Understanding the governance and operations of foreign equine breed associations and studbook societies is becoming more critical in the development of the global market for horses.

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Each foreign country operates under different rules and regulations, although there are more similarities of studbook societies in Europe under the governance of the EU through the "mother studbook" concept. The remainder of the world does not have a unifying governing body, hence, each association organizes itself under a model from other existing breed associations and affiliations with their country’s governmental agency. For example, in England all horse studbooks must be approved by DEFRA, while in the remainder of Europe approval is made through each country’s respective Minister of Agriculture’s office. Likewise, the required issuance of the equine passport in Europe and the United Kingdom are critical pieces to the purchase process.

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Traditionally in Europe only one officially recognized breed society for each breed of livestock is permitted. And, there is the continuation of the age old tradition of inspecting and licensing only quality breeding stock, thereby restricting the ability to officially breed and register in a studbook, like in the United States.

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Each breed organization establishes its own form of affiliation and reciprocity with corresponding associations. Even the US based horse breed associations have foreign affiliated organizations, providing registration services and approvals of horse shows in the respective foreign country. This is an attempt to maintain a global standard for the breed and the respective performance of their horses.

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Hipsley & Associates has gained a great deal of practical experience in communicating with foreign breed associations and assisting them to establish links to the US based breeds. Additionally, Hipsley & Associates has worked with foreign studbooks to establish evaluation and judging standards for uniformed adjudication of horses of a single breed.