Horse group gathers pace

PROGRESS was reported yesterday on moves to set up a national umbrella body for the sport and leisure horse sector in Ireland.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan said she was very keen on the structural development of the sector.

She said she was pleased that recent moves by Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue and herself towards the new group had been well received in the industry.

Minister Coughlan, who was speaking as the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show got under way at the RDS, said she now looked forward to rapid progress being made by an implementation group in the autumn.

Stressing the importance of the industry, she said her department estimates the total number of sport horses in Ireland - using information from the breeding, competition and leisure sectors - stands at about 70,100.

Minister Coughlan said equine tourism is an important niche market, and can be broken down into two broad categories - spectator and activity types.

She said Dublin Horse Show attracts large attendances from across the world, while riding lessons, pony trekking, participation in shows and competitions would characterise the activity end of the market.

Praising the achievements of Irish sport horses, which compete at the top level of all equestrian disciplines, she said they are especially prominent in the eventing discipline.

Last year, the Irish Sport Horse Studbook was the leading studbook in the World Breeding Federation of Sport Horses eventing rankings for the tenth consecutive year.

Minister Coughlan said she is keenly aware of the wide-ranging impact of the sport horse as part of Ireland’s cultural heritage and way of life.

“It is an industry that is indigenous to this country. The main composite breeds of the Irish sport horse are the Irish Draught and the Thoroughbred. Varying proportions of these breeds result in the production of Irish sport horses,” she said.