About The International Caspian Society

Constitution of the International Caspian Society

1. The Name of the Society is the “International Caspian Society”.

2. The Office of the Society will be situated in England.

3. The Objects for which the Society is established are:

1. To identify, preserve, protect and promote the Caspian Horse that shall be defined by the Breed Type and Standard annexed hereto as Schedule 1 and by accurate and traceable records for individual identification and by DNA testing for parentage verification.

2. To maintain traits of the Caspian Horse of special or potential value

3. To maintain unimpaired the purity of the Caspian Horse as defined in clause 3 of Schedule 2 (Rules for Registration of Purebred Caspian Horses in the International Caspian Stud Book) and to improve the breeding of such horses.

4. To foster goodwill and communication between Members and the dissemination of good practice and ideas in respect to all matters relating to the identification, assessment, preservation, protection and promotion of the Caspian Horse.

4 For the purpose of attaining the aforesaid Objects but not further or otherwise the Society

shall have the following powers:

1. To compile and maintain a comprehensive database of the details of each Caspian Horse, including Pre-Foundation animals in Iran, submitted to the Society by a Full Member.

2. To compile and maintain the International Caspian Stud Book (hereinafter called the ICSB) with one or more registers wherein each eligible purebred Caspian Horse submitted shall be registered in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of Registration as detailed in Schedule 2.

3. To examine the eligibility of each Caspian Horse submitted for entry in ICSB and to investigate cases of doubtful or suspected pedigrees of such horses

4. To determine and enforce the Rules and Regulations of Registration

5. To determine and enforce the procedures to identify a purebred and other categories of Caspian Horse.

6. To undertake and execute any such other things as may lawfully be undertaken by the Society and may further its Objects

Interpretation

5. In these presents the following words shall bear the meaning set opposite to them in

the second column:

Words ….Meanings

Caspian Horse .…The breed of horse originating in Iran and known as Caspian

Objects ….The objects set out in Clause 3 above

These presents …..This Constitution and the rules and regulations of the Society

The Society …..The International Caspian Society

The Council …..The Council of Management for the time being of the Society

The Office ….. The Office of the Society

Month ….. Calendar month

In writing ….. Written, printed, lithographed or partly one and partly another,

and other modes of representing or reproducing words in a

visible form

Words in the singular shall include the plural

Words in the masculine shall include the feminine

MEMBERSHIP

6. There shall be three classes of membership of the Society namely Full, Associate and Honorary. All applications for membership shall be subject to approval by the Council in accordance with Schedule 3 Rules of Membership of the Society.

7. Full membership shall be open to an active national or regional society which is registering or has registered Caspian Horses in a national or regional register and in the International Caspian Register or International Caspian Pre-Foundation Register of the the International Caspian Stud book (hereinafter known as ICSB) in the previous five-year period and it shall be known as a Full Member.

8. Associate membership shall be open to a national or regional society which conserves the Caspian Horse but which has not registered a Caspian Horse in the ICSB in the previous five-year period and it shall be known as an Associate Member.

9. Honorary membership may be granted by the Council to any individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the conservation of the Caspian Horse and he shall be known as an Honorary Member.

10. Annual subscriptions shall be paid by each class of Member (other than Honorary Member) at such rates as the Council may prescribe from time to time.

11. Any Member may at any time resign from membership on giving notice in writing to that effect to the Secretary of the Society

12. If it shall appear that any Full Member has been guilty of conduct rendering it unfit to remain a Member of the Society it shall be called upon by the Council for an explanation or justification and if no satisfactory explanation or justification is given it may be excluded from the Society and its membership shall be terminated by a notice in writing. This clause will apply also to any Associate Member or Honorary Member.

13. Every Member upon change of residence and contact details shall communicate the same in writing to the Secretary of the Society. All notices and publications sent to the last notified address, which preferably should be an email address, of a Member, shall be deemed duly served upon him.

14. Members have the right of attending the Annual and all General Meetings of the Society and of speaking thereat except that no Member whose subscription or other fees are unpaid shall enjoy any of the privileges of the Society or be entitled to attend meetings of the Society.

COUNCIL

15. The Society shall be governed by the Council. The Council shall consist of officers elected by Full Members, namely the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Registrar, and one nominee from each active Full Member.

16. Council members

1. Each elected member of the Council will serve a term of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment for one further term of three years after which he must retire for a least two years before he is eligible for election.

