Study ‘will not be allowed gather dust’
Speaking following the publication of the study this week, both said a strategic plan based on the findings and recommendations of the independent report would be implemented immediately, with Mr Finnerty adding that improvements in the industry must start with breeding.
“We welcome this independent study and we intend to quickly put a plan in place in light of its recommendations,” he said.
Mr Finnerty also said the new umbrella body for equestrianism, Horse Sport Ireland, could benefit from the report.
“The findings will provide detailed information that will help Horse Sport Ireland as it takes its first steps,” he said.
He also looked forward to increased State funding for the industry with Horse Sport Ireland emergence.
“Improvements must come from the bottom up and it is important that investment from the Government will filter down to the breeder,” he said.
Mr Finnerty said the current schemes operated by the IHB aimed at improving the Irish sport horse were working well, but he said more performance testing was needed to identify the top genetic material.
This was particularly so with colts, he said, explaining that “often the top horses are geldings”.
Mr Finnerty’s words concurred with IHB chairman Mr Walsh. The former agriculture minister and chairman of the interim board of Horse Sport Ireland said he was looking forward “to the immediate development of a strategic plan and the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report”.
The two-year study was undertaken by UCD academics Karen Hennessy and Katherine Quinn. The study saw questionnaires issued to more than 20 equestrian organisations, an analysis of industry databases, responses from more than 1,500 individuals and visits to the main European studbooks to gain insights into the breeding.
The report was launched by Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan in the presence of IHB chairman Joe Walsh and about 100 representatives from the sport horse sector.
The study found that, as of December 2005, there were over 110,000 horses in Ireland, making it the most densely populated country in Europe per head of human population. This amounts to 27.5 sport horses per thousand people.
Other details to emerge included that:
* Over 53,000 people are regularly involved in the industry.
* The industry has an annual spend conservatively estimated at €400m.
* Over 20% of horse owners only came to owning horses in the last 10 years, with a predicted growth of 24% in leisure/sporting organisations by 2010.
Ms Coughlan referred to “fragmentation” within the industry, stressing the need for “team work” within and among the many organisations governing the industry.
Eight strategic areas were identified in the report under which recommendations were made: Management and administration of the industry; sport and leisure development; education and training; marketing, fundraising and sponsorship; business development; welfare, ethics, safety and environment; research along with breeding.
* JESSICA KÜRTEN’S hopes of making the World Cup finals ended last weekend when she failed to make an impression in the penultimate round at Gothenburg, Sweden.
While Kürten’s fellow German-based rider Cameron Hanley also went out in the first round last Sunday, he has one more chance to garner points to win a place at the Las Vegas final.
However, he will need a top-three place in the final leg at ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, on March 22-25 to book his ticket to the US showcase.
Hanley, who finished with 12 faults on Concept in Gothenburg, has 24 points on the Western European League and it is estimated that 40 points will be required for qualification.
Kürten lowered two on Quibell. Last year, she finished second in the final at Kuala Lumpur, but the Antrim woman has only 13 points this season and will not get a chance to better her 2006 result.
* BILLY TWOMEY was in hot form at Spain’s Sunshine Tour last weekend, notching up a double with Whinny Jackson.
For good measure, the Cheshire-based Corkman rode Anastasia III to third in the small grand prix with a double clear. He followed this with seventh place in Sunday’s Big Tour grand prix on Wertherroschen.
Dave Quigley was three-tenths of a second off the pace when runner-up in a Big Tour jump-off on CS Online, while Ivan Dalton steered Ashdale Spirit to second in a Small Tour class.
* IAN FEARON has been appointed team trainer for international pony show jumping by the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI).
Cavan man Fearon has coached the Irish European pony team for the last four years, during which time they twice won bronze medals at the European Championships (2003, 2005), as well as achieving three international nations cup wins (2003, 2005, 2006) and several international grands prix victories.
Among other duties, he will be preparing pony riders for participation in two nations cup teams before the Irish squad travels to the European Championships at Freudenberg, Germany, in July.
* THE Cork/Kerry branch of the SJAI will start its spring league at Millstreet tomorrow, having been deferred from a fortnight ago.
The starting time is 10.30am and the league total prizemoney in excess of €5,500.
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