THE STANDARDBRED AND TROTTING HORSE ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
THE STANDARDBRED NEWS Issue 14
APRIL / MAY 2003
website: www.standardbred.org
Stallions can be advertised on STAGBI website for £15 per year other adverts including banners etc are subject to agreement. Don't neglect this effective method of advertising which is available 24 hours everyday, and every day of the week. Please also remember we would like to hear from anyone who has a story about Standardbreds - the most versatile breed in the world. www.standardbred.org
From the Registrar's desk
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM BREEDER SERVICES.
PLEASE DO TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE INFORMATION ON COVERING CERTIFICATE PROCEDURES, ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION RULES & REGULATIONS AND STANDARDBRED HORSE IMPORTATION RULES & REGULATIONS.
ALL OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS WERE DEVELOPED TO MAKE IT AS EASY AND SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE FOR ALL CONCERNED, AND ALSO TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF STAGBI, OTHER OVERSEAS REGISTRIES AND GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS.
IN MANY AREAS WE HAVE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS, SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAINTAIN OUR ACHIEVMENTS, AND BUILD FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR BREEDING INDUSTRY.
COVERING CERTIFICATE PROCEDURES
Covering certificates ordered, purchased and recorded in any year are intended for use in that year. Certificates unused must be notified on a special form (available on request) and can be advanced to the following year (one year only). No unauthorised retrospectively issued certificates will be accepted for registration purposes.
All covering certificates should be issued in the year that the broodmare is covered, part 2 must be returned to breeder services in the year of cover. The stallion owner may retain parts 3 and 4 until all covering fees and associated charges have been received. A certificate must be handed over on receipt of all fees.
There are no further covering certificates available for years 2000, 2001,2002.
Covering certificates unused that were issued in 2002 must be declared no later than 30th April 2003, so that they can be re-allocated to the 2003 register. After that date all undeclared certificates will be invalid and may not be used for registration purposes.
All unused covering certificates issued for the years 2000 and 2001 are now void, and cannot be used to support a registration application.
COVERING CERTIFICATE / HAIR SAMPLE PROCEDURES
We have approximately 600 broodmare hair samples on file, these are currently being processed for dispatch to Canada for DNA profiling at one of the worlds largest specialist laboratories.
The cost of this process is being met by STAGBI, which means we are using part of our revenues to improve the status of our standardbred horses for all concerned.
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
When you purchase your stallion covers you must ensure that all the STAGBI rules and regulations are strictly adhered to. Note: that the UK representative company marketing and selling imported frozen semen will not release it to your chosen AI veterinary service until the broodmares hair sample has been DNA profiled. This procedure will require a laboratory fee of £38.00, if you are unsure or require any further information please call Breeder Services on 01282 843736 or 07966 464686.
THE STANDARDBRED & TROTTING HORSE ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND
The STAGBI rules and regulations for artificial insemination used for breeding are as follows:
1. All stallion owners intending to use their stallions as donors for AI purposes must notify STAGBI one month in advance, and register the stallion/s name/s, registration number/s and the stallion/s location.
2. All domestic semen used for the purpose of AI must be from stallions that have been geno-typed by DNA analysis from a hair sample using the micro-satellite technique.
3. All domestic semen used for the purpose of AI must be from stallions that are fully registered and entered into the STAGBI studbook.
4. All domestic frozen semen must be stored at an approved centre, and the location registered with STAGBI for record purposes.
5. All importers of frozen semen must notify STAGBI one month in advance of their intention to import, and supply the stallions name and location.
6. All imported semen used for the purpose of AI must be from stallions that are fully registered and entered into the studbook of a recognized breed authority in their respective country.
7. *All imported semen used for the purpose of AI must be from stallions that have been geno-typed by DNA analysis using the micro-satellite technique. The certified unique number and DNA profile must be made available to STAGBI for record purposes, before any AI procedures take place. *(This should be determined before making any contractual purchase).
8. All imported frozen semen must be stored at an approved centre, and the location registered with STAGBI for record purposes.
