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ASOCIACIÓN DE CABALLOS DE PURA RAZA ESPAÑOLA AUSTRALIA Inc.
Welcome to the ACPRE-Australia Inc. website.

Dear P.R.E Owners & Breeders

Notice of Resignations

This notice is issued on behalf of the current directors of ACPRE-Australia Inc: Cristina Wilkins – Administration Officer/ Spanish Liaison Officer Victoria Oska – National Secretary/ Registrar Shayne King – Administration Assistant/Communications Officer We wish to advise that we are all resigning from our positions as Directors and Administrators of ACPRE-Australia Inc and that our resignations are to take effect as soon as the obligations mentioned below are discharged. As the organisation cannot satisfy the residence requirements of the South Australian Associations legislation, we have no alternative but to begin the process of formally closing down the association ACPRE-Australia Inc. as from the date of this communication. Further, we will cease taking any new work on behalf of members, owners and breeders of PRE horses as from the date of this communication. However, we will continue to process all paperwork that has been submitted to us and that has not been finalized by us or ANCCE and forward it to breeders/owners as it arrives from Spain and is completed. We will effect an orderly closing of the organisation ACPRE-Australia Inc. to ensure: (1) the South Australian Associations legislation for the winding up of an organisation is adhered to. This includes submitting the correct forms giving notice of our intention to wind up the organisation. (2) that all our tax obligations have been met to facilitate the deregistration of the organisation with the Australian Taxation Office including GST. In addition, we will:-

Return membership fees for members who have paid their subscriptions for 2008 and refund payments for magazines that were not published.

Organize for storage of all records of the organization including archival materials for a period of three years as is required by law and make these records available to any replacement organisation in accordance with law.
Distribute any funds that remain after the obligations of the organization have been met in accordance with the requirements of the ACPRE – Australia Inc Constitution.

We are aware that our decision may cause surprise and may also result in inconvenience. It has been made reluctantly for the following reasons. The current officers cannot continue to handle the volume of work that is the business of ACPRE-Australia Inc on a voluntary basis. The number of hours required is too great, and the funds are not available to employ a full time staff member to manage properly the activities of ACPRE – Australia Inc. It is now clear to us that the registration work must by done by a trained and properly paid professional person. We have advised ANCCE of our decision to close our association and we have been advised that ANCCE remains fully committed to providing a full range of stud book services to the breeders and owners in Australia. We believe that solutions to the current problems facing stud book managers within Spain and in foreign countries can be found. We thank all of you who have expressed your support and appreciation of our efforts. Yours sincerely

Cristina Wilkins Victoria Oska Shayne King

Information for all horse owners relating to Fescue Poisoning

Read the ANCCE communication regarding the PRE Mundial registry

PRE Horses for Sale & Stallions
Advertising now available to non members!

NEWS !!!
VALORATION VISIT PLANNED MAY 08

Click here to go to the new
Valoration Procedures Page

News: Do you have an authorised vet to inscribe your foal? You can now apply for a new vet in your area. - Click here

Advertising now available to Non-Members for
$33 for Sale
$44 for Stallions
$44 for Stud listings

Same strict advertising rules apply.
Payment to be made to

ACPRE-Australia Inc.
81 Mount Vernon Drive
Kambah, ACT 2902

NEWS FROM ANCCE - 18-1-08

Click here to view their latest communication

Below is a list of the applications you need to have completed for this year.

First Initial Farm Report. - (no cost)
Ownership Cards (currently $25 each from 1st Jan $60)
Inscriptions (Applications lodged before 31st Dec incur no late fees)
Breeding Certificates for 2007 ($5 each)
Breeder Code Application (must be accompanied by T ransfer of Ownership forms for all the horses in the stud´s Initial Farm Report).

REVISION AND VALORATION
(EVALUATION FOR BREEDING APPROVAL)

Due to the outbreak of Equine Influenza it will not be possible to organize a revision trip from the LG PRE ANCCE in 2007.

We are working in conjunction with ACPRE NZ to organize the trip in the autumn of 2008, in the months of March or April.

The LG PRE authorized person will evaluate inscribed PRE horses that are in possession of a passport and are three years or older for basic breeding approval. We will keep you informed of any developments.

ANNUAL REGULAR MEETING

The Annual Regular Meeting of ACPRE-Australia Inc will take the form of an EMAIL FORUM this year.

Date: 22nd October - 28th October 2007

As some of you will be aware, we considered conducting an Annual Regular Meeting ( usually known as the AGM) at the National Horse Show to be held in Canberra at the end of November. Upon further consideration however, we have decided that the most cost effective way for ALL BREEDERS to be included in a discussion of the affairs of the organization is to conduct an email forum.

