Osborne hopes umbrella body will be set up by next year

IRISH HORSE BOARD Chairman Michael Osborne hopes the umbrella body for the sport horse industry will be set up by next year.

Asked if Horse Sport Ireland (the umbrella body's notional title) would come into being in 2006, or, even sooner, he said: "I see no reason why not. We are reaching a critical stage, having spent the past four years doing nothing. Now, there is movement, we must keep the show going.

"There is huge goodwill out there, including from the Government.