SCHEDULE 2: RULES FOR REGISTRATION OF PURE BRED CASPIANS IN THE INTERNATIONAL CASPIAN STUD BOOK
The International Caspian Society and International Caspian Stud Book
SCHEDULE 2: RULES FOR REGISTRATION OF PURE BRED CASPIANS IN THE INTERNATIONAL CASPIAN STUD BOOK
1. ELIGIBILITY
1.1. Each Member Society must ensure that all pure bred Caspians registered in their stud books are eligible for inclusion in the ICSB and that their registration procedures comply with the minimum requirements of registration and identification as determined by the ICS.
1.2. To be eligible for registration in the ICSB, a Caspian must first be registered by the ICS Member Society representing its territory of birth. For this purpose countries in the European Union are classed as one territory although, for accurate recording purposes, preference should be given to registration with the society representing the country of birth. Any foal born outside of a territory covered by an ICS Member Society must, with the exception of foundation stock, be registered in the stud book of the Member Society responsible for licensing the sire, or the closest eligible ICS Member Society.
1.3. To be eligible for entry into the ICSB, the sire and dam of the horse concerned must have been previously recorded in the ICSB (in accordance with Clause 2.1), with the exception of foundation stock imported directly from Iran.
1.4. It is the responsibility of any importer of foundation stock to satisfy him/herself prior to importation that the stock concerned will meet the ICS Breed Type and Standard and that such stock comply with the guidelines for registration of foundation stock as designated by Louise Firouz. The ICS accepts no liability for any loss sustained by an importer whose stock is subsequently excluded from the ICSB for any failure to meet the breed standard or guidelines for registration of foundation stock. Imported stock not already registered in the main stud book of the ICSB will be subject to assessment by three members of an elected assessment panel.
1.5. The ICS Council may refuse an application for registration, or cancel the registration of a previously registered animal, where it has justifiable cause to doubt that animal’s eligibility for registration as a Pure-Bred Caspian.
1.6. All pure-bred Caspians registered according to the Rules of Registration shall be eligible for inclusion in the ICSB. While EU Member Societies may not exclude any purebreds from registration, stock which do not meet the requirements of the Rules of Registration shall only be eligible for the Registers, Section X and/or Section P (pending) of the ICSB. (Non-EU Member Societies may determine for themselves whether to accept the registration of Caspians that will only be eligible for the Registers, Section X and/or Section P (pending) of the ICSB.
ICS Rules for Registration revised December 2018
2. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION
2.1. Caspians, with the exception of foundation stock, must have been sired by a registered stallion, which must hold a valid licence at the time of service. No colt or stallion may be used for breeding before or unless a licence is obtained. It is therefore the responsibility of each member society to have in place an acceptable system for inspecting and licensing stallions before their use at stud.
2.1.1 The minimum requirement for the issue of a stallion licence shall be a veterinary
examination to certify the lack of any apparent congenital fault.
2.1.2 A colt must be at least two years of age before a stallion licence may be granted for
breeding purposes.
2.1.3 Stallions’ conformation and temperament should comply with the Breed Type and
Standard.
2.1.4 If a licence is discovered to have been fraudulently obtained, a congenital fault is
subsequently reported, or there is evidence of a substantial departure from the Breed
Type and Standard, the ICS Council may request that the licensing society suspend or
cancel such a licence and/or require further examination. If upheld, the costs of such
examination and any consequential loss will be the responsibility of the stallion owner,
but a complainant should bear in mind that, if not upheld, costs could be reclaimed by
the stallion owner. The ICS will not be responsible for costs in any event.
2.1.5 Caspians sired by a registered colt or stallion which is not licensed at the time of
conception, and their progeny, shall be eligible for entry in the International Caspian
Register, Section X of the International Caspian Stud Book. The progeny of Section X
stallions and mares may be upgraded from the Register, Section X if a stallion licence is
later granted.