The outbreak of Equine Influenza is also a factor that has caused us to rethink how our meeting might be conducted. We wish to encourage all breeders to ask the questions that are concerning them and we will reply to those questions to the best of our ability. All questions asked will be circulated to those on our mailing list along with our replies.

We ask that you keep in mind that there may not be answers to all the questions you have as the procedures and costs as they relate to ANCCE are far from complete. We will however, say when we are unable to answer a question and we will tell you why.

We will open the discussion on the 22nd October by putting before you some of the questions that have been put to us to date along with our answers.

Some of you will be aware that our Director Bryan Monk and our Communications Officer Jan Walker have resigned. Their business commitments made it impossible to devote the time necessary to ACPRE – Australia Inc affairs. Needless to say we miss them and we thank them very much for their contribution during the interim period of the organization.

We have been very fortunate to have Julia Bischof assisting us with the web site that some of you will have been visiting. Her much appreciated assistance has given us another avenue for keeping you informed.

FORUM – Updated 31 nd October 2007

Q. What are the aims of the organization for this interim period?

A. When Jane and Graham Evans resigned at the end of March, the three remaining directors had two options.

1. To close the organization. OR

2. To lodge a protocol with Spain (we had three weeks to do this) with a view to ensuring there was an organization recognized by Spain, to continue the work that Jane and Graham had been conducting for 10 years.(This has been done.)

To complete the work that was still outstanding with Cria Caballar (This is almost complete)

To put in place a structure, to enable ACPRE-Australia Inc to operate in the interests of all breeders of PRE horses into the future. (We are doing this now along with the gradually emerging LG PRE ANCCE work.)

Q. What fees do we have now that have been approved by Spain ?

A. Breeder´s breeder code $300 incl. GST

Ownership Card $25 incl. GST

Inscription. $250 incl. GST, microchip & DNA test

Q. Why have we asked for a full year's membership fees when we have not been operating?

A .We have in effect been operating.

The change of Stud Book administration has necessitated different activities. While there was a long period when we were not authorised to process paperwork, the current officers, Cristina Wilkins mainly, spent many hours planning and putting together a protocol on behalf of breeders to seek recognition by the LG PRE ANCCE. There will be no continued link with the LG PRE ANCCE and therefore no more Australian horses in the Spanish Stud Book if there is no officially recognized organization in this country.

In addition to this we have been answering ANCCE‘s questions relating to information on the database, a huge task performed by the National Secretary Vicki Oska.

We have been pursuing unresolved issues with Cria Caballar and completing the paperwork for horses seen at the last revision.

We have been developing and communicating the new procedures for working with ANCCE.

Q. Can Breeders with a large number of horses have a discounted rate on services?

A. No. All breeders must be treated equally. This is a directive that was made very clear at the meeting with ANCCE representatives. The new system is ‘User Pays' and non-discriminatory.

Q. Can we review the ACPRE-AUSTRALIA INC 'Code of Ethics'

A. Not yet. Our ‘Code of Ethics' was lodged with ANCCE as part of our Protocol. It would not be appropriate to review it at this time. Breeders are encouraged however, to comment for our future reference on parts of the Code they consider outdated.

Q. Why are the fees so high?

A. The base fee is set by ANCCE. To date only an administration cost has been added. These costs cover such things as the cost of running a web site, computer maintenance and office equipment, postage, printing, post-box, insurance, telephone, fax, etc.

Currently the administration cost is not based on the time and work taken to process the paperwork. For 10 years breeders have not been charged in Australia for the time and expertise of the administrators who are volunteer workers. The size of this task is now huge and estimated to be in excess of one full-time administrative position. ANCCE has advised that it prefers that the service be provided by paid operators, as it is not possible for voluntary labour to provide the requisite number of hours for an extended period.

This issue will be re-examined when the decision is made as to which association will be recognized and have the role of managing the studbook in Australia

If you wish to take part in the forum or have any questions you would like to have answered please email acpre@acpre-australia.org.au and write Forum in the subject line.

We wish to encourage all breeders to ask the questions that are concerning them and we will reply to those questions to the best of our ability. All questions asked will be circulated to those on our mailing list along with our replies. We ask that you keep in mind that there may not be answers to all the questions you have as the procedures and costs as they relate to ANCCE are far from complete. We will however, say when we are unable to answer a question and we will tell you why.

Q. Firstly is your Forum set up, or going to be, so that there is an opportunity for open communication between the members?

No, as it is too much to maintain at present, this may change later on once the decision has been made by ANCCE as to which Association has the stud book after 2008. We are currently running on a skeleton voluntary staff and have no time to maintain a discussion such as the one you are referring to.

