IRISH National Hunt racing is set to phase out the use of birch hurdles, with authorities planning a shift away from the traditional obstacle by the end of this year.

A total of 11 tracks are understood to be racing with traditional birch hurdles at present, including leading racecourses such as Leopardstown, Punchestown, Fairyhouse, Naas and Navan.

These venues will be required to change the type of hurdle that is currently jumped, with the move coinciding with plans for Irish racing to follow the example set by the sport in Britain by changing the markings on hurdles and fences from orange to white. Horse Racing Ireland has said there is “a strong scientific basis for moving to white identification markers on obstacles based on their visibility to racehorses.”

One-fit padded hurdles have been introduced to many British racecourses in recent years, with Cheltenham and Aintree making the switch to this obstacle type this season.

According to the British Horseracing Authority in December 2024, modelling from the Royal Veterinary College has shown the use of one-fit padded hurdles would contribute to reducing the risk of horses falling by 11%.

As a result, British racing has committed to replacing all traditional birch hurdles with this one-fit model at all racecourses by October 1st, 2026.

There will be more flexibility in Ireland with regard to the obstacle type being used.

“There will be white, non-birch hurdles on Irish racecourses and the plan is that they will be in place at all tracks by the end of 2025,” an IHRB spokesperson told The Irish Field.

Obstacle variance

It’s understood there will be three types of hurdles approved in Ireland; the traditional Easyfix style that has been seen at tracks such as Galway and Ballinrobe, padded hurdles, which have been in action at Cork and Wexford, and a more modern Easyfix model that has been trialled in both schooling races and meetings under rules at tracks like Fairyhouse and Tipperary.

Grants of 50% will be offered towards the costs of replacing hurdles and, where necessary, converting them from birch. It has been agreed, following discussions with the Association of Irish Racecourses, that procurement will be managed centrally through HRI.

Birch hurdles have served Irish racing well for decades but they can cause an injury if a horse manages to put a foot through the bars holding the birch in place, while racecourses also spend a considerable sum replacing sections of these obstacles.

Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe previously told The Irish Field: “Last year at Fairyhouse, we broke 178 hurdles. If you look at it costing approximately €100 per hurdle, you’re closing in on roughly €20,000 in cost over the course of a year. That takes up time and labour just to get back to where you were.

“One of the big parts is that ash is coming in from France because we can’t get any more in Ireland due to ash dieback. The fear is that when we’re depending on resources abroad, it doesn’t make matters straightforward.”