2. The Registrar is not required to retire after two terms in office

3. The Chairman shall be empowered and entitled to appoint a Treasurer and a Secretary and each may be removed from his post by the Chairman who must provide reasons to the Council for such dismissals. Treasurer and Secretary are administrative support roles with no automatic right to vote but may be granted such right from time to time if so approved by Council

4. The duties and responsibilities of each elected member of Council shall be described in

Appendix 1 which shall be appended to the Constitution of the Society.

1. Each nominated member of the Council will remain in office until he is replaced by the Full Member by which he was nominated.

17. Only one member of a family, partnership or relationship may serve on the Council at

any given time.

18. The quorum for all meetings of the Council shall be five Members of the Council present in person or by means of internet communications technology such as, but not limited to, Zoom. Questions arising at such meetings shall be decided by a majority of votes. Each member of the Council shall have a vote and the Chairman of the meeting shall have a deliberative and a casting vote.

19. The Chairman is the senior member of the Council and every other elected officer shall ensure that he is informed of all actions taken which relate to business of the Society. He shall pass all information and records relating to the Society to his successor.

20 .The Council shall appoint the Vice-Chairman to the office of Chairman should this office become vacant during the three-year term of tenure and such appointment shall be for the remainder of such term. Nothing in this document shall exclude the Vice-Chairman being appointed for two consecutive terms of office following the completion of such interim term in accordance with clause 16a.

21. The Registrar

1. Must be a member of a Full Member to be eligible for election.

2. In order to maintain continuity the Registrar can be removed from office only with the approval of two-thirds of the Council.

3. If the Registrar resigns, or is removed from office, then the registrar of the Caspian

Horse Society UK (legal successor to the founder of the ICSB), shall act temporarily as the Registrar of the ICSB until the Council appoints a new Registrar

4. If the Registrar resigns or is removed from office, the Chairman will immediately call for nominations, which can be submitted for consideration as described in Clauses 15 and 16

5. The Registrar will hold and maintain all registration and ICSB records, such records remain the exclusive property of the Society and so far as is reasonably possible the Registrar will ensure Full Members comply with Schedule 2 Rules and Regulations of Registration.

6. When the Registrar resigns, retires or is removed, he shall pass all records relating to ICSB to his successor

22. In the event of any other office becoming vacant then an election will be held. If however the remaining term is less than one-third of a full term, then the Council may, at its discretion, co-opt or otherwise appoint an interim officer.

23. If it shall appear that any member of the Council has been guilty of conduct rendering him unfit to remain a member of the Council he shall be called upon by the Council for an explanation or justification and if no satisfactory explanation or justification is given he may be excluded from the Council and his membership shall be terminated by a notice in writing.

24. The Council may delegate any of its powers to committees which have the power to co-opt other members subject to specific rules determined by the Council.

25. The Council may from time to time make alter and rescind rules in any Schedule or Appendix attached to this Constitution provided that such amendments shall be consistent with the Objects.

26. The Council may from time to time appoint and remove an Editor of any publication of the Society.

GOVERNANCE

27. The Society shall hold a General Meeting in every calendar year at its Annual General Meeting and shall specify the meeting as such in notices calling it provided that every Annual General Meeting shall be held not more than fifteen months after the holding of the last preceding Annual General Meeting

28. The Council may at any time authorise the Secretary of the Society to summon an Extraordinary General Meeting.

29. Notice in writing of every General Meeting shall be given to all Members not less than twenty one days in advance specifying the place day and hour of the meeting and in the case of special business the general nature of that business. If a quorum is not present at the meeting it shall be adjourned to a later date, and if there is not a quorum at that meeting business will proceed with those persons present.

30. The Chairman shall take the chair at all General Meetings and all other meetings. The Vice-Chairman shall take the chair at a General Meeting or other meeting in the absence of the Chairman. The Secretary or other person appointed in his absence shall keep proper Minutes of all Meetings of the Society.

31. The Council may act at, or without, a meeting, provided such action, unless otherwise stated, is approved by a simple majority of the Council.

32. Notification of meetings or conduct of business shall be sent by the Secretary of the Society to all members of the Council. At least twenty one days notification is required unless waived by a majority vote of the Council. In the latter case, notice of seven days, by telephone or electronic transmission, will be accepted.