2.1.6 A Caspian should be registered with the ICS by two years of age. Late registration may
attract a penalty fee of £5, in place of the administration fee current at the time and to be
decided according to the circumstances and ICS guidelines by the International
Registrar.
2.2 A Caspian must be registered in the ICSB with a unique name which may be defined by a Prefix or a suffix:
Prefix: To avoid duplication, Member Societies must apply to the ICS Registrar for permission to use a breeder’s chosen prefix prior to the breeder’s first registration. Permission will not be granted to use a prefix that has been previously allocated. A name can only be re-used by using a different prefix OR
2.3 Suffix: If a breeder chooses not to use a prefix, then a name may be reused if followed by the consecutive number, e.g. Ostad ll.
2.4 Prior to registration the national Member Society must satisfy itself as to the following:
2.4.1 that the parentage of the Caspian is as claimed on the application for registration. DNA
testing for parentage verification will become mandatory for all foals born from 1st
January 2015 including those resulting from artificial insemination or embryo/oocyte
transfer. Retrospective DNA test results and/or parentage verification for stock
registered prior to 1st January 2015 are not mandatory although advisable. Each society
must continue to require hairs to accompany each registration until 1 st January 2015
and these must be properly stored by the society. The ICS has the right to call for these
to be tested and they should therefore be retained on file in perpetuity. It is
recommended that approximately 40 mane hairs (minimum 20), with follicles attached,
should be folded in plain paper and sealed in an envelope which should be signed over
the seal by the sender.
2.4.2 Notwithstanding 2.4.1, for a period limited to two years from 1st January 2019 stallions
and mares and their progeny without DNA test results shall be eligible for entry in
Section P (pending) of the International Caspian Stud Book. Such stallions and mares
and their progeny shall be eligible for upgrade if and when DNA test results/DNA
parent verification is obtained. Thereafter DNA test results/DNA parent verification will
be mandatory
2.4.2.a Notwithstanding 2.4.1, for a period limited to two years from the first Pre-Foundation
entry in Section P dated after the update of the Rules for Registration, December 2018,
stallions and mares and their progeny without DNA test results originating from Iran
shall be eligible for entry in Section P pending of the International Caspian Stud Book.
Such stallions and mares and their progeny shall be eligible for upgrade if and when
DNA test results/DNA parent verification is obtained. Thereafter DNA test results/DNA
parent verification will be mandatory.
2.4.3 that each Caspian is uniquely and permanently identified. Such identification may be
determined by each national member society and may take the form of freeze or hot
brands, tattoos or micro-chips or any other permanent means. Micro-chipping is highly
recommended for aesthetic and humane reasons.
2.4.4 that the Caspian is accurately described for identification purposes, including colour,
markings and whorls, and acquired markings such as scars, brands and tattoos. Accurate
diagrammatic representation of the physical appearance of the horse should accompany
the owner’s application for registration in the stud book of the registering Member
Society and the registering Member Society must maintain such documentation on file
in perpetuity
2.4.5 that a Caspian conceived by AI, or as the result of embryo or oocyte transfer has met the
ICS rules regarding AI, embryo/oocyte transfer and surrogacy as specified in Clause 6
of this Schedule.
2.5 Notwithstanding clause 2.4.1 the ICS Council may request mandatory genetic testing, or re-testing, of progeny, sire and dam where it has reasonable cause to doubt the validity of a registration submitted by a member society. Such cases may include, but not be limited to: the progeny of pasture-bred mares exposed to more than one stallion of breeding age; progeny of a mare that has been exposed to more than one stallion within 30 days, whether by live service or artificial insemination; progeny sired by a non-licensed stallion; a Caspian registered with a colour which might appear to be genetically impossible; or failure to provide sufficient evidence that all registration requirements have been complied with. Cost of mandatory genetic testing, or re-testing, will be the responsibility of the owner, but anybody making a complaint should bear in mind that, if not upheld, costs could be reclaimed by the owner.