9. The importer must obtain and supply the exporter with DEFRA (ex UK Ministry Of Agriculture Fisheries And Foods) health certificates reference number L 230/24, or in the case of Ireland equivalent health certificates to conform to the requirements of the Irish Ministry of Agriculture. The certificates must be completed by an official veterinarian before export and accompany the consignment at all times. Or verify with STAGBI that a reciprocal arrangement is in place with the country of export.
10. The importer must supply STAGBI with copies of all health certificates, purchasing contract and storage address immediately after import
11. All broodmares to be bred by AI procedures must be geno-typed by DNA analysis from a hair sample using the micro-satellite technique. This must be in advance of any AI procedures. The appropriate analysis fee must accompany the hair sample.
12. All foals born as a result of AI must be geno-typed by DNA analysis from a hair sample using the micro-satellite technique. The sample must be forwarded to STAGBI within 14 days of foaling. The appropriate analysis fee must accompany the hair sample.
13. On completion of each AI procedure the attending veterinarian must stamp and sign on the reverse side of the covering certificate, on all four parts.
Published 2001-
STANDARDBRED HORSE IMPORTATION
The STAGBI rules and regulations have been developed around the European Zootechnics Regulations and must be strictly adhered to.
Generally we have no problems with importation documents from worldwide registries, however, there have been recent incidences where the British/Irish owners name and address has not appeared on the export certificate issued by an overseas registry. Our requirements are very specific.
The following are guidelines for any person intending to import standardbred horses:
If you personally purchase a horse, it is your responsibility to apply for an export certificate from the registry or authority in the country of export. You must ensure that your name and permanent address appear on the export certificate. Most registries also require sight of the original bill of sale for the horse or horses. This must be in an acceptable form and not merely a slip of paper with no sellers address on it.
If you are acting as an agent for a British or Irish owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that the name and permanent address of the new owner appears on the export certificate.
The person whose name appears on the export certificate is responsible for the registration of a horse with STAGBI.
NEW EUROPEAN LEGISLATION
New European legislation is imminent requiring all horses, ponies and donkeys be registered by the 31st December 2003. The age requirement for registration is stated to be seven months and over. This will require several changes in our procedures in order for us to comply with the legislation. We will keep you informed.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ON ANY MATTER PLEASE CALL BREEDER SERVICES ON 01282 843736 OR 07966 464686.
Pacing horses in Greece
In Greece there are several breeds of small horse, most of which are of great antiquity. They are without exception extremely tough and frugal, and many of the breeds have a somewhat uncertain temperament which goes with their ability to look after themselves in the harsh conditions which the climate and terrain impose on them.
All of the breeds, except the tiny skyros horse, include animals which pace naturally. Not all of one particular breed pace, but those that do are worth approximately double the price of horses who do not pace. Pacing is called ARAVANI.
The pacing animals were developed, who knows how long ago, for riding, not for drawing carriages. You never see a pacer`s talents being wasted on pulling a cart, as the cheaper animals can do this. Similarly you don't see pacing horses being used for carrying wood in the mountains, or doing menial agricultural work, they are for riding, and furthermore, they are for those who can afford the luxury of a comfortable saddle horse, in addition to his or her work horses. Nowadays they are being used for leisure, but the vast majority of pacing horses are still used by mountain farmers to get about in the mountains where they have their sheep and cattle.
The mountain breed that provides most pacers in the North of Greece is the Pindos horse. These are small (14 hands is a VERY big horse, and probably has some arab or thoroughbred blood in it somewhere) and immensely tough. The usual colours are black, grey and bay. Blue roans dominate in the pacers that come from Synatsiko (see below). A dark liver chestnut is especially prized because it is unusual.. Any blond in the mane and tail can usually be traced back to an illadvised injection of Haflinger blood which has made the horses heavier and much less able to survive on the rations they can find in the mountains, so these animals are not sought after. Pindos horses are very long lived, extremely intelligent and forward going (often excessively so) and hardworking.
