KILDARE-based Equine MediRecord will be deploying their revolutionary software platform at the largest equine event in Ireland - next week’s Dublin Horse Show, with horses from the Young Event Horse Series.

This will include a new version of the Equine MediRecord platform to help all the horses and athletes in the trial to comply with biosecurity rules for this year’s event where the required information can be checked in advance, helping to safeguard the welfare of all horses competing.

Submission of equine vaccine and other records prior to entrance at the RDS grounds helps to screen out issues relating to vaccine records and permitted medication records prior to arrival at the RDS. This helps to ensure the biosecurity and therefore the welfare of horses at the show.

The platform will support the RDS Dublin Horse Show across a number of categories including the following: Young Event Horse, Junior Young Rider Event Horses, Connemara Performance Hunter classes, Performance Irish Draught classes and the Ridden Connemara Ponies.

Flor Madden, chair of the RDS Equestrian Committee, said: “The RDS is happy to support this trial of the Equine MediRecord system at the RDS Dublin Horse Show. The Equine MediRecord platform’s potential had already been recognised by the RDS when it was a finalist in the annual RDS Agriculture and Forestry Awards earlier this year. Biosecurity is of paramount importance to the RDS and we are happy to have the Equine MediRecord system used to help pre check horses are compliant with our biosecurity rules before the horses even arrive at the RDS, where they will have compulsory on-site Arrivals Inspections.”

The Equine MediRecord platform allows for the full veterinary history of the horse to be recorded securely, ensuring the best possible horse welfare while aiding crucial biosecurity procedures. This platform will provide all entrants, trainers, and vets with a system to comply with the latest biosecurity measures, enabling the collection of all necessary information digitally.

Angela McGahern, Secretary General of Young Event-Horse Series, said: “We are proud to agree to trial the Equine MediRecord system. Helping our members to check that they are compliant with vaccination bio security rules in advance of the Show, not only helps safeguard their horses but also allows for a less worrying check in process at the RDS.”

Veterinary green light

Dr Peadar Ó Scanaill, head of the RDS Veterinary treating panel, said: “My veterinary team and I are happy that the EMR system will be trialled at this year’s Dublin Horse Show. From a biosecurity perspective it makes sense to ensure horses are compliant with vaccinations rules before they come to the event, where they will come into contact with other horses.

“The EMR system helps make sure that vaccination records and permitted medications usages are compliant with RDS competition rules prior to setting off from home, on the long journey up here to Dublin. This should give great peace-of-mind to our many competitors and exhibitors as they prepare for the show.

“Horses shall still pass through the compulsory RDS Arrivals Inspections but with the Equine MediRecord system, exhibitors can expect a more streamlined passage through arrivals and on into the Showgrounds. With this EMR system, there should technically no longer be a case of an unvaccinated horse arriving with no paperwork, seeking entry to the show. This greatly assists to ensure the biosecurity and welfare of the horses at equine events.”

Pierce Dargan, CEO of Equine MediRecord, said: “We are thrilled to have our Equine MediRecord (EMR) system used at Ireland’s largest equine event, the Dublin Horse Show. We are excited to deploy this new version of our EMR platform with the support of the Young Event Horse Series. We have seen athletes being wary of entering events due to biosecurity concerns. We hