Brian Hennessy

AN exclusive report in last week’s The Irish Field,which revealed that Showjumping Ireland are considering proposals to show only the best results of a registered horse or pony on its online database, has generated huge debate this week among the equestrian community.

The plan has been slammed by some as a retrograde move which would effectively pave the way for riders and owners to be allowed effectively “cherry pick” what results will go on an animal’s performance record and what won’t.

Likewise the suggestion that riders would be allowed to have some of their rounds removed from the Irish Sport TV website has come under severe criticism, with many people voicing their concerns to any changes to the current system.

With some riders and dealers claiming that the Irish system is far more transparent than the rest of Europe, this week, The Irish Field investigated exactly what is the situation in the some of the other show jumping nations around the continent.

Britain – If you are a BSJA member you can view performance records for free online. Non members must pay a fee of £12. Rather than points, animals are given, “winnings” however not all faults are shown for each animal, so poor results do not show up on a horses record. A BSJA spokesperson told The Irish Field that they hope in the future to move to a system where all faults at all shows are recorded on their database.

Sweden – An almost identical system to Ireland. All faults at all shows are available online for free once you provide an email address and complete a short registration process.

The Netherlands – All results and faults are recorded and are either available to view online, or by contacting the federation who will provide a full performance record of a horse if requested.

Germany – Faults are not shown. It will show where you are placed in a class if you are in the prizes. Prizes are awarded as far down as the top 25 in a class or even further if there is a large entry. All classes have a winner, either by a jump-off, time, or by judges awarding marks. Interestingly all national classes are pre-entry and you are given an accurate start time in the days before the show starts. Videos of almost all classes are available to view online.

Belgium – It is possible to get all the results including faults if you know where to look but the system is complicated. Not all registered shows are run by the same organization, so it may mean searching one website for one particular result, or a different website for another but full transparency is possible.

France – Different regions have different systems but in general it is possible to get full performance records for registered competitions.

Reaction

The Irish Field contacted some well-known figures within the Irish sport horse industry to get their opinion on the proposed changes.

Donal Barnwell, one of Britain’s most prolific importers of Irish competition horses:

“I think it is too transparent at the moment and consumer rights go too far. People are losing their own initiative and we are protecting them too much.

“People should try out the horses before they buy and not just rely on the horse’s record.

“They will learn from their mistakes buying horses eventually and spend more time to pick the right horse.”

Carmel Ryan, sport horse owner and breeder:

“As a breeder, I like to see all results. Results are the guideline for making stallion choices in our breeding programme.

“As “performance” and “progeny” are the buzz words in today’s equestrian world, I believe to alter the present system would be a backward step for breeders. Results are the only tools available to the breeders who may be unable to attend every show and likewise for prospective buyers. There is no substitute for transparency.”

Ronan Rothwell, organiser of the Irish Breeders Classic:

“If you had asked me about this last year, I would have said we should stay as we are but I am changing my views. If the rest of Europe are being as transparent as we are, then I would say we should stay with the system we have. In my opinion, we are putting ourselves at a disadvantage, by showing all of the results.

Ger O’Neill, former national speed champion and producer at Castlefield Sport Horses:

“I think the German system works very well. It only shows the horse’s best results. They are selling much more horses than we are and I think that is a system we could look at.”

Harold McGahern, sport horse owner and breeder:

“It is a complex issue with no simple yes or no answer. You have three different groups involved – the producer, the provider and the consumer.

“Ireland is generally a nation of producers and providers. You cannot have an a la carte system where you take some results and discard some of the others. That just rubbishes the whole system.”

Jerry Sweetnam, Munster Grand Prix league organiser:

“We should be as open and transparent as possible. If I was buying a horse, I would want to know as much information as possible so the same should go for a purchaser, you can’t have it both ways. On the videoing of rounds, Lar Sutton and Irish Sport TV provide a fantastic service which helps to market our sport.

“My son Shane Sweetnam bought several horses for the United States last year after watching videos from the Munster league online. If you don’t want your horse videoed in public, or his performance recorded, then leave him at home.

“Hiding the performance record of a horse or pony would be a very dangerous road to go down.”

Michael Blake – sport horse producer and trainer.

“I think the SJI system should be changed. For me, there is too much information at the moment.

“Young horses need to be educated. You could have a horse and a rider circled away from a fence for whatever reason and, with time faults, this could show up as 16 or 20 faults and that is on his record forever.

“Serious buyers should only need a relevant record at a relevant height for their needs.”

Jonny Mahon (on social media)

“I am an Irish rider based in Canada and they don’t have a comprehensive record of a horse’s performance here and it causes all sorts of problems when purchasing or selling. I feel like it would be a step down for the industry in Ireland if this were to go ahead.it would certainly make me consider other options as far as buying is concerned.”

So where does the debate go from here?

It is believed the topic will be discussed at the AGM of the Show Jumpers Club this Monday (February 8th).

The proposals will be discussed further by the Showjumping Ireland national competitions committee later this month, chaired by Eamon Rice, with regional representatives made up of Gerry Gorman (Leinster), Kieran O’Donovan (Munster), Tom Doherty (Ulster) and Tommy Gibbons (Connaught).

The final decision on any changes rests with the SJI executive committee.

HAVE YOUR SAY! - What do you think of the proposed changes?

Visit the Irish Field’s Facebook page to join the debate, or email us at horseworld@theirishfield.ie