... to all of you and a Happy New Fjord Horse Year in 2020

picture : Brian Jensen, Canada.

During summer 2019 Fjord Horse International received two applications from member countries looking to host the European Championships of 2020.

Fjord Horse International is very grateful that so many are willing to take on all the work associated with such an event and notes that the Fjord horse has many people working for the best of their passion.
After discussions with representatives of the two countries, Denmark will be hosting the EC 2020 in Vilhelmsborg 6th to 9th of August.

The terms are that the statutes of EC from FjHI is being followed and that FjHI does a proposal on the level of the tests for the EC.
In addition, Germany has the option before other countries to organize EC of 2022.

FjHI will write a procedure stipulating how the announcement and communication of the EC will be organized in the future. This will be published as soon as possible.
The FjHI wishes to say thank you to all for showing interest in hosting the EC and wishes Denmark the very best of luck with the preparations of next years event.

15/8/2019
President of Fjord Horse International
Jenny Wright Johnsen

International register for Fjord horses

The 7th and 8th of June representatives from the international Fjord horse countries met in Brussels to discuss the possibilities of an international register for Fjord horses.

In a digitalizing world the idea of an international register for Fjord horses is a hotter topic than ever before. By gathering all the Fjord horses around the world in one register we will have a complete overview of the population. This gives us plenty of opportunities with regards to developing the Fjord horse as a product. It will make it easier to import and export horses across borders. Looking ahead, it will be possible to integrate sports data in the register and with this comes a powerful marketing effect. With respect to inbreeding supervision and regulation, an international register is a very suitable tool.

There are some challenges along the way. The horses are registered in many different registers, in different formats, some horses are registered in more than one register, but with different identities. In addition, the General Data Protection Regulation sets terms for the design of the register. Nevertheless, in Brussels met representatives motivated and willing to work for the project, from France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, USA (also representing Canada), Denmark, Sweden, UK and Norway (Sweden and the UK followed the meeting on Skype). The meeting was spent on looking at the current situation; how are horses registered, who owns the data, how can we unite data in one data base and how will it work. The answers will be put together in a full overview report on the international fjord horse, probably published in August/September.

Other issues partly related to an international register, or just regarding breeding, was also discusses. What every country seemed to agree on was the wish for more cooperation between the countries, f.ex. in terms of exchanging judges. Especially Norway has work to do to give more information on their breeding politics, so that the other countries that wish to go in the same direction, can do so. To overall impression from the meeting was the wish for more cooperation between the fjord horse countries. Even though the systems are different, we are all searching for the same; a healthy, functional and good-looking horse. Working together for the same goal this makes a good chance for success in the years to come.

Inbreeding regulations, semen testing, regulations for stallions in the different countries, DNA testing, the use of UELN numbers, the use of the FHI check card and “the red book” was discussed. The report will summarize the practice of each country and make it easier to compare.

The work to come is a financial issue. To fulfill the project of an international register, we need the necessary funding, and this requires a thorough and well written application. More information on the process will be available as soon as we are making progress. Please follow Fjord Horse International on Facebook and on our web page http://www.fjordhorseinternational.org/FjHI/

Jenny Wright Johnsen
Fjord Horse International