Over 120 government representatives, veterinarians, and equestrian sport and racing experts from across the Middle East, Africa, and around the world embraced the "high-health, high-performance horse" (HHP) concept at a three-day regional conference. The event, on the facilitation of international competition horse movement, concluded yesterday (Oct. 1) at The Meydan Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The objective of the conference, organized by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and officially opened by His Excellency Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, BSc, MsSc, PhD, minister of environment and water in the UAE, was to discuss and identify ways of harmonizing existing regulations on the movement of international competition horses in line with OIE standards and the HHP concept.

The conference was facilitated by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), as part of its public-private partnership with the OIE, and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

FEI 1st Vice President and Chair of the FEI Veterinary Committee John McEwen, FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos, and FEI Executive Board Member HE Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa played leading roles at this conference, chairing and taking part in sessions covering wide-ranging subjects that included biosecurity, regulatory collaboration, import and export requirements for international sport horses, and the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014