ECAHO
for good horsemanship
Description of the problem:
ECAHO was founded to assure fair competition and humane
treatment of our beloved Arabian horses, especially on shows. Today this topic
has not become any less important and some developments in recent years oblige
us to start some activity to keep focused on these high principles. Not only
due to general changes of society's views on animal welfare, but also due to
awareness of negative developments in the training and the presentation of Arabian
horses, ECAHO feels the need for some structured activity regarding the welfare
of the horse. With the knowledge that most of our owners, breeders, grooms and
trainers love their horses and handle them in most cases very fairly and professionally,
we increasingly observe poor treatment of horses which does not live up to the
standards of ECAHO rules and principles.
Therefore, ECAHO will start a program called "ECAHO for good horsemanship",
which will address variety of subjects to:
- ensure
highest standard of Officials´ education
- enforce
the compliance of animal welfare regulations based on:
- ECAHO
rules and principles
- OIE
(World Organisation of Animal Health)
- National animal protection acts
- re-establish
ECAHO as a clear advocate for animal welfare
- improve
the image of ECAHO affiliated Arabian horse shows regarding animal welfare
- establish
fair competition for all ECAHO exhibitors
Step 1: Analysis of current problems
- insufficient actions by DC-members,
Judges and Ringmasters
- use of anal irritants to improve the
tail carriage
- any shanking other than to control
an unruly horse
- excessive circling
- stress (transport, foals, warm up,
stand up
- clipping of all tactile hairs and
hairs inside the ears
- whipping
Step 2: Conclusion of Analysis and planned activities
- improve training and enforcement
actions of DC members
- better analysis, conclusions and
sanctions of individual cases
- training and information for Handlers
- communication with Handlers
- promotion of the ECAHO for good horsemanship program on
website and social media
- further development of rules and
testing regarding anal irritants
- if necessary, any other adjustments
of ECAHO rules (i.e. penalty points)
