REPORT FOR 2011 WAHO CONFERENCE (unfortunately the delegate was unable to attend at the last moment, this is the report that would have been delivered at the Conference):

REPORT OF SLOVENIAN STUD BOOK AUTHORITY TO 2011 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

My name is Natasa Gorisek and I am the delegate for the Slovenian Arabian Stud Book Authority. We would like to thank the Qatar Race and Equestrian Club for hosting this WAHO Conference and for their generous hospitality.

In Slovenia, the number of registered foals in the last five years has been similar with about twenty each year. The only exception was in the year 2009, when thirty five foals were registered, this was the most productive year in the breeding of Arabian horses in Slovenia since we became a WAHO Registering Authority Member in 2004, until today.

The number of breeding stallions has stayed the same, there are currently 12. The number of broodmares is equally increasing proportionally with the number of living registered Arabians, and is now up to 72. The number of imported horses, between 3 and 6 each year, is a little bit higher then the number of exported horses. The number of living registered Arabians has seen a good increase, from 249 in 2007 to 332 in 2010.

The only activity in which our Arabians take an active part is endurance. In 2009 there were three events, and in 2010 there were five, these were organised by the Slovenian Equestrian Federation. In 2009 three Arabians competed, and in 2010 four Arabians competed. That is less than 5 % of all competing endurance horses in the country.

In Slovenia there are some very ambitious breeders who take part in the different International Shows in the countries near by. As a result, our WAHO Trophy winner for 2011 is the young stallion Lawos, he is the first Slovenian home-bred and registered horse who participates at International shows. He took part in the International Show in Hungary in August 2009, where he won the Balaton Cup. It seems that this success has been a very good inspiration for all the Slovenian breeders.

In the last year the Association of Slovenian Arabian Horse Breeders was slightly less active than before. There are only some individuals who actively promote the breed and educate themselves. We hope this situation will improve in the future.

Our current Stud Book was published in 2009 and covers the period from 2004 to 2008. The next volume will cover the period from 2009 to 2012 and will be printed in the beginning of 2013. We still do not have an online pedigree database, but the studbook is accessible on our website: http://www.vf.uni-lj.si/vf/index.php/Konji-selekcija/novice-selekcija-587.html

This concludes the Slovenian Report. Thank you.

2008 REPORT:

The Slovenian Arabian Stud Book Authority reports that 20 foals were registered in 2008, with 60 broodmares and 14 breeding stallions active. The living Arabian population in the country is now estimated at 275. 4 horses were imported in 2008, from Austria, The Netherlands, and The Czech Republic, and 1 stallion was sent on temporary lease to Croatia for breeding. There have been no other changes to the registration procedures or rules since those previously reported.

REPORT MADE AT 2007 WAHO CONFERENCE:

The Slovenian Arabian Stud Book Authority published their first Stud Book in 2004 covering the period from 1990-2003. The next volume, which will cover the period from 2004-2007, will be printed in 2009. The number of horses registered in different years are varying greatly. In 2004, 20 foals were registered, but in 2005 there were only 5, and in 2006 there were 27.

The numbers of breeding stallions and broodmares and the numbers of imported and exported horses also support the anticipated development of breeding in our country. In 2006 there were 15 breeding stallions, and 37 broodmares. 14 horses were imported in 2006 and 5 were exported in the same year. The estimated total number of Arabians in Slovenia is 250.

According to our breeding rules, parent verification of foals is mandatory prior to first registration. DNA testing has been in use since 2004. For the purpose of identification, Markings Identification Documents are issued to the registered foals. For the time being other methods of marking such as branding, tattooing, or micro-chipping for this purpose are not in use. We allow artificial insemination, and also ovum and embryo transfer, but only one foal can be registered per donor mare.

According to the fact that Arab breeding has only started in Slovenia some fifteen years ago, that numbers of the Arab horses are still very small and that only recently some breeders have become more ambitious, it can be understood that numbers of activities organised are small. In the last two years the Association of Slovenian Arab Breeders has organised shows in halter class for the purpose of selection and promotion of the breed. Seminars in training and presenting of the horses were also organised. These activities are proving to be very important not only as the means of selection and promotion, but even far more as the means of education of the breeders. Some Arabian horses are now taking part in dressage and endurance competitions organized by the Slovenian Equestrian Association.