HORSE Sport Ireland (HSI) CEO Denis Duggan expects to see the requirement for stallion covering certificates dropped within the next two to three years, he told breeders at a public meeting organised by the Registered Stallion Owners’ Society on Tuesday.

Duggan said that HSI cannot legally refuse to issue a passport to a foal owner, if the organisation has DNA on file which confirms the foal’s parentage.

While he said that no decision has been taken in relation to removing the covering cert requirement, “that is the direction of travel”.

Kevin Croke from the stallion owners’ society, called for a lead-in time to be given to stallion owners, who would need to change their business model for collecting stud fees as a result.

“They need to be told the year before,” said Croke, “so that stallion owners can decide whether to demand money up front or wait.”

Duggan conceded that a “long lead-in” will be required, but that no decision has been formally made yet.

Several people at the meeting questioned why Weatherbys can refuse to issue passports for thoroughbred foals without covering certs, with one surmising that the power of thoroughbred stallion owners was greater than sport horse stallion owners.