THE Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA) are seeking expressions of interests from the owners of traditional Irish mares who are willing to breed traditionally after receiving a significant sum of money to implement a breeding programme from a sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous.

The new scheme, which is already up and running in a small capacity, is aiming to attract mares that have jumped 1.40m plus in show jumping or competed up to three-star level in eventing or have progeny that have done so.

Jim Cooke, treasurer of TIHA, explained the association are beginning by looking at mares in the Marcus O’Donnell-authored A Profile of Ireland’s Elite Traditionally Bred Mares. “The objective first is to increase the number of quality traditional foals being born in Ireland, so it makes sense to start with the mares who have achieved success themselves,” Cooke told The Irish Field.

He revealed that between 12 and 14 breeders have already committed to breeding traditionally in 2018 and the association will work with those breeders and stallion owners to choose the right stallion to match their mares.

Although Cooke wouldn’t put a figure on the exact amount of funding the association has received, he confirmed that the scheme will run over a number of years in an effort to breed horses that can compete at a high level. The amount of help offered to the breeders will depend on the number of mares they get into the scheme and the continued support of sponsors.

“This is not a bottomless pit, and what I can say is that it is over a long period of time, not just this year, it will be rolled out over several years,” Cooke explained.

“We also have plans to keep the foals in Ireland, we will be trying to have a scheme for that and will try to help in the production of the animal. It purely depends on the amount of cash available how much we can do down the line.”

TIHA are also asking owners of well-bred traditional colts (yearlings to three-year-olds) from strong performance families with stallion potential to contact them as part of a new colt scheme. The association bought and syndicated a colt who they hope will turn out to be a stallion prospect.

Out of Gary Blaney’s 1.50m jumping mare Strandeen Western Diamond (Western Promise x Kind of Diamonds) and by the five-star 1.50m winning stallion Ardcoloum Duke (Gypsy Duke x Clover Hill), the yearling will be kept entire until he is a three-year-old before TIHA make a decision on his future breeding potential.

“The colt came from a free covering courtesy of Joe Flynn so the system is already up and running. We will keep him until he is three and make a decision on him. We are trying to get something that is not in the Cruising line because we badly need an outcross of that stallion,” Cooke said.

Cooke said TIHA also have a plan for an ordinary mare scheme but it will be down to funding.

“If we had proper state funding we could do a lot more. This is all voluntary run. I appreciated Horse Sport Ireland have limited funding but I think they should have more involvement in this. We hope to meet them in the coming weeks and will seek funding for these initiatives.”

Breeders who are interested in putting their mares forward for the breeding scheme should contact David on 087-7118029 or email knuain@eircom.net before the closing date of Friday, April 13th.