EFTBA

MEP Hilde Vautmans and MEP Benoit Cassart visited Coolmore with Des Leadon MA MVB MSC and Joe Hernon, chairman of the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) on June 9. Vautmans is the chairperson of the Horse Group in the EU Parliament and Cassart, also a member, is in charge of the Animal Transport dossier. Leadon and Hernon highlighted the problems facing the Irish industry if new transport rules are not modified to include Irish animals alongside the high health animals in the racing and sporting disciplines. Said Hernon...

A meeting of the Members of European Parliament (MEP) Horse Group was held in Brussels on March 5 and arranged by the European Horse Network (EHN). The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) was well-represented at the meeting by chairman Joe Hernon and Veterinary Advisory Committee chairman Des Leadon. There were also a number of MEPs and members of the EHN on hand. Nina Carberry hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Much of the discussion was on the future of the equine sector as well as negotiations...

The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations held its AGM this week in Newmarket where a number of key challenges and potential threats facing the industry were discussed. Major topics of discussion included the European Union's proposed animal transport regulations, mandatory vaccinations and much more.  Commenting on the AGM, EFTBA Chairman Joe Hernon said, "The federation will continue to combat against the serious threats facing Europe's thoroughbred breeding industry, our fellow breeders and their livelihoods, while ensuring equine wellness is at the centre of all our actions and decisions.   "Despite...

Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has obtained permission to import the Arvac vaccine ahead of the 2025 breeding season, the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) announced on Monday. The manufacturing failure of the Artervac vaccine in 2023 had left Europe's elite stallions vulnerable to an outbreak of EVA, a notifiable disease which can cause infertility, as well as pregnancy loss in mares. The EFTBA and its members, including Ireland, France and Germany, had lobbied the EU for permission to import the alternative vaccine, Arvac,...

The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) held its 2024 AGM in Chantilly, France over the weekend of the G1 Prix de Diane Longines, which celebrated the 175th running of the prestigious race and was hosted by the Fédération des Eleveurs du Galop (French TBA). Over the weekend of the AGM, the French TBA, together with France Galop, hosted a series of visits for delegates which included the training gallops and the training yards of Gavin Hernon and Henri-François Devin, as well as Château de Chantilly and the Musée...

The International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation (ITBF) biennial Conference will begin next weekend in Tokyo, Japan, the ITBF announced on Friday. Lasting from May 18-23 and hosted by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association (JBBA), the Conference will welcome roughly 70 delegates from 20 countries, plus organisations EFTBA and OSAF, as well as representatives from the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). Significant breeding and racing industry issues will be raised during the general meeting, and reports given on ITBF's proactivity within both breeding and the wider Thoroughbred industries. There is also...

The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Association held its series of Autumn Meetings at the John Lambton Rooms, National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket Nov. 23. A number of matters were discussed at the Autumn Meeting, including the need for an emergency import license for the Equine Viral Arteritis vaccine, known as ARVAC to be granted for Europe's breeding nations. Agreeing to show its support for applications by our country members, the objective is to ensure ARVAC is made available for the start of the 2024 thoroughbred breeding season. EFTBA...

The annual general meeting of the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) was held at the John Lambton Rooms of the National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket on July 12. The well-attended meeting also welcomed all new EFTBA representatives--Magdalene Donimirska - Wodzicka Poland; Frank Dorff, Germany' Jose Hormaeche Spain; Philip Lybeck Finland; Henrik Villadsen, Denmark; and Pierric Rouxel, France. Observers included Sarah Carmichael ITBF Secretariat and Victoria Murrell, The TBA. Progress has been made in several areas, including: facilitating freedom of movement between EU Member states continuing to push...

Fillies and mares are forbidden from racing in France after they have been covered by a stallion due to a change to the French rules of racing, France Galop announced. The amendment brings the rules for Thoroughbred racing in France into line with those for Arabians and for Standardbreds used for trotting. However, it is a move which puts France at odds with its fellow European Thoroughbred racing jurisdictions. In Britain and Ireland, fillies and mares can continue to compete for up to 120 days after being covered. If not...

The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) and Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) held their annual general meetings--in a hybrid format--at the ITBA headquarters in County Kildare on May 25 and May 26, respectively. The EFTBA meeting was held in Ireland due to both the chairmanship and secretariat of the EFTBA being held by the ITBA. Cathy Grassick was named the new Chairperson of the ITBA, replacing John McEnery. ITBA CEO Shane O'Dwyer oversaw the proceedings, while the ITBA also welcomed Dr. Dean Harron as the new ITBA President.

The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations held its 2021 AGM on Nov. 23 in Newmarket, where the movement of Thoroughbreds between Europe and the UK post Brexit was one of the key topics discussed. The federation is continuing its work on securing HHB status for Thoroughbreds. Plans were also made for the federation to produce a European stud farm environmental impact study, and a sub committee was formed to look into the formulation of an official federation welfare strategy to raise awareness about the high level of care Thoroughbreds...

The 2021 breeding season was hit by the perfect storm of ongoing Covid travel restrictions and the end of the transition period that meant Britain's exit from the European Union is now complete. Brexit has been a thorn in the industry's side for five years. For those in Britain who were opposed to it, it has long been considered a gratuitous act of economic self-harm for the country, but the damage done is not restricted to that island. Brexit has affected modes of operation for untold businesses within neighbouring European...