The National Horse Breeding Society of India is organizing a seminar on Thursday in Bangalore on the eve of the running of the Gr 1 Bangalore Derby on Sunday, July 11 to discuss ways and means to get the ban on free movement of Indian horses to foreign countries lifted. Right now Indian horses are not even allowed to transit through Europe. The government of India has removed all restrictions on importing horses from Europe, and USA. Hitherto, Indian breeders had to buy only from Ireland, mares and stallions for their breeding operations.

In the meanwhile, the British Bloodstock Marketing (BBM) representative Anna Powell will visit India to host a joint reception with Tattersalls representatives Jason Singh and Barbara Fitzgerald on Saturday for Indian breeders, owners, and trainers. The BBM had arranged a similar reception last year which proved a success. Following the lifting of India`s ban on the importation of British bred breeding stock, this year`s visit has become of even greater importance as a means of promoting the value to be had by overseas buyers at British breeding stock sales.
Coming back to the seminar, the main aim is to look into the possibility of setting up special zones for movement of horses internationally, as per EU Regulations so that the prevailing restrictions on allowing Indian horses to race abroad and return and vice versa can be removed. This is the first of a series of meetings and seminars planned where in the stake holders from the equine world will be participating in collaborating and cooperating towards this venture with the nodal agencies of the government of India as well..

All the top breeders in the country are expected to take part in the meeting which among others include technical delegates like Prof Rajashekar who is the newly appointed Technical Director of the Diagnostic Lab at the RWITC, Dr Karthikeyan, Chairman of the Veterinary Commission, Senior VO`S, Ms Erica Young, who has been working on the EU application issue, and also represents an Indigenous Horse breeding Society, a representative from the Indian Equestrian Association, veteran trainers, race horse owners, breeders and professionals interested in the issue.

The list of topics on the agenda include presentation on equine health, review of current scenario regarding equine health status and how to set up disease free zones, apart from eliciting views from distinguished breeders of the country, top professionals and other invitees.

Among the notable breeders who will be present are Dr Wadia, President of NHBSI, Zavaray Poonawalla, Ms Ameeta Mehra, Tegbir Brar, Marthand Mahindra, Zeyn Mirza and representatives of various stud farms in the country.