registered purebred person is entitled to have that Arabian, without any Observers, from applying members China and Arabians equipped with a uniform document of fuss, registered and acknowledged in the WAHO Cuba. Xavier Guibert, the Chairman of the reg - identification are an enormous benefit. studbook of his new country. istrars’ meeting, reported several important de - cisions to the General Assembly. Xavier Guibert, Chairman of the registrars’ meeting Compulsory Central Database for Animal Breeding Organizations With the latest EU regulations concerning iden - individual studbooks from including the iden - The event was carried into effect by tification, zootechnics, and medication, Xavier tification certificates issued by them in horse Dr. Khalid Hassan, Director of the reported, establishing a central equine database passports. Instead, identification documents is - Royal Stables, and Mr. Jehangir is now compulsory for each member state of sued by the vets could be separated from the Rustomjee, registrar of the Arabian studbook of Bahrain. Assisted by the European Union and needs yet to be im - pedigree and certificate of origin issued by the their teams and by Katrina Murray, plemented in some WAHO member states. Members, to make two separate documents, WAHO’s Executive Secretary, they There are concerns that State Veterinary De - which many registries strongly oppose. made this conference into a total partments in some countries would like to bar Mr. Guibert suggested lobbying with the EU for success. Photo: Ali Alawadhi Photo: Ali Alawadhi this topic as well as for the matter of preserving possible to change a horse’s name, for very se - the UELN (the Universal Equine Life Number ) rious reasons submitted to the studbook com - instead of having it replaced by a microchip, as mittee of the country, and only if the horse has two EU countries are requesting. After all, WAHO never competed in any official show, race or has 16 countries which do not apply microchip - sport event and has no offspring at that time. ping but do apply the UELN. The breeder of the horse in question would normally also be required to give their consent, No Consent on Temporary Stay Procedures and the passport should be amended or a new Some countries have a lot of purebred Arabians passport needs to be produced. The registrars’ imported for endurance or racing which are meeting had a vote with 1 abstention, 7 against never registered in their database, nor are they and 19 countries in favour of changing some recorded. The Registrars were presented a pro - words in the existing rule. posal from the WAHO office, prepared with the The proposal for that change was presented to help of some stud books, updating the former the Executive Committee during the Conference, WAHO In Transit Rules which are no longer in but the committee required a more precise force. The proposal contains a set of minimum wording. It was decided that Mr Guibert should requirements asking for identification by passport manage a very small group of Executive Com - plus DNA plus an owner declaration. mittee Members for putting down the exact Several stud books would have liked to have wording for approval. So at present, the current the full normal export procedure for breeding rule is still valid. However, now the Executive animals, particularly the stallions, applied to Committee has the power to change the rules the “temporary stay” situation, but not all were due to the new Constitution. So the national in agreement. Another proposal, namely to Registrars will receive the proposed wording, issue a full export certificate, and to make free there will be a consultation by email, and within the procedure of re-importation, does not solve 6 months after receiving the proposal, a decision the main problem and does not refund the will be made by the Executive Committee. effort required for re-importation. As a satisfying proposal could not be found, it was concluded Registration of Genetically Manipulated Horses that WAHO should contact the FEI, and WAHO of course. It would be a good solution, the reg - and to searching via a Hub such as has been After a thorough debate, the registrars agreed Member Registries should contact their own istrars agreed, to have the respective designation developed by and for the WBFSH (World Breed - to propose to WAHO to start preparing a National Federations, in order to ensure that (name / label) of the different boxes / fields of ing Federation for Sport Horses).