THE Irish sport horse industry will be on equal parity with the thoroughbred racing industry in relation to Covid-19 restrictions going forward. That was confirmed in the Statutory Instruments (S.I No. 560 of 2020), updated on December 1st, following the decision being ratified by the Cabinet last Friday.

The decision means sport horse activity will continue despite what level of Covid-19 restrictions the country goes to in the coming months. The Statutory Instruments states: “A person may organise, or cause to be organised, a sporting event in a relevant geographical location where the person takes all reasonable steps to ensure that every person participating in the event is involved in the training and preparation of sport horses for events held under the authority of Horse Sport Ireland.”

Even if the country moves back to Level 5 restrictions, the latest information states that there is an exemption for “events held under the authority of Horse Racing Ireland or Horse Sport Ireland and that take place behind closed doors.”

HSI have been given the sole authority to approve competition and training events for affiliate bodies.

Acting CEO of Horse Sport Ireland, Joe Reynolds, said: “We pushed for parity with horse racing and we have now received this but as the saying goes, there is no free lunch! The Department have told us that we are the responsible body. That, I can assure people, brings difficult decisions. Some decisions will be unpopular for some but if, as an industry, we take a leaf out of HRI’s book and come together, we should be able to continue through this period and through any future potential lockdown.

Bigger picture

“At this time we need to think of the bigger picture, a picture that includes breeders, producers, sports people and suppliers of services and products and not just any single element of the sport horse industry,” Reynolds added.

“I know everyone thinks they have a unique case but the legislators treat us as a single group we need to do the same. A lot of people depend on horses and ponies for their livelihood, their leisure and mental wellbeing and we need all involved to think inclusively.”

Horse Sport Ireland board member, Lucinda Creighton, a former Minister for European Affairs and CEO of Vulcan Consulting, was influential is getting the parity deal over the line. Speaking to The Irish Field this week, she said: “It is completely on equal parity now with racing. This is recognition by the Government that this is an industry, it matters, and that is a really big deal.

“We were just stunned back in May when we had no pathway to get back. And we have been working since then in trying to help Government departments realise that we are an industry, there were 14,000 jobs at risk, that was a real challenge.

“It was great to see people mobilising. I encouraged a number of our elite athletes to get in contact with their local TDs, and they did. It was a culmination of a big campaign that was mounted. Barry O’Connor is chairman of the Economic Forum and he, and a number of other people involved, have also been engaging and lobbying. It is the first time I have seen the industry really mobilising coherently about something, and it just shows what can be achieved,” Creighton said.

She added that getting the message through to the political leaders and parties was a big win and will help going forward. “It was a cross party effort. Simon Coveney was hugely helpful, and so was Leo Varadkar’s office, Micheál Martin’s office, and Charlie McConalogue’s office.

“The big lesson from this is that the industry needs to continue to explain to policy makers that this is a big industry and it needs to be recognised. Some of the misconceptions need to be constantly rebuked.

"Some people think it is an elite sport, others think it is a farmer with a horse out the back. We need to really continue to help them understand it is an important industry economically.

“It is an important statement from the Government that they see this now. It was discussed at the Cabinet sub-committee meeting, and at Cabinet, so it has got to the highest levels.

Rulebook must be followed

Speaking to The Irish Field, Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture, Martin Heydon, said: “I am very pleased that as the country exits Level 5 measures we can see the return of authorised horse sport events under His, but more importantly a change that should the country need to revisit Level 4 or 5 in the future, such authorised events under HSI’s authority can continue. I had highlighted the need for parity of approach with activity under HSI as exists for HRI, as the same animal welfare grounds apply.

“Horse Sport Ireland made a strong case during which I and my colleagues in Agriculture were happy to support, obviously once all of the necessary public health precautions are adhered to.”

Heydon added that it is critically important that the affiliates of Horse Sport Ireland follow the rulebook in terms of protocols. “It is critical that there is full adherence to the Covid-19 public health recommendations at every authorised horse sport affiliate event or this hard fought for exemption for Level 4 or 5 activity will be jeopardised for the whole sector.

“Horse sport activity is a shop window for the breeding of the sport horse which is a crucial economic activity for many across rural Ireland. Some of the competitions are funded by my department because of this interdependence between competitive action and breeding value. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Horse Sport Ireland to further develop opportunities for increasing the value of this breeding activity into the future.”

Restrictions

In conjunction with the DAFM, HSI will have the sole authority to approve competition events for affiliate bodies. The affiliates must apply for the relevant events and provide confirmation of risk assessment completion, as well as confirming the appointment of a Covid officer.

A document released by HSI says any departure from the Covid-19 protocols will results in non-approval of the affiliate application for the venue in subsequent applications.

Level 3 events are for professional and High Performance athletes only. No amateur or youth competitions are permitted. The approval system also applies to training events.