MALVERN-based horse breeders Elite Studbook specialising in Irish and European Sport Horses, has secured coveted of membership of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH).

The Malvern breeders secured membership with support from equine and charity lawyers at Midlands law firm Lodders.

Elite Studbook is managed by world-renowned sport horse breeder Henk Minderman, the winner of the 2010 British Breeders Meritoire Award for his contribution to British breeding.

Operating from the 270-acre family working farm Breeders Elite Studbook is managed by Mr Minderman and wife Louise, and to date, has registered an average of 350 foals each year.

Born in Holland, Nr Minderman has lived in England since 1979 and has bred horses for the last 35 years.

Heading Lodders’ team working with him on Breeders Elite Studbook for Irish and European Sporthorses’ (BESIES) membership application of WBFSH was partner Mark Lewis, a corporate lawyer, head of Lodders’ Charity Law practice and a member of its specialist Equine Law team.

Mr Lewis said: “With only 73 members worldwide, the WBFSH promotes the common interests of its member studbooks and acts as a representative body for the sport horse breeding sector.

“Membership of WBFSH delivers full recognition for BESIES in Europe and all over the World, and only breeders meeting the highly rigorous selection process are granted membership.”

The WBFSH is a non-profit organisation, and the only international federation of studbooks for sport horses in the world.

It connects breeding organisations of sport horses and the international equestrian sport with the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) - the International Olympic Committee recognised federation for Olympic equestrian sports.

Mr Minderman added: “I am delighted that BESIES is now a member of WBSFH, not least as it levels the playing field for our breeding programme and horses on the international stage. Now that membership has been approved, our bred show jumping horses are eligible showjumping, eventing and dressage worldwide.”