This can be organised through "the ozhorse forum" for free

Not this time, but we think this is a great idea, especially for issues such as ideas from members for promotion of the breed, and planning for shows etc and it is something which we had not thought of and we will be using in the future. Thank you very much for the idea.

Q. When will a proper meeting be held?

When the decision has been made by ANCCE as to which Association has the stud book after 2008 – we may not exist after this date. As we said in our letter announcing the ARM – Forum it is too costly and not enough people /members could actually attend. We had intended to hold the meeting in conjunction with the National Show in the last week of November in Canberra . EI made this impossible.

Q. We are relatively new to your organisation and would appreciate an explanation as to how the fees are made up - what part goes to ANNCE and what goes to ACPRE.

The majority goes to ANCCE. The administration costs go to maintaining ACPRE and providing a service to the breeders and owners for their requests. We will try to improve the Fees page on the website with as much information as we can, to show we are transparent on this .As you are aware some of the fees that we are publishing are current only for this year.

Q. Does ACPRE have a constitution? How can we get a copy of it ?

Yes. Members can purchase a copy at a cost $5.00 for hard copy.- It is currently the old one and a new one will be drawn up once the decision has been made by ANCCE as to which Association has the stud book after 2008, and all the new regulations regarding registration have been revealed .

Q. Is a membership list available?

NO due to Privacy laws or unless members wish their names to be given out. Membership is voluntary.

Q. We assume that the code of ethics that you refer to is based on the old one

YES.

Q. We don't believe all of it to be appropriate and are curious as to why it is not to be discussed at this time; when will discussion be held?

As we said when this question was raised previously. The Code of Ethics in its current form was submitted as part of our protocol to ANCCE. We believe it is inappropriate to change any of the fundamental components of that protocol until such time as the decision is made as to which association will be recognized in Australia. We do welcome comments on the content of the Code of Ethics.

Q. What is the association's present financial situation and how long has it been since the financial records were audited and provided to the members.

The last financial statement was published in El Informer in 2006. When a new Treasurer is appointed we will publish a financial statement to members for the year ending 2006.

Q. How does ACPRE plan to promote the breed?

Once the decision has been made by ANCCE as to which Association has the stud book after 2008, ANCCE will help with marketing by providing materials and other support (trainers for clinics etc)

Q. In what way - eg advertising in Horse Deals magazine.

We have done this previously, bi monthly. We judged it to be unwise both financially and from an information point of view to continue the advertising at this time. Advertising with breeder support etc. - this is on website. This is something that we want to discuss with the membership as soon as the new procedures and the take over of the administration by the new office bearers are running smoothly and all individual breeder's concerns and paperwork is up to date. We are thinking that an online forum will be the way to get some ideas off the ground. We are really excited about the potential opportunities for promotion of the breed with the support of an organisation of the size and means of ANCCE.

Q. When will new Vets be able to be approved?

Whenever the LG PRE ANCCE is ready for this. They are not allowing us to do anything about vets yet and it is unlikely this will happen until an association is chosen.

Since joining your organisation we have had a lot of difficulty in obtaining information. We understand that you are trying to rectify this with the Forum.

Q. Might I suggest that you increase the amount of information so that members fully understand what is happening - for instance adding news to your website, providing advice as to how the fees are made up etc.

We are only providing the information to breeders and owners as it is made available to us by the LG PRE ANCCE, and while we run the Association in a Care Taker mode. Our current priority is to sort out all the outstanding paperwork from FESCCR and to manage the transition to update the LG PRE ANCCE database and implement new procedures, and documentation, which is a priority to all concerned. We have been doing our best with limited resources and people who are working full time jobs and doing this voluntarily.

We need more backing to be able to do as you suggest. Plus many more volunteers, but while we are in this transition period it is difficult to make too many improvements. After 2008 we will know our future and if the result is positive we shall ramp up the activities of the Association with the help and involvement of all.

Everything we know about the new regulations is being supplied to members as soon as we receive it. It is also being published on the website. Please keep checking the website because we are slowly and continually adding information.

Where the procedures are still being decided and discussed we are not publishing anything as this would be confusing to all.

Q. Who are the current Directors of ACPRE?

Details are on the website and in past communications sent out .

Q. Have any others been appointed?

Yes , Victoria Oska was appointed in August. Victoria is central to the Association as she is the National Secretary.

Currently we urgently need a Treasurer so that we can update the financial records and inform the membership of the current situation. Expressions of interest would be most appreciated and experience with the Quicken accounting software an advantage but not essential

Kind regards,
The Administrators - Cristina Wilkins, Victoria Oska , Shayne King