Horse Racing/Equestrian Liaison Group IHSC Elects New VP

The International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) General Assembly has unanimously elected Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges as Vice-President of the organisation.

Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges, who previously served as the standing representative of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) in the IHSC General Assembly, is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), a position he has held since 2007. He also serves as the Chair of the IFHA, the global leader for the international sport of Thoroughbred racing, and the Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF), which comprises 28 national racing authorities and racing-related organisations from across Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East.

“Winfried’s expertise in the horse racing industry has been of great value to the work of the IHSC, as is his commitment to protecting the welfare of equine and human athletes,” IHSC President Ingmar De Vos said.

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“The IHSC was created to strengthen and formalise the cooperation between horse racing and equestrian sport in fields where we share common interest, and specifically to establish a partnership between horse sport and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

“We have many ongoing projects in different fields and I look forward to continuing this close working relationship with Winfried and the IFHA, and I would like to extend my warm congratulations to him on his election. I also would like to convey my warmhearted thanks to his predecessor Louis Romanet for his great contribution to our organisation.”

Following his election as IHSC Vice-President, Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said: “I’m extremely honoured to be elected Vice-President of the IHSC. I would like to thank our President Ingmar De Vos and the General Assembly for their trust and support. I would also like to thank our past President and IFHA Chairman Emeritus Louis Romanet who was instrumental in the establishment of the IHSC as the first vehicle for cooperation between the world’s leading peak horse sports bodies.

“I look forward to furthering the collective objectives of the IFHA and the FEI, as well as advocating for the horse industry with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and other international bodies.”

The IHSC was established in 2013 and brought together the international bodies for major horse sports:

the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI); and
the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA).

The key missions of the IHSC include:

being the official body for the relations of the horse industry with the OIE;
the exchange of information and technical knowledge between the FEI and IFHA;
the encouragement of cooperation between the FEI and IFHA on matters of mutual interest which affect horse sports; and
the representation of the collective interests of the FEI and IFHA.

Ingmar De Vos, President of the FEI, is the current President of the IHSC. Before that, former IFHA Chairman Louis Romanet served as President of the IHSC from 2015 to 2019.