The 2021 official stallion’s expertise is cancelled
It is with a deep regret that the SBS Studbook "The Belgian Sport Horse" ASBL is obliged to announce the cancellation of its annual stallion expertise, better known under the name "International Selection Show", organized in an uninterrupted way since 1988 and which was to be held this weekend of March 6 and 7, 2021 in Gesves.
All precautions were taken to comply with Covid rules but a severe epidemic of rhinopneumonitis* is currently affecting the European equine population, and our country is not being spared. Numerous outbreaks of this highly contagious disease have been identified by the competent departments.
The FEI has decided to suspend competitions in all disciplines in 10 European countries, including Belgium, until the 28th of March 2021. This is probably the most serious epidemic of EHV1 in Europe for decades and the organizers of equestrian events are taking their responsibilities. The SBS studbook "The Belgian Sport Horse" has taken its own.
This sanitary situation, added to the recent worsening of the human pandemic, does not offer any possibility to organize such a gathering of Equidae coming from many Belgian and foreign horizons that were to be welcomed within the Provincial School of Breeding and Equitation of Gesves, which itself accommodates many horses.
Therefore, the rendezvous is made for the organization of an ever more attractive expertise for the spring of 2022.
In the meantime, all candidate stallions registered for expertise will benefit from a temporary approval for public breeding for the 2021 season, which will allow them to practice their activity without reserve and without limit of number of projections during this period. It should be noted that all these applicants have already obtained a favorable veterinary opinion from our University Faculties during the past months. More information on www.sbsnet.be
The SBS Studbook would like to warmly thank for their understanding the Provincial Organizing Authority, the management and teaching staff of the Ecole de Gesves, as well as the very numerous stallions and volunteers involved in this event.
Contact : +32 (0)81.330.660 - +32 (0)495.54.30.30 - +32 (0)478.94.65.28
* Equine rhinopneumonitis is linked to a herpes-like virus (Equine Herpes Virus) of which the two most pathogenic strains are EHV1 and EHV4. Symptoms are of the respiratory type (flu-like syndrome, mainly due to EHV4 but also to EHV1) or of the abortive type (in late pregnancy, due to EHV1 rarely to EHV4) or of the neurological type (the rarest form, but the most serious and potentially fatal to the animal, due to EHV1). A vaccination exists: first injection (from 6 months of age), first booster 4 to 6 weeks later, then 1 injection every 6 months.