Chinese quarantine restrictions, lack of flights, major stumbling blocks
The issue was brought into focus again this week, when Cian O’Connor enhanced Ireland’s reputation there by winning the Beijing World Cup qualifier.
HSI chief executive Damian McDonald was part of the April delegation and, afterwards, he said the market for Irish horses in China was full of potential. He acknowledged, though, that the quarantine issue needed to be overcome. At present, horses going to China must be quarantined in the Netherlands for 30 days, followed by a further 45 days in Beijing. Another challenge is that there is no direct flight from Ireland to China, necessitating the chartering of a plane.