33. In recognition of the international nature of the Society notification will be sent by electronic transmission, unless a Member notifies a standing request for postal notification. It is the responsibility of each Member to notify the Secretary of the Society of any temporary breakdown of communications.

34. Each Member of the Council, or the secretary of the Full Member to which they belong, is responsible for advising their correct contact details to the Secretary of the Society. Written notice of the preferred method and relevant address for notification must be provided to the Secretary of the Society within 7 days of any change. This address may be a postal address, e-mail address or any other appropriate form.

35. When notification of a meeting or other business is transmitted by Secretary of the Society to the address last notified by a member of the Council or the Secretary of a Full Member, then notification is deemed to have been received.

36. The office of the Society used for official business and correspondence shall be the address of the Secretary of the Society and all correspondence and general business records shall be held and maintained in that office by the Secretary of the Society with the exception of those registration records held and maintained by the Registrar. All correspondence and records are the property of the Society and shall not be passed to any third party other than a member of the Council, but shall be passed directly and in full by an outgoing Secretary of the Society to the incoming Secretary of the Society. Copies of all correspondence and records shall be passed by the Secretary of the Society to the Chairman of the Society with immediate effect at the date of dispatch or acquisition.

37. Registration records are exempted from the requirements detailed in clause 36 and shall be held and maintained by the Registrar. Nothing herein shall prevent direct communication between the Registrar and the registrar of a Full Member in matters pertaining to registration of stock and maintenance of the ICSB.

38. The results of deliberations and/or ballots of the Council shall be notified by the Secretary of the Society to members of the Council with immediate effect and shall be notified to the secretary of each Full Member within 21 days.

39. Unless otherwise determined herein, decisions of the Council shall be by simple majority. Simple majority is defined as a majority of those members who have chosen to vote.

40. Each member of the Council shall have one vote.

41. Any member of the Council may abstain from voting if he so wishes.

INTERNATIONAL CASPIAN STUD BOOK (hereinafter known as ICSB)

42. The ICSB shall be published in English.

43. The ICSB including copyright and intellectual rights shall remain the property, through the Registrar of the Society, of the Caspian Horse Society or their legal successors as entrusted by the British Caspian Trust.

44. The Registrar of the Society shall provide annual ICSB updates to all members of the Council and to the registrar of each Full Member.

45. The ICSB and additional volumes or appendices may be published from time to time at the discretion of the Council.

46. Each Full Member must notify the Secretary of the Society within seven days of any amendments to its Constitution, rules, regulations and requirements. Changes to rules and regulations of registration must also be notified within seven days to the Registrar of the Society.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

47. The Society shall be an unincorporated not-for-profit organisation.

48. Each Member shall pay to the Society any and all Fees and Subscriptions which may be determined by the Council from time to time.

49. Such fees will be applied to the maintenance and publication of the ICSB and the operation of the day to day business of the Society.

50. Neither elected nor nominated members of the Council are entitled to any remuneration. An application for the recovery of reasonable costs may be made and may be agreed subject to approval by the Council.

Accounts

51. The Chairman shall be empowered and entitled to appoint the Treasurer who shall be based in the country where the official Bank accounts of the Society are held.

52. Proper books of account shall be kept by the Treasurer of the Society and the Council may make regulations for fidelity and other insurance to cover loss or theft of cheques money or petty cash and indemnity for members of the Council and other officers including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) a policy or policies of insurance to cover any potential liabilities of members of the Council which may attach to them by reason of any acts or omissions which do not amount to gross negligence or fraud.

53. A Bank account shall be opened in the name of the Society and all cheques shall be signed by two signatories authorised by the Council.

54. At the Annual General Meeting in every year the Treasurer of the Society shall lay before the Society a proper income and expenditure account together with a proper balance sheet for the financial year ending on the preceding 31^st March.

55. The income and property of the Society from whatever source derived shall be applied solely towards the Objects provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to an employee of the Society. Any member of the Council may receive and retain any reasonable and proper remuneration or repayment of any reasonable and proper out-of-pocket expenses in respect of his employment by the Society notwithstanding that he is a member of the Council provided that:

a. a member of the Council withdraws from any meeting whilst his appointment remuneration or other terms of employment or the appointment remuneration or other terms of employment of any other employee or employees which might affect the member of Council is being discussed

b. the majority of the members of the Council do not receive remuneration in respect of employment by the Society or for services to the Society.

OTHER COMMITTEES

56. The Society may from time to time set up other committees and appoint a Chairman for each committee. Representatives with specialist expertise may be invited to join a committee by the Chair of that committee, subject to approval by the Council. The minutes of all committee meetings must be passed to the Chairman of the Council and all proposals and recommendations must be passed to the Council for approval before they are incorporated in the constitution, rules and regulations of the Society. Committees might include, but will not be limited to, matters such as Constitution, Registration and Promotion.

57. A Constitution Committee to review and consider amendments to the Constitution for recommendation to the Council. The initial members of any Constitution Committee shall be a Chairman appointed by the Council together with one representative from each Full Member which wishes to appoint a representative.

58. A Standing Registration Committee, hereinafter called the SRC, to consider proposed rules and regulations of registration for recommendation to the Council. The SRC may also make recommendations pertaining to the maintenance and publication of the ICSB. The initial members of the SRC shall be the Registrar of the Society in the chair together with the registrar of each Full Member.

59 .A Promotions Committee to consider and recommend to the Council methods to foster international communication and the promotion of the Caspian Horse. The initial members of the Promotions Committee shall be a Chairman appointed by the Council together with one representative from each Full Member which wishes to appoint a representative.

60. There will be no limit to the number of committees to which one representative may be appointed. A member of the Council may be appointed as a member of any committee.

61. A Full Member is not obligated to appoint a representative to an ad hoc committee and the Council may appoint representatives to any committee whose considerations require specific expertise.

ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

62. The Council by a resolution approved by at least two-thirds of members of the Council shall have the power to vary or modify these presents in a manner consistent with the Objects.

DISSOLUTION OR ATTAINMENT OF CHARITABLE STATUS

63 a. If the Council shall decide at any time that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Society it shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting to propose the dissolution of the Society. If such a decision shall be confirmed by a two-thirds majority of Full Members present and voting at such a meeting the Council shall have the power to dispose of the assets held by or on behalf of the Society. On dissolution any residual monies shall be disbursed to Full Members of the Society in equal shares after the payment of all outstanding debts and liabilities.

b. If the Council shall decide at any time that it is necessary or desirable to vary or amend the provision of sub-clause (a) of this Clause so that the net assets of the Society can thereafter only be applicable exclusively for charitable purposes and the Society can become a Charity it shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting to propose such variation or amendment and the same shall take effect if approved by a two-thirds majority of Full Members present and voting at such meeting.

Revised 19 August 2021

The Caspian Horse Breed Standard (Schedule 1)

General:
The Caspian is a breed of small horses with distinctive characteristics that originated from the surviving population in their native territory in northern Iran. It is a horse, not a pony, and therefore should be viewed in the same manner as when judging a well-bred horse, that is, the limbs, body and head should all be in proportion to each other. Foreshortened limbs or a head out of proportion are faults. The overall impression should be that of an elegant, small horse.

Eyes:
Almond shaped, large, dark, set low, often prominent.

Nostrils:
Large, low set, finely chiselled, capable of considerable dilation during action.

Ears:
Short, wide apart, alert, finely drawn, often noticeably in-pricked at the tips.

Head:
Wide, vaulted forehead (in most cases the parietal bones do not form a crest but remain open to the occipital crest). Frontal bone should blend into nasal bone in a pleasing slope. Very deep, prominent jawbones and great width between jawbones where they join at the throat. Head tapers to a fine, firm muzzle.

Neck:
Long supple neck with a finely modelled throatlatch.

Shoulders and Withers:
Long, sloping, well modelled, with good withers.

Body:
Characteristically slim with deep girth. Chest width in proportion to width of body. It is a fault to have “both legs out of the same hole”. Close coupled, with well defined hindquarters and good “saddle space”.

Quarters:
Long and sloping from hip to point of buttocks. Great length from stifle to hock.

Hocks:
Owing to their mountain origin, Caspians have more angled hocks than lowland breeds.

Limbs:
Characteristically slender with dense, flat bone and flat knees. Good slope to pasterns, neither upright nor over sloping.

Hoofs:
Both front and back are usually oval and neat, with immensely strong wall and sole, and very little frog. It must be emphasized, however, that this might vary with location and terrain and hoofs should be maintained in their natural shape to ensure correct hoof balance and soundness. They should never be artificially shaped.

