At its Annual General Assembly, held from 11 to 13 October 2025 in Nottingham Road (South Africa), the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) took a major step forward in the history of sport horse breeding by officially adopting the Global Charter of Commitment to Equine Welfare in Breeding.
The official signing of the Charter took place during the Gala Dinner, in the presence of representatives from member studbooks from all over the world. This symbolic act marks a strong collective commitment to place horse welfare at the very heart of breeding and selection practices.
A firm and collective commitment
This Charter commits all WBFSH member studbooks to uphold and promote the highest standards of welfare throughout every stage of a horse’s life. It is founded on seven core principles: integrating welfare into breeding strategies, ensuring ethical and age-appropriate management practices, supporting research and continuous education, and guaranteeing transparency through the traceability of genetic material and breeding stock.
Traceability of genetic material and breeding stock
Adherence to this Charter is not optional, but a mandatory condition for any studbook wishing to join or remain a member of the Federation.
This commitment goes beyond a declaration of intent — it represents the starting point of a concrete action plan, to be implemented and monitored within each studbook. Members agree to regularly assess their practices and to cooperate fully with anyaudit or review process initiated by the WBFSH.
A pillar of the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan
The adoption of this Charter forms part of the implementation of the WBFSH’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, also presented during the General Assembly.
Structured around four strategic pillars, the plan identifies animal welfare and ethical responsibility as one of the key priorities for the coming years, alongside traceability, scientific innovation, and the strengthening of services to members and breeders.
Scientific collaboration for lasting impact
The WBFSH is simultaneously pursuing its research partnership with Hartpury University (United Kingdom) as part of an international project aimed at identifying welfare priorities in horse breeding and proposing evidence-based solutions.
Findings from the first phase of this research provided the foundations for the Charter. The second phase will be presented in a dedicated webinar, with the date to be announced shortly, to share the latest progress and recommendations with the global equestrian community.
A strong global message
Through this collective signature, WBFSH member studbooks affirm their shared responsibility towards the horses they breed and represent. It sends a powerful message to the international equestrian sector: Excellence in breeding cannot exist without an absolute respect for animal welfare.
“The signing of our charter is not an end, but a beginning. It is the first step in a profound transformation: one of responsible, transparent breeding, resolutely focused on the welfare of every horse — a responsibility that we collectively carry as WBFSH member studbooks.”
- Bérengère Lacroix