3. PURE BRED CASPIAN
3.1 Any horse not registered in the ICSB as a Pure Bred Caspian in accordance with the above rules will not be recognised by the ICS as a Pure Bred Caspian.
4. TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP AND DUAL REGISTRATION
4.1 Member Societies must satisfy themselves regarding the validity of ownership transfers and notify the ICS Registrar of such transfers of ownership in a timely manner. To avoid fraudulent transfers it is recommended that applications for transfer of ownership be authorized by signature of the current owner, or duly authorized representative, as recorded in the Member Society’s registration records. Where the currently recorded owner is deceased, the transfer should be completed by an authorized agent or representative of the estate. Where it is otherwise not possible to obtain the authorization of the currently recorded owner, then a Statutory Declaration should be provided to the transferring society by the new owner to confirm the completion of a bona fide sale.
4.2 To maintain an accurate census of the international Caspian population each Member Society’s stud book should be a record of Caspians bred or born in that territory. Transfer of ownership may not involve the alteration of a Caspian’s registration in the stud book of its original registering society. If already registered in the stud book of a Member Society, Caspians may be included in the register, or appendix, of another Member Society but only under their original stud book registration number, clearly identifying the territory of first registration. An additional census number may be allocated by an importing society for internal use only. This census number may not be used for re-registration by the importing society, nor will it be recorded in the ICSB.
4.3 Where national legislation requires dual registration, as in the European Union, the national registration number of the original registering society shall be retained and an additional registering society’s number shall also be recorded in the ICSB.
4.4 No change in prefix or name will be allowed after first registration unless in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the International Registrar.
5 ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
5.1 In recognition of the Caspian’s status as a rare breed, artificial insemination and the use of transported semen will be encouraged in an attempt to expand the gene pool and provide semen to breeders in remote regions with limited access to a diversity of stallion lines.
5.2 Registration applications for progeny conceived by artificial insemination must be accompanied by signed Collection and Insemination Certificates. These Certificates must be submitted by the owner of the progeny to the registering Member Society and need not be forwarded to the ICS Registrar unless copies are specifically requested from the registering society by the ICS.
5.2.1 The Collection Certificate must be sent by the stallion owner to the mare owner with the
transported semen. As a minimum the Collection Certificate must include the following
details:
the name, ICSB registration number and licence number of the stallion at time of
collection.
the date and location of semen collection;
the date of insemination/s if such procedure was performed at the location of
collection
or the date of transport if insemination was performed off-site;
the type of semen used or transported: fresh, cooled or frozen
the signature of the stallion owner or lessee
the signature of the veterinary officer or technician who performed the collection if
this was not performed by the stallion owner.
5.2.2 As a minimum the Insemination Certificate must include:
the name of the mare and ICSB registration number
the name, ICSB registration number and license number of the stallion from which the
semen was collected
the date/s and location of insemination/s
the signature of the mare owner or lessee
the signature of the veterinary officer or technician who performed the insemination/s
It is the responsibility of the registering Member Society to ensure that such information
is complete.
5.3 All progeny produced by artificial insemination will have such fact listed on its Registration Certificate and must be parentage verified by DNA testing. It is recommended that the sire and dam be DNA tested at the time of collection and insemination if not already previously tested. This will ensure that the foal can be parentage verified in the event that the sire and dam are no longer available for testing at time of registration.
5.4 Frozen semen may be used to sire a maximum of ten live purebred births after a stallion’s death. With justifiable reason Council may at its discretion waive this rule upon application by the Member Society representing the stallion owner or lessee. Such reason may include, but will not be limited to, untimely death of an outstanding stallion, or death of a stallion of a rare line.
