An extremely interesting conversation took place on the Akhal Teke maillist, which should be made known to a larger category of people, as it heralds the policies international breeders and owners of Akhal Teke will have to submit to in case WATO truly institutes itself.

Something should be explained aforehand:

According to the official say-so of those who participated in the founding session of WATO, after a large number of breeders protested the way this was effected (please read the article on WATO), the organisation would not be officially instituted before MAAK is duly resolved and not before those who had no chance at voting and debating, either because they were not informed of the founding session, or because they were not able to attend, had had their say via an online questionnaire.

Read more here: http://www.akhaltekeuk.com/WATOreport.html

So this is what transpired from a breeder, co-instigator of WATO and major studfarm owner of Akhal Teke, during a discussion about artificial insemination and embryo transfer on the 5th of December 2008. The comments are given verbatim, though the English language mistakes made have been corrected (anyone interested can ask for the original, not corrected responses).

"We protect our breed too. So, [we] created the WATO. And all studbooks will be under WATO rules. You in the West can be with us, or ... bye. It is hard, but true."

"...we are Russian breeders and want to sell colts, not [semen] doses. If you want to promote this breed, buy our excellent production and promote it in different directions of expensive kinds of market (sport). [It is] not necessary to multiply dullness. Much better to stop your activity, than to try to promote nothing."

"So, if I understood you correctly there are a lot of ET and AI horses? In this case I shall open question to WATO about [the] exclusion [of] all American Akhal Teke horses until special inquiry."

"You can think what [you want], but now WATO [will] do registration and breeding papers. Of course you can breed horses like you want, but without the brand of Akhal Teke. This week Mr. Klimuk will prepare [the] Statute of Studbook and then WATO will [ap]prove this regulations. If you Americans want to breed Akhal Teke horses you must argue your breeding."

"In any case, impossible to imagine such behaviour if you breed TB. [The] Akhal Teke breed has rules too, and WATO determines these rules."

"... it is World Akhal Teke Organization and your horses if they are Akhal Teke horses must be under [the] rules of WATO. In any other case these horses are not Akhal Teke. Is this understood?"

"WATO existed from [the] moment when [the] most important breeders of [the] Akhal Teke breed created it."

"That (expl.: artificial insemination and embryo transfer) was [the] biggest mistake of [the] Arab breed management, so they became clever and stopped AI and ET. ... How do you think TB horses are horses, or not? How can you compare Akhal Teke with warmbloods? It is awful, in this case [it is] better for you to leave [the] Akhal Teke and to breed warmbloods. Different philosophy absolutely. During several years you ignored [the] decision of [the] Akhal Teke breeders, you laughed at us. Now [it is] enough. We keep this breed, we promote this breed. You in the West did not create anything and want to drag us to nothing."

"You can do anything, but [you] must understand that America is [a] small village on the Akhal Teke map. Either you move with us, or stay on [the] side."

Apart from the astonishingly vicious and derogating attitude towards the very customer circle this and the other breeders preferably sell their culls to, at quite expensive prices too, there are several things which do transpire, apart from that, which clearly spells the future of the allegedly "international" and "democratic" world breeding organisation and the manner in which it will be making its decisions.

Apparently and contrary to prior promises ...

• the regs and rules are being prepared without the input of those unable to attend the WATO meeting,
• the foundation of WATO has already taken place.

Additionally it becomes quite clear that no input is sought or even will be allowed of western breeders regarding any meaningful matter, and that rules will be quite exclusively geared to ensure that Russian breeders, namely the bigger studfarms, may make the maximum of money, never mind what would be in the interest of the breed.

That's quite an eye-opener, at least it should be one for those who still have their rose-colored glasses on about Russian breeders and the way they regard their customer base, especially the non-Russian one, but in effect the breed itself as well.