Fundamental to the long-term success of these aims, which will be vital for the survival and sustainability of our entire industry, are reliable and complete horse id and pedigree data to be shared among all member studbooks and accessible to everyone involved with WBFSH member studbook registered horses, from larger stakeholders such as the FEI and National Federations to individual breeders, owners and riders. 

It is to this end that the WBFSH has embarked on a highly ambitious project: To create not merely a single central database of verified equine id and pedigree data drawn from all its members, but an entire data flow system between members and users in a revolutionary concept. 

To facilitate this world-leading initiative, the WBFSH is working in partnership with Equine Register, a global expert in digital solutions for horse identification and traceability. Equine Register has already been the organisation’s digital partner for several years, having designed its industry leading website and CMS system. 

WBFSH President Jan Pedersen explains:

“We have known for many years that what our industry needs, is a reliable and complete source of horse id and pedigree information. Many have tried, and many have struggled. We are now in a serendipitous position having found in Equine Register a digital partner with the necessary knowledge of what it means to be a studbook in the modern age, combined with the capability to fulfil our aspirations.”

More than “just another database”

Every year, over approximately 100.000 sport horse foals are registered with our now more than 85 members across 36 different countries. By conservative estimates we assume that there are about 1.5 million living WBFSH member studbook registered horses scattered all over the world. 

While conventional databases that pull together records from wide ranges of sources already exist, the WBFSH Data Project will be the first one that provides a complete set of data all fully verified and reconciled by and between member studbooks. This includes the reconciliation of duplicate records, inaccuracies and inconsistencies that exist between different records, thus creating a more reliable data resource in the industry.

However, the concept goes far beyond that. 

Says Stewart Everett from Equine Register:

“When starting to think about the design of the WBFSH Data Project, we decided to look at things from a different perspective. We were not so much worried about getting everyone’s data into a central database, as focusing on how we can make sure the studbooks and every other user also get the information they need out of it. Studbooks often lose sight of their horses when they are sold to new owners. They also lose out on crucial information about progeny from their damlines and stallions when horses are sold and registered abroad. 

The revolutionary way in which we are designing the project means that the database does not only receive data from the members, cleans it and reconciles any issues. Crucially, it also feeds data back in real time and in a way that speaks the IT language of each studbook’s system. This allows studbooks to complete their records and reconnect with their horses all over the world without having to invest in more manpower or costly systems updates.”

The concept is to create a flow of information between all participants, from horse owners, breeders and riders accessing the database for information, to the studbooks and key industry stakeholders.

To aid the development of the project, a wide range of key member studbooks have already submitted test records, with many more lined up to contribute over the coming weeks. The project has already received data from the KWPN, the Oldenburger Verband, the British Hanoverian Horse Society, the Anglo European Studbook, the South African Warmblood Horse Society, the New Zealand Hanoverians and the Danish Warmbloods. 

Chris Andrews who is overseeing the project development at Equine Register explains:

“In this current phase we obtained test records from as many different studbooks as possible, deliberately focusing on a wide range from some of the largest to some of the smaller ones. This allows us to gain a clear understanding of everyone’s data formats, allowing us to build a system that has the flexibility to serve everyone.”

Fairness and Transparency 

Key to the success and viability of the project are fairness and transparency. 

Says WBFSH General Manager Nadine Brandtner:

“We believe in treating all participants with respect. Our studbooks need to feel that their data is in safe hands and that they all benefit fairly from the project. Respect and fairness are also due to riders, owners and third parties. In Equine Register we have a digital partner with the expertise to oversee the safe handling of data and compliance with legislation everywhere in the world. 

Nobody is forced to provide their data, and there will be no so called ‘data scraping’ from third parties’ published sources. We would like to encourage all stakeholders to become actively involved. We know they will also benefit from the greater accuracy in horse id and pedigree data that will be the direct result of the project. To this end we are keeping the FEI involved at every step of the way, as we are confident that our joint activities, such as our data exchange project, can greatly benefit.”

Will we pull this off? 

Innovative projects like the WBFSH Database are ambitious as they aim to serve a highly diverse global community. The project will greatly benefit not only all sport horse studbooks and breeders, but our entire industry.

In the past, collaborative projects aimed at including the entire the sport horse breeding sector have been impeded by fragmentation and by a reticence from those concerned with protecting what they see as a competitive advantage arising from their data.

Everyone has realised that breeding has become more and more globalised and that the value of their data will only increase with becoming part of a larger whole. It is for that reason that we know that this project will succeed. Conceived by the studbooks for the studbooks it will benefit everyone with an interest in sports horses.