In the summer months they live free on the various mountains of Pindos and surrounding areas, some live as wild horses all the year round. Pacing mares are used exclusively for breeding, as their progeny will be valuable. They are not usually ridden. The ordinary Pindos mares are used to produce mules which are more valuable for woodcutters than horses, as they are enduring and cheap to feed.
In the winter (the winters are EXTREMELY harsh in the Northern mountains of Greece, in one village I worked in there was snow on the ground for 156 days. The temperature was -13 C for three days at lunch time in March) the horses and mules are taken down to the lower villages where they will be stabled until the following spring.
Many of the pacers come from the mountain SYNATSIKO, where they are bred by Blach shepherds. The Blachs are an ancient race who have always been interested in horses. Traditionally they keep sheep, but under Turkish rule they became traders and jewelers, living as they did in places that were not readily accessible to the conquering Turks, and having as they did plenty of horses.
These horses develop a close relationship with their owner_ they come when they are whistled just like film stunt horses, but they don't really like strangers at all, or even people who they know well, but are not their owners..
The saddle used (called a samari, NOT a saddle) is an extremely uncomfortable (for the rider) wooden frame which sits on cushioned struts which straddle the back of the horse. Various ingenious knots and ropes hold this in place. In order to ride in such a saddle people cover it with thick wool rugs and the have stirrups (which have a spur attached in most cases) well in front. The rider rides sitting back in a characteristic hunched position with his knees in front of him and his feet a little in front of his knees. He cannot under any circumstances rise to the trot in the position, and this is why a pacer is indespensible if you want to get about at any speed. People also sometimes sit actually sideways on these saddles. Obviously this can bring about a very nasty fall because you fall backwards onto your head, but since the horses normally scurry along covering the ground like little tractors, looking neither left nor right, and the riders are very relaxed, falls seldom happen.
Donkeys and mules are considered dangerous in this respect, as a sudden stop or a wheel round can have a very unfortunate effect on the rider. There is even a word... me mularise it did a mule on me, which is used to describe any non forward going behaviour on the part of a horse.
The horses are sometimes ridden with a bit, but usually with a chain over their nose and a single rope from the chain for stopping and starting with. The rider `s position in the saddle makes the use of legs difficult, so horses are trained to go when they get a jab on the nose and to stop when someone hauls on the rope. They are very responsive to the voice too.
The spur on the stirrup can be used to make the horse go faster, though they normally hurtle about the place at very high speed without any encouragement.
They are steered in a variety of ways, but one common method is to tap the horse on the side of the head with a shepherds crook or other stick, you tap it on the left if you want to go right and vice versa.
A lady who came to my riding school couldn't get out of the habit of steering this way ( she had ridden to school every day as a child) and absent mindedly did it to an exracehorse thoroughbred mare. When we took our hands away from our eyes we saw that the mare understood exactly what was wanted and was not in the least offended by what seemed to us horrifyingly foolhardy tactics to use with a thoroughbred, so maybe there is a lesson here somewhere.
Pacing Pindos horses always pace except when encouraged to go as fast as they can. Then they break and go "sta tessera" - in four time. In villages people still talk about going 'sta tessera' when they mean really fast, and village cars often seem to go sta tessera when their drivers have drink taken.
The riding method described above obviously demands a certain type of horse, and these are extremely bold, they never shy and rush about exactly along the straight line they are set on by the rider, they never deviate. I have never seen one nap or buck or rear. They also seem to be gifted jumpers, and it interesting to see how they get their hindlegs under them in order to make enormous jumps over barbed wire or whatever is keeping them where they don't want to be. They approach in a slow aravani (about the speed of collected trot) and pause to get both hindlegs under and then hop over in a very irritating way. Of course noone attempts to jump while riding one of these horses, the position of the rider and the structure of the saddle prohibits it.
These horses are, as I say rather small, and since Greeks have become a lot bigger recently there have been attempts to get the horses bigger too, but when cross bred (see comments about crossing with Haflinders above.) they immediately lose their mountain survival characteristics, or their aravani or both.