Coat, Skin and Hair:
Skin thin, fine and supple, dark except under white markings. Coat silky and flat, often with iridescent sheen in summer. Thick winter coat. Mane and tail abundant but fine and silky. Mane usually lies flat (as in Thoroughbreds) but can grow to great lengths. Tail carried gaily in action. Limbs generally clean with little or no feathering at the fetlock.

Colours:
All colours, except piebald or skewbald (pinto). Greys will go through many shades of roan before fading to near white at maturity.

Height:
Varies with feeding, care and climate. Growth rate in the young is extremely rapid with the young Caspian making most of its height in the first 18 months, filling out with maturity. The average height is 11.2 hands high (hh)(1.17m) and ideally should not exceed 12.2 hh (1.27m).

Action / Performance:
Natural floating action at all gaits. Long low swinging trot with spectacular use of the shoulder. Smooth, rocking canter, rapid flat gallop. Naturally light and agile with exceptional jumping ability.

Temperament:
Highly intelligent and alert, but very kind and willing.

The Caspian Breed Type and Standard may not be reproduced unless it is done so in its entirety, free of omissions or amendments

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 *nown), 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.

International Caspian Society

SCHEDULE 3: RULES OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE INTERNATIONAL CASPIAN SOCIETY

1. ELIGIBILITY

   1. To be eligible for consideration as a Full Member an applicant society must have within its territorial area the resources to breed purebred Caspian Horses and to maintain a purebred Caspian stud book, and must have submitted animals for registration in the International Caspian Register.

   2. Application for membership of the Society as a Full Member must be notified in writing to the Secretary of the Society. Applicant societies must also produce a copy of their Constitution, Rules and Regulations which must not conflict with any of the rules, regulations or requirements of the Society.

   3. Any new Full Member and the proposed boundaries of its territory must be approved by two-thirds majority of the Council.

   4. Where an application is received from a territory (country) which is already served by one or more Full Member(s) consideration shall be given by the Council as to whether there is need for additional national member societies.

   5. Full Members shall pay an annual fee according to the number of members in that Society and which fees shall be decided by the Constitution Committee from time to time.

   6. Implicit in membership of the Society is the understanding that Full Members will comply with Rules for Membership of the Society and Rules for Registration of the Society.

2. FULL MEMBER

2.1 Full Members may expand, divide or merge. Any new society thus created, would need to apply for membership of the Society in accordance with its Rules for Membership. Such application must be approved by two-thirds of the Council

2.2 The Council may suspend or terminate, by majority vote, the membership of any Full Member that fails to comply with eligibility requirements, or where its conduct is in conflict with the Constitution of the Society

2.3 Full Members have existed at some time in the following territories:

Caspian Conservation Society, Iran (previously The Iranian Caspian Registry, Iran)

Caspian Horse Society, United Kingdom

The Swedish Caspian Horse Association, Sweden

Caspian Horse Society of the Americas, United States of America

Australasian Caspian Society, Australia (excluding Western Australia)

North American Caspian Society, United States of America

Caspian Preservation Society of Western Australia, Western Australia

New Zealand Caspian Registry, New Zealand

The Caspian Breed Society, United Kingdom

The Norwegian Caspian Horse Society, Norway

2.4 Full Members may act as a registry for stock existing in a territory which is not already covered by a Full Member, providing that the person registering such stock becomes a member of that affiliated society and acts in full accord with the Constitution, Rules and Regulations of that registering Member Society and the Rules or Registration in the ICSB.

2.5 Notwithstanding clause 1.2 of Schedule 2 Rules for Registration:

2.5.1 Where application for membership of the Society is not approved by the Council, or the membership of a Full Member is suspended or terminated by the Council, animals submitted by that non-member society may in exceptional circumstances be included in the ICSB with the approval of the majority of the Council provided such society maintains a purebred Caspian stud book and each animal has been registered in accordance with all other Society rules for registration as a purebred Caspian Horse

2.5.2. Clause 2.5.1 does not confer the automatic right of all registered non-member society stock to be included in the ICSB, which decision remains with the Council.

3. ASSOCIATE MEMBER

3.1 A Full Member which has not registered stock in the International Caspian Register or International Caspian Pre-Foundation Register of the ICSB during the previous five-year period shall be eligible to become an Associate Member of the Society and may apply for such membership.

4. HONORARY MEMBER

4.1 The Council may confer honorary membership on any individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the conservation of the Caspian Horse and invite such a person to be an Honorary Member

Revised 19 August 2021