Lipica/Marbach (ESSA). Meeting of the European State Studs: at the national and public studs director’s  assembly, from 9th to 12th June 2008 at Lipica (Slovenia), the directors of the 25 presents state studs agree to create an  association , the « European State Studs Association (ESSA) ». With the approval of the statutes,  ESSA, who already existed as an informal assembly ofor state studs , becomes an official representative and a voice in Europe.

For the  ESSA board, who following the statutes should come from five different countries, the assembly elected  Bernard Maurel, for the french National Studs (les Haras Nationaux  France),  Astrid von Velsen-Zerweck, Director of the National Stud of  Marbach (Germany), Matja˛ Pust, Director of the Stud Lipica (Slovenia), Dominique Burger Assistant director at the national Stud of Avenches (Suisse) and Lenka Gotthardova, Director of the Stud of  Kladruby (Chechz Republic). The ESSA official seat is Marbach.
Dr. Helmut Gebhardt, former director of the National Stud Marbach, will be president of the advisory board of   ESSA and Xavier Guibert, international director at the  Haras Nationaux and european leader on horse identification will be part of it .

The European State Studs intend to help together to a reinforcement of european identity and to make the european cultural value  represented by «  the horse » better known and largely spread. ESSA constitute a communauty of  interest what not only reinforce its outside representation, but also should lead to better technical and genetical exchanges inbetween studs . Moreover cooperation between publics studs opens fruitfull possibilities concerning professional teaching, touristic services, european lobbying, and general development . As long term overview,  ESSA wants to get european State Studs recognized as european cultural heritage.

At the Lipica meeting,  ESSA adopted a declaration, where the hungarian authorities are invited to preserve the Stud Babolna in danger to be privatly managed and maybe later closed.
 
Lipica director Matja˛ Pust and his breeding director Dr. Marko Marc gave to their european colleagues the opportunity to observe the work at Lipica Stud, that was since two years regaining some implusion. The next meeting of  ESSA will be organised in 2009 at the slovaquian stud Topolcianky. For the year 2010, Dr. Jürgen Müller, director of the national Stud Neustadt/Dosse, gave the invitation.
 
The European State Studs, who presented for their first public performance together a quadrille with  84 stallions  - world record  - at the european jumping vhampionship at Mannheim 2007, will also be present at Eurocheval fair from  23rd to  27th of July 2008 at Offenburg . Some Studs will be there to perform an   Euro-Quadrille . A presence at Paris Salon du Cheval or at Equitana 2009 at Essen is already planned.

 
Contact/Office:
Dr. Astrid von Velsen-Zerweck, Martina Kolb
Haupt- und Landgestüt Marbach
Tel. +49 (7385) 9695-23 oder -25
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Contact/Board:
Bernard Maurel
Haras de Compiègne
Tel +33 (0)686073213
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Members of the board of the European state studs association (ESSA) from left to right: Matja˛ Pust (Lipica/Slovenia),  Lenka Gotthardova (Kladruby/ Tcheck Republic), Bernard Maurel (Les Haras Nationaux/France), Astrid von Velsen-Zerweck (Marbach/ Germany) and Dominique Burger (Avenches/Swiss)