A Pindos horse can easily carry a man, its just that he has to ride with his knees round his neck to keep his feet off the ground. We hope that by carefully combining the Pindos breed and with Standardbred pacers it will be possible to enlarge the pacing Pindos horse so that the new larger Greek people who are interested in riding over the mountains as a leisure activity will have a safe, tough and willing horse which they do not have to be contortionist to ride.
Aravani horses are very good in the mountains, as on steep tracks (and by steep I mean precipitous) the normal 4 time walk of a horse means that for about a quarter of the time all the weight of horse and rider is on the one front leg. Pacing downhill is much less difficult for the horses.
In my riding school I had a large and elderly horse who had, in his youth been aravani (He was of the Pinios breed which is the largest of the Greek breeds) As he got older he was downgraded to a carthorse, where he reverted to ordinary gates. We bought him very cheaply because of his advanced age, without any idea of his illustrious past.
However, on his first long trek as riding horse on a very steep downhill he suddenly started to move in what we thought was a really weird way, (at that time I knew nothing of the Greek pacing horses,) and we thought he had gone hopelessly lame. Then we realized that he was pacing, because it was a much easier way to carry the rider down a steep slope without his arthritis playing up.
But this isn't all. On the next steep down hill all the horses near him started to do the same thing. We found that on most treks where he was part of the company many of the horses, who were not natural pacers, and probably had never even seen a pacer, would copy him. None of them started to do it on rides where he was absent, but obviously when they were finding the going difficult they saw that he had a better way of doing things.
Horseracing has been part of Greek life for a very long time, and speed has always been much coveted in horses. Officially there is racing of thoroughbreds in Athens, but all the other racing is connected with various saints' days and villages have horse races as part of the festival for their saint. These races are obviously actually linked with pre-Christian rites, and are often held at the sea side. In ancient times the horse was sacred to Poseidon (Neptune) and the races were held to honour him, and were often accompanied by the sacrifice of a suitable animal.
Today animals are not sacrificed on purpose, but I have to say that there are sometimes inadvertent sacrifices, because, though the racecourses are quite suitable for small iron legged not particularly fast ponies sta tessera, they are absolutely murderous for the thoroughbred ex racehorses that seem to turn up more and more at these occasions. The races are run in heats, which can also have a deleterious effect on the health of horses that have to run four or five heats on a hot day on a hard road.
Various old wives tales connected with horses persist. One is that a horse that does aravani will be bob tailed. Many of them are. Some people believe that they have short tails naturally, like some breeds of dogs and cats. BUT I have been asked by people who ought to know better whether docking the tail of an aravani foal will make it go faster. So I am doubtful about these naturally short tailed horses.
In common with British thought on the matter a pure black horse (better a chestnut mare than a black horse) is thought to be a bad buy. When I bought a coal black mare my blacksmith looked doubtful, and then proceeded to search the mare till he found two or three white hairs. He was then able to say the polite "me yia" (with good health) which is obligatory when someone gets something new. He didn't do the ritual spitting that you normally do so that the devil doesn't harm the thing you have admired, since he obviously had not coveted her in any way..
I hope what I have written will make readers interested in the Greece that exists almost unknown for the tourist: up in the high wild mountains of the North, where bears and wolves still exist in some numbers, and the best way to get about, (sometimes the only way to get about) is on the back of the little pacing horses that have been here since the time of Alexander and before.
Penny Turner
Penny explains "My interest in British Standardbred pacers started when a friend of mine mentioned that he wanted in some way to breed larger pacing animals here in Greece.
If any members of your society are coming to Greece I would be very happy to help them fix up a visit to the mountains in the North. I am involved in ecotourism up here, and know lots of really WONDERFUL places which are ever so wild (bears wolves vultures incredible flowers, rivers for rafting etc) and would be very happy to advise people where to go and what to see, as well as, of course, helping them see the little pacers." Please contact Penny by email at:- pindaros_2000@yahoo.com