New horse vendors site not an issue for Goresbridge

It would be fair to assume Goresbridge might have reservations about Horse Sport Ireland’s plan to launch a dedicated website for horse vendors which is aimed at attracting foreign custom.

After all, it could be seen to be cutting out the middleman.

However, Goresbridge proprietor Martin Donohoe says he is looking at the positives from such an initiative.

“We are the most prominent seller of sport horses in Europe and I’d like to think we would see the bigger picture. If the website brings more buyers to Ireland, that can only be good for the industry.

“I don’t see it as cutting out ourselves as the middleman. Lots of horses are sold privately and some buyers like to do it at slower pace. We won’t get to sell every sport horse in Ireland, much as we’d love to, but you have to look at the positives and if more people sell horses, they could come back to buy replacements.

“I’m sure it will find its own way. Our auction’s plus is that a buyer can see 500 horses over a few days.”

HSI chairman Patrick Wall said that, in essence, the website was aimed at connecting buyers with sellers at a time when markets are severely depressed.

“We want a decent price for horses and there are high-worth individuals all over the globe. The people with horses here do not have access to these individuals.

“The target date for the launch of the website — Irish Sport Horse Gateway — is next month. People will have to sign up to a protocol. At the moment, Teagasc are holding courses on developing quality advertisements for the site, which can include videos and podcasts.

“The American website ProEquest is a good example, but we will be better, in that we will be promoting Ireland as a centre of excellence for horses.

“There will also be a step-by-step explanation for prospective buyers on how to get the horse vetted, transported, etc. All levels of horses will be featured at all different price levels. We will also have links for the top coaches.

Donohoe, meanwhile, says Goresbridge is leading the way.

“We’ve launched an online photograph and video gallery, where the vendor can upload images for each lot, so we are ahead of Horse Sport Ireland. It is our first time doing it. These are aids, allowing people to show of what there horse can do, in the hunting field for example, something buyers can’t see at the sale itself.

“Our next sport horse performance sale is on March 19-22 and, with 630 entries, it is slightly up on last year.

“It is easier to sell what the market wants... The nicer ones are scarcer and we feel they will make more money. Breeders who do not make enough money are not producing what the market requires. If they did that, they would get their just reward.”

Donohoe also believes the horse passport scheme is in dire need of reform.

“It badly needs to be looked at. It is broken to a large extent, particularly the white passports, used for animals not registered and micro-chipped as foals. They are stamped as not fit for the food chain once they are a year old.

“Traceability is important for the food chain, but these animals are banned, when there is nothing wrong with them.

“It is better to be on the safe side, but there are animals not allowed into the food chain when they are perfectly safe.

“If something is not done about it, welfare will remain a problem. Instead of €200 to €300 received from a factory, owners are going to have to spend money to have horses put down. It is unlikely this will happen in some cases. How will such owners dispose of horses? Abandon them, is the probable answer.”

“We are very strict about passports. Nobody can sell a horse with us with a passport.

“We have had horses where the wrong passport was presented, but we send those owners away. One man came from Roscommon and forgot his passport, but we had to send him home. I felt terrible, but protocols and laws have to be applied. They are there for the good of all.”

*A cheval ride takes place at Courtmacsherry, Co Cork, next Sunday, beginning at 1pm.

For more information, contact John Sexton on 023 8840119 or 086 8352673

*The Munster South branch of the Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA) is holding a discussion meeting tonight at the Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway, beginning at 8.30pm.

Renowned vet John Hyde will give a presentation on breeding, while TIHA chairman Hugh Leonard will outline the key goals for breeders aiming to produce a traditional horse. Further details: 085/2420910