Brian Hennessy

HORSE Sport Ireland Director of International Marketing, Elaine Hatton, is currently hosting a delegation of Korean visitors from Korea Society of Horse Industry (KSHI).

KSHI was founded in November 2011 and is the first organisation of its kind in Korea. The KSHI is registered and granted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and is pivotal in promoting the equestrian industry in Korea, along with the academic equine industry.

The group arrived in Ireland last Tuesday and on their first day visited the Army Equitation School at McKee Barracks in Dublin, before heading to the Irish Equine Centre in Kill, Co Kildare.

Viewing Ireland as a centre of excellence for sport horse breeding, production as well as athlete coaching and equine education, the group will visit varying aspects of the equestrian industry in Ireland.

According to a report conducted by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Korea, which has a population of over 50 million, imported horses worth over €17 million in 2012 alone, a 17% increase on the previous year.

While the number of horses imported in 2012 fell by 229, the report analysed that many Korean buyers now pay more attention to the quality of horses rather than the quantity.

A later 2014 report on the rapidly expanding Korean horse industry, found that horse related businesses increased by 9.6%, totalling almost 2,000, with close to 400 horse riding centres, a 20% increase on the previous year. The number of people actively engaged in horse riding in Korea is estimated at over 40,000, with over 16,000 people employed in an industry estimated to be worth more than €170 million per annum.

While the majority of racehorses that Korea imports come from America, Korea is increasing looking to Europe to source its rapidly expanding demand for sport horses, a move which could potentially have huge benefits for sport horse breeders and producers here in Ireland.

The 10-day visit from the Korean delegation will conclude next week, but not before they get a chance to ride some Irish sport horses at Clonshire Equestrian Centre in Limerick.