A strategic review of the infrastructure governing the equine sector is to be undertaken, with the Department of Agriculture issuing a tender shortly.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the debacle at last month’s European Championships that saw Cian O’Connor impeded in his round and Ireland denied a place in next year’s Olympics.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is confident it has a “valid” case as it prepares to file an appeal to the Federation Equestre International (FEI) Tribunal by today regarding the debacle at the European Championships that saw Cian O’Connor impeded in his round and Ireland denied a place in next year’s Olympics.

Cian O’Connor was confident last night that Ireland’s show jumping team can battle back in the European Championships today in Aachen, Germany, to secure Olympic qualification.

Kudos is due Horse Sport Ireland for securing Investec as the first corporate sponsor of the Irish show jumping team.

Kildare’s Alexander Butler won the grand prix at the second leg of The Underwriting Exchange Jumping In The City series at Cork’s Curraheen Park Greyhound Track.

It may be over 20 years since Billy Twomey last competed in his native Cork city, but he had no problems recalling it yesterday, considering he won a puissance on a horse called Larry Hagman.

It was obvious that Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney was earnest when he promised the support of Government for Reaching New Heights, says John Tynan.

Equestrian: US-based riders get the chance to show off their horsepower to Ireland manager Robert Splaine in today’s $200,000 Furusiyya Nations Cup opener in Ocala, Florida, though Kevin Babington got in early last night when winning the 1.50m grand prix qualifier on Mark Q.

Equestrian: Horse Sport Ireland chairman Pat Wall yesterday said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney is applying his own stamp to the sport horse sector strategic plan before its publication.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) chairman Pat Wall believes the organisation is doing enough to ensure equestrian sport is clean, but concedes “we have to continue to be vigilant”.

ShowjumpingIreland (SJI) chairman Tony Hurley has confirmed Allianz Insurance will again support the Make-A-Wish Challenge in 2015, following its success in Cavan last weekend.

Consideration is been given to staging show jumping at a number of greyhound stadia next year.

Robert Splaine will continue as manager of the Ireland show jumping team, following a review of his performance over the past two years.

Equestrian: Lady luck is capricious, as show jumper Cameron Hanley will attest.

With around 3,000 entries for this weekend’s Owners Pony and Young Riders Charity Show, in Millstreet, Co Cork, organisers expect the total funding raised for good causes to top €280,000.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is banking on receiving €1m annually in EU aid to fund discussion groups for sport horse breeders.

Horse Sport Ireland chairman Pat Wall yesterday agreed the governing body should be transparent, conceding he had no issue with a detailed breakdown of its draft budget being made public.

The first Irish equines exported to China under a ground-breaking protocol signed last July arrived last Monday.

Andrew Doyle, chairman of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, believes moves to bring online betting into the tax net should result in greater financial support for the sport horse industry.

Next year’s European Pony Championships will be held in Millstreet, Co Cork, two weeks later than envisaged.

Facing more music.

World champion Irish Sport Horse Arraghbeg Clover is to be auctioned in December by Holger Hetzel, the German having bought her from rider Greg Broderick and Declan Orpen.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) chairman Pat Wall says not enough is being done to tackle deadly “rotational falls” in eventing, but the world governing body has disputed this.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) chairman Pat Wall says not enough is being done to tackle deadly “rotational falls” in eventing, but the world governing body has disputed this.

The Department of Agriculture is to commence an aggressive campaign next week to encourage horse owners to register their premises.

SHANGHAI to Sherkin, a contrast that would make one’s head spin.

A NEW Institute of Food and Health at University College Dublin, was announced yesterday by Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith.

A NEW Institute of Food and Health at University College Dublin, was announced yesterday by Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith.

PwC has called for pension funds to be made more efficient through asset pooling.

MERRION Pharmaceuticals, the Dublin-based drug development company, is to launch a €35 million flotation on the Irish and Nasdaq stock markets.

PROPOSED tax reforms in the United States by the Democrats, who took control of Congress in January, could be potentially damaging to this economy.

A conference on the ''Ethics of Eating'' has heard that growing rates of obesity present a major public health problem for governments across the western world.

THE EU will provide small food producers in Ireland with funding to help them meet new food safety standards, EU commissioner David Byrne disclosed yesterday.

Officials at the Food Safety Authority have expressed concern at the prevalence of a food poisoning bug.