THE Equestrian Competition Venues Owners Alliance (ECVOA) are calling for sport horse activity to be aligned with horse racing and greyhound racing “as a matter of urgency” while the country navigates through a six-week Level 5 lockdown.

Speaking to The Irish Field, and representing of the group of venues, Pat McCartan said: “The sports horse industry is a complex entity with two Government departments involved in the support of, and the responsibility for, the sector. While this could be perceived as a strength, sometimes there is a danger that we can fall between two stools.

“We have responsibility for the national sports horse herd, approximately 135,000 animals, involving breeders, producers, riders and owners. Unlike all other sports who are forced to close their sports grounds and put away their equipment, we have a responsibility for the care, feeding, conditioning and welfare of our horses and ponies. Every member of ECVOA is impacted, as we all have horses and ponies in our care.

“Competition and training are the heartbeat of the industry; our horses and riders learn their trade by schooling and competing at different venues and are prepared for sale and export through long hours of training. We cannot just stop exercising and conditioning the horses and ponies in our care.”

The ECVOA statement added: “My greatest fear is that we are facing a massive animal welfare crisis if the breeders, producers and riders are not able to adequately care for their horses and ponies.

“As a matter of urgency, we need to be aligned with horse racing and greyhound racing and receive the same supports as they do. ECVOA members are actively lobbying their local political representatives to ensure this happens.

“I believe the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, assisted by Ministers of State Martin Heydon TD and Senator Pippa Hackett, recognises the potential problem of horse welfare facing the industry and will act immediately to protect the industry. HSI’s Joe Reynolds and his team are actively negotiating with Sports minister Catherine Martin TD and Minister of State Jack Chambers TD to help progress the matter. I am confident that between us all we will achieve a successful outcome for the sports horse industry.”

McNamara backs industry in the Dáil

MICHAEL McNamara, Independent TD from Co Clare, made a case for the sport horse industry to open up while speaking in the Dáil last Friday. Comparing the sport horse industry to thoroughbred and greyhound racing, he asked for the “epidemiological advice” surrounding the shutdown.

“I’d like to see the epidemiological advice – because we are told that is what it is all about, epidemiological advice – that differentiates between Horse Racing Ireland, lots of money washing around, and Horse Sport Ireland, a lot less money washing around, from an epidemiological perspective. This is all about epidemiology surely, that is what the government are constantly telling us. Bring me the advice that differentiates between the two or else let Horse Sport Ireland go about their work,” McNamara said.

Looking forward to the Tokyo Olympic Games, which Ireland have three equestrian teams qualified for, he added: “Ireland has never been represented in the Olympics by a greyhound. There is a team that are trying to prepare for the Olympics. The fact that we get to the Olympics with the meagre funding that Ireland is able to provide Horse Sport Ireland is a huge achievement.

“The fact that they do that with a lot less money and the fact that they don’t attract the same interest of the gambling industry should not be something that hinders them, give them their chance. The Olympics has been put back for a year, allow them to prepare for it.”