REPORT MADE AT 2009 WAHO CONFERENCE:

Let me introduce our delegates. I am Laima Ciceniene, currently Chairman of the National Arabian Horse Breeders Association, with me are Mr. Stasys Svetlauskas who is the President of the National Arabian Horse Breeders Association, and Mr. Vaclovas Macijauskas, who is a council member of this Association. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the invitation to this WAHO Conference.

Lithuania has been a member of WAHO for 15 years, all this time we have felt your strong support in our organising and handling of the breeding and registration of Arabian Horses as well as shows and competitions. On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Arabian Horse Breeders Association, I would like to thank all the WAHO Members for their assistance and kind support. We also extend a special thanks to Dr. Hans Nagel, the President of WAHO and Katrina Murray, the Executive Secretary.

In the first Lithuanian Arabian stud book, which was published in 1995, there were 118 registered horses. We have published two supplements and this year we will publish Volume 2 which covers the full period from 1995 to 2007. 233 Arabian horses have been registered. 13 foals were born in 2007 and 12 in 2008, but due to the rising demand for Arabian horses we are now seeing an increase in the number of mares which have been covered. Currently there are 136 living purebred Arabian horses in Lithuania, of which 8 are active breeding stallions and 30 broodmares. During the reporting period, we imported 2 horses from Israel and Egypt. This will enable us to improve the genetic pool of our Arabians in Lithuania. In 2007 we exported 1 horse to Estonia, 1 to Poland and 1 to Germany. In 2008 we exported 2 Arabians.

As a mandatory rule, we are using blood-typing for parent verification before first registration of foals, this is obligatory. Some of the foals are parent verified by DNA typing. The laboratory of the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute is verifying parentage. For the meantime we are using freeze marking for purebred Arabian horses, microchipping will be used starting from July 2009 and will be applied to all horse breeds in Lithuania. The Vilnius State Stud, which is located near to the capital city of Vilnius, has opened an Artificial Insemination Centre which offers semen collection and insemination services to our breeders. The Centre is also working as a laboratory for freezing semen, where frozen semen from the best stallions is stored. Due to low demand and a small population of horse breeds, we do not use Embryo Transfer in practice, but this method is allowed in Lithuania and is widely practiced especially in cattle breeding.

In Lithuania the Stock Breeding and Exhibition Horse Shows are very popular. At our International Exhibition, AgroBalt, Arabians always have great success. Two horses belonging to Lithuanian owners participated in the International Shows at the Egyptian Event Israel 2007 and 2008, one of them took the Reserve Championship in both those years, the other was the Reserve Junior Champion filly at this show in 2008. In recent years Arabian racing has become more popular in Lithuania, Arabians also participate in the events open to all other breeds. Arabians are especially popular in endurance riding, where they are the leading breed. This year an International endurance ride will be held in Lithuania.

Horse breeding in Lithuania has state support, three stud farms which have the best breeding stock get state subsidies. There are 2 types of passport used in Lithuania, the FEI passport and that issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. The establishment of the WAHO Trophy increased the interest and competition among our Arabian horse breeders. The winner has usually been selected during the main show, also taking into account their input into the Arabian breed. The WAHO Trophies have been officially presented during the National Exhibitions or Horse Shows. In 2008 the WAHO Trophy was won by the mare Palanga.

After receiving our independence and joining WAHO, the great opportunity arose for us to cooperate with horse breeders from other countries with a very positive influence on the quality of the Arabian horses in Lithuania. Thank you for your attention.

REPORT MADE AT 2007 WAHO CONFERENCE:

Lithuania has been a Member of WAHO for 14 years. In the first stud book of Arabian horses that was published in Lithuania in 1995, there were 118 horses registered. In the first supplement to the first volume, which covers the period 1995 to 1998, 53 horses were registered. In the second supplement to the first volume, which covers the period 1999 to 2002, 63 horses were registered. Volume 2 of our Stud Book will be ready and will be published and distributed at the end of 2007.

10 foals were born in 2005, and 16 in 2006. In recent years due to the poor demand for Arabian horses, some of the mares were not covered. At present this demand is rising, therefore all the mares will be covered. Accordingly the number of foals and Arabian horses in general will increase. Currently there are 121 purebred Arabian horses in Lithuania, of that number there are 8 stallions and 28 mares used for breeding. For the current breeding season we have leased the stallion Grafik from Michalow Stud in Poland. During the reporting period, we have imported 9 Arabian horses from Israel and 1 from Poland. We want to improve the genetic foundation of Arabian horses in Lithuania, using imported horses with good characteristics. In 2005 we exported 7 horses to Finland, 1 to Estonia, 1 to France. In 2006 we exported 2 to Poland and 5 to Estonia.

As a mandatory rule, we are using blood-typing for parent verification before first registration for foals. Starting from this year, the accredited Lithuanian National Veterinary Laboratory will also be verifying parentage by DNA. We are using freeze marking of purebred Arabian horses. Microchipping will be used in the future and will be applied to all horse breeds in Lithuania. Starting from this year, we mostly use Artificial Insemination for purebred Arabian mares, we have an accredited insemination centre.

In the Lithuanian Stockbreeding Exhibitions, showing horses is very popular. Arabian horses have a special attention for their grace, elegance and lightness of movement. In the annual International Exhibition Agro-Balt, Arabians have a great success. Races for Arabians have recently become more popular, they are held 5 times per year. Also especially endurance is popular, events are held 3 times per year. Lithuanians have loved horses since ancient times, even the national State Coat of Arms has the image of the horse. All popular activities for horses, such as racing, showing, and the others, get full media coverage. During the Exhibitions, we prepare booklets about every represented breed. All this generates interest in horses. The Lithuanian Government promotes horse breeding and the three State Stud farms that have the best breeding material get state subsidies. State support is also given to purchase purebred horses to stand at stud. The Government promotes farmers who are breeding horses and participating in breeding programmes. Unfortunately, directives of the European Union don’t recommend this kind of support, this will have a negative impact on our horse breeding in the future. The European Union encourages the maintenance of national and rare breeds only. State subsidies and support for rare breed horse breeders has a very positive impact, and now we have 64,000 horses in a relatively small country such as Lithuania.

After Lithuania regained its independence and joined WAHO, the great opportunity arises to co-operate with horse breeders from other countries, with a very positive influence on the quality in Lithuanian Arabian horse breeding.