Walsh seeks greater use of TB sires

WITH another breeding season in the offing, Horse Sport Ireland chairman Joe Walsh has reiterated calls for the greater use of thoroughbred blood.

"One issue that I would highlight is the need for sport horse breeders to consider using thoroughbred sires on their mares. Only 12% of foals born last year [2010] were sired by thoroughbred sires,” he said.

“I do hear complaints from time to time that we don’t have enough quality thoroughbreds available to the sport horse sector.