The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) has recently welcomed two new 'associate' members: the China Horse Industry Association (CHIA), and the Luso-Warmblood Studbook (LW).
The CHIA is a non-profit organization, and is the only organization authorised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China to be responsible for the management of horse breeds, registration and studbooks in China.
The CHIA was formerly known as the National Horse Breeding Committee and the China Studbook Committee. Activities include horse selection and breeding, horse registration, horse auctions, and the organisation of equestrian and horse racing events. The organisation registers various breeds, including Thoroughbred horses, Arabian horses, Akhal-Teke horses, French Trotters, Warmbloods, and domestic horse breeds.
An exciting new venture the CHIA started a few years ago, is the establishment of the China Warmblood Horse Studbook. The Warmblood horse studbook rule system is still under construction, but recently the first selections for breeding stock were carried out in China. In 2019, CHIA together with domestic equestrian sport organisations established the 'China Young Horse Competition', which has been held for three years. The aim is to apply for full membership status once the studbook is sufficiently well established.
The CHIA is the first member the WBFSH has in Asia.
The Luso-Warmblood Studbook is newly established, created in 2022. It is for horses that are the result of cross-breeding pure-bred and/or decedents of Lusitano Horses (LUSIT) with horses registered in WBFSH warmblood studbooks.
The aim is to promote a breed that enhances the qualities of the Portuguese native breed.
This cross-breeding has already existed for some years, but horses were previously registered into either the Portuguese Sport Horse (PSH – a WBFSH full member) or the Cruzado Portugues (CP). A minimum percentage of 25% Lusitano blood is required.
The LW is owned by the Portuguese state and is managed by APCRS (Associação Portuguesa de Criadores de Raças Selectas), which manage five horse studbooks. One of these studbooks is the aforementioned Portuguese Sport Horse Stud Book. The APCRS has legal authorisation from the Agriculture Ministry via DGAV (Direção Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária Portugal).
The LW-Studbook is reserved for horses registered in the National Equine Registry (RNE) that meet the conditions to be enrolled in one of the following sections:
- LW Birth Section (foals from horses registered in the Breeding Section or in the Annex Breeding Section.)
- LW Studbook Breeding Section (horses registered in the LW Birth Section, where sports results and conformation have been approved by the Registration Technical Committee)
- Studbook Annex Breeding Section (Breeds other than LW which, depending on their sports results, have received a favorable opinion from the Registration Technical Committee)