6 EMBRYO AND OOCYTE TRANSFER
6.1 In recognition of the Caspian’s status as a rare breed, and to promote the careers of performance mares, embryo and oocyte transfer will be allowed. Embryo transfer is defined as the removal of a fertilized egg from a donor mare for implantation in a recipient mare. Oocyte transfer is defined as the removal of an unfertilized egg from a donor mare which is implanted in a recipient mare for subsequent fertilization. In each case the donor mare is recorded as the dam of the progeny, and the recipient mare as the surrogate.
6.2 To allow the owner of a donor mare the same privilege as the owner of a mare that naturally carries her foal, but no greater benefit, only one foal per donor mare per year may be produced and registered. The exception will be twin foals resulting from one ovum where both foals are carried by the same surrogate mare in a single pregnancy. With justifiable reason Council may at its discretion waive this rule upon application by the Member Society representing the mare owner or lessee. Such reason might include, but will not be limited to, mares representing a very rare line or, the transfer of frozen embryos to breeders in remote countries with limited access to new lines.
6.3 The application for registration of progeny produced by embryo or oocyte transfer must be accompanied by an Embryo/Oocyte Transfer Certificate. This Certificate must be submitted by the owner to the registering Member Society and need not be forwarded to the ICS Registrar unless a copy is specifically requested by the ICS. Such certificate must include as a minimum:
the name of the donor mare and her ICSB registration number
the name and breed of the recipient mare (surrogate)
the name, ICSB number and stallion licence number of the sire at the time of service.
the date of the embryo/oocyte transfer
in the event of embryo transfer the date/s and method of service/insemination of the
donor mare
in the event of oocyte transfer the date/s and method of service/insemination of the
recipient mare.
the signature of the owner or lessee of the donor mare
the signature of the owner or lessee of the surrogate mare
the signature of the veterinary officer or technician who performed the transfer.
It is the responsibility of the registering Member Society to ensure that such information is
complete.
6.4 Any progeny produced by embryo/oocyte transfer will have such fact listed on its Registration Certificate and must be parentage verified by DNA testing. It is recommended that the sire, donor dam and recipient mare be DNA tested at the time of collection and insemination if not already previously tested. This will ensure that the foal can be parentage verified in the event that the sire, dam or surrogate mare is no longer available for testing at time of registration.
7 ICSB REGULATIONS
7.1 To ensure the integrity of ICS registration records and to facilitate the publishing of the ICSB, all registrations of a Member Society are to be submitted by the national
registrar through the ICSB on-line database in a timely manner or by 1st March latest. Member Societies who do not have access to the on-line database must submit annual returns and amendments to the ICS Registrar by 1st March. Such off-line ICSB registrations may attract additional fees. For off-line returns the following information is required:
7.1.1 List of stock registered since the previous annual return. This list must include:
Prefix and name of pure-bred Caspian
national registration number
date of birth
sex
name, ICSB number and stallion licence number of sire and date of issue.
name and ICSB number of dam
colour and markings
name of breeder, and current address if appropriate
name and current address of owner if appropriate
method of production if by Artificial Insemination, Embryo Transfer or Oocyte
Transfer
any relevant Identification numbers, e.g. passport numbers, microchip numbers etc.
The breeder is defined as the owner or lessee of the mare at time of service or insemination.
7.1.2 List of stallions licensed in previous year that includes:
name and ICSB number of the stallion
national stallion license number and date of issue.
7.1.3 List of stallions gelded which includes:
name and ICSB number of stallion and date of castration
7.1.4 List of ownership transfers (where known) which includes:
name of Caspian and ICSB registration number
name and address of previously recorded owner if appropriate
name and address of new owner if appropriate
date of transfer 7.1.5 List of deaths (where known), to include:
name and ICSB registration number
name of owner if appropriate
date of death
7.1.6 List of Exports
Name and ICSB registration number
Name of owner if appropriate
Country of origin
Country of export
RULES FOR REGISTRATION OF PRE-FOUNDATION CASPIANS IN THE INTERNATIONAL CASPIAN STUD BOOK
Revised March 15, 2021
1. To be eligible for entry into the International Caspian Pre-Foundation Register, hereinafter called the ICPFR, stock:
1.2 must have originated from Iran (effective March 2021).
1.3 must have the words “Caspian, pending approval” on any passport issued
1.4 Notwithstanding 2.4.1, Rules for Registration of Caspians originating from Iran, without
DNA test results, stallions and mares and their progeny shall be eligible for entry
in the International Caspian Register, Section P (pending) of the International Caspian
Stud Book. Such stallions and mares and their progeny shall be eligible for upgrade
if and when DNA test results/DNA parent verification is obtained. Thereafter
DNA test results/DNA parent verification will be mandatory.
2. To be eligible for entry into the International Caspian Stud Book, hereinafter called the ICSB, pre-foundation stock entered in the ICPFR:
2.1 must have bred at least two foals (which must also be entered into the ICPFR for
inspection purposes), which have passed inspection by a minimum of two approved
members of the inspection panel of the International Caspian Society. Minimal expenses
of inspectors i.e. subsistence, travel and overnight accommodation, shall be borne by the
person requesting admission into the ICSB.
2.2 In the case of a pre-foundation mare, the foals should be by two different stallions or, in
the case of a pre-foundation stallion, the foals should be out of different mares
2.3 If one of the foals does not pass inspection for type, or in the case of doubt, a third foal by
a different mare/stallion, may be inspected.
2.4 If two foals do not pass inspection for type, then admission to the ICSB will be refused
and any stock produced from the pre-foundation parent cannot be named as “Caspian” on
their passport.*
2.5 The minimum age for inspection of a foal from a pre-foundation Caspian is nine months.
2.6 The ‘pending approval’ passports and registration certificates of the pre-foundation parent
and the inspected offspring which have not passed inspection for type must be returned to
the Registrar of the PIO (Passport Issuing Organization) for amendment and the ICS
(International Caspian Society) notified. The ‘pending approval’ passports and ‘pending
approval’ registration certificates of those not put forward for assessment must also be
returned for amendment. In the event of non-return of the passports the ICS reserves the
right to make an announcement on the ICS website and forum to this effect.
2.7 The assessment team shall consist of three elected officials of the ICS. The decision of
any two assessors will count. If approved, the foundation parent, the inspected progeny
and future foals can be registered with the **designated national society and entered in
the ICSB. If several foals exist from the same animal, the Assessors are empowered to
make further recommendations regarding their approval or otherwise, including the
possible gelding of a pre-foundation stallion. The original certificates and passports
should be handed by the owner to the assessors at the point of approval, and shall be
returned to the
original issuing PIO for amendment, before being forwarded with the appropriate fees to
the Registrar of the designated national society, for inclusion in their Stud Book.
3. In the case of imported pre foundation animals and for the reasons given above it is strongly recommended that the importer should remain the owner of the imported stock until two foals, and one further foal, if one foal should fail a type inspection, have been type approved by a minimum of two representatives of the International Caspian Society. The parent stock and foals should ideally be kept in the same location to minimize expense and logistical problems regarding assessment.
4. Pre-foundation stallions must pass a veterinary inspection to ensure that they are sound and have no evident genetic faults. At this point they will be granted a temporary licence for use in order to produce the required number of foals for Assessment. The licence may be rescinded if the stallion later produces nontypical stock. A full license will be issued by the registering society if the stallion passes Assessment.
5. All stock should be DNA tested and micro-chipped (parent verification will be required where appropriate).
6. If at any time a foundation animal proves to be producing non-typical stock, the ICS shall be entitled to refuse entry of any further foals from the foundation parent into the ICSB.
* In countries where passports are issued
** European Commission regulations require that any horse assessed in a country within the European Union and accepted as foundation stock, should be registered only with the Caspian Horse Society (UK) before admittance to the ICSB. Subsequent foals may be registered within the territory of birth.