Madam,

We refer to the recent letter from the Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA), which was published in The Irish Field with regard to its request for funding from Horse Sport Ireland.

Firstly, I would like to assure your readers that Horse Sport Ireland values the Traditional Irish Horse (TIH) and supports the TIHA’s goal to preserve and promote TIH horses.

In recent years, Horse Sport Ireland has introduced a number of initiatives, allocated resources and funding to support TIH breeding:

  • Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) established the Traditional Irish Horse Breeding Committee in 2015 and its inaugural meeting taking place on April 20th, 2015. The Committee consists of representatives from the TIHA and the HSI Breeding Sub Board and aims to develop and encourage the breeding of traditionally-bred horses.
  • Since 2015, the suffix ‘(ISH) (TIH)’ is included on all HSI press releases, which publicises the performances of traditionally-bred Irish Sport Horses in equestrian sport.
  • TIH Irish Sport Horses have been identified within the studbook’s Irish Sport Horse database, from 2015 onwards and their TIH status has been published on CapallOir. All foals that are traditionally bred are being identified upon registration and are being recorded as ‘ISH (TIH)’ on their passports.TIH stallions have been identified in the 2015 Stallion Book publication and the actively breeding TIH mare herd has been identified.
  • Prize money for TIH – foal championship.
  • Innovation funding allocated.
  • Horse sport Ireland has also sought additional funding from the Department of Agriculture and the Marine for specific projects, to develop TIH breeding in Ireland.

    • Horse Sport Ireland has a further meeting planned with the TIHA next Wednesday, March 30th, 2016.

    As regards last week’s article, HSI wants to make it clear that we feel the TIHA have taken Jim Beecher’s comment out of context.

    Jim has been very supportive of all Irish breeders and the TIH cause. He was pointing out the reality of the World Studbook rankings in show jumping specifically, where borders between studbooks are being gradually broken down with a trend towards a European-type sport horse. It was not any aspiration on his behalf.

    The reason for the low number of TIHA show jumping mares is that large numbers of breeders decided to use foreign genetics. The main reason why breeders moved towards foreign genetics was that that it is more difficult to get a commercial price for their ‘traditional’ foals and youngstock.

    We can put whatever supports and incentives we like in place but, until the market places a higher value on traditionally-bred foals and youngstock, it will be hard to persuade breeders to change direction, unless they have the ability to add value by producing the young horses themselves.

    The reality is we are now at a stage where the vast majority of issues to be implemented in Reaching New Heights require significant extra funding. This includes the TIHA development programme.

    At the first meeting of the implementation group on October 20th, chaired by Minister Coveney, HSI indicated this.

    Further initiatives are being developed to give expression to the plan, including the TIH development programme. Horse Sport Ireland will be presenting a full costing at the next implementation meeting, which we expect will take place once things settle down in government.

    The whole industry needs to pull together to seek a better allocation to the sector to ensure that Reaching New Heights can be implemented.

    Yours etc,

    Alison Corbally,

    Director of Breeding and Programmes,

    Horse Sport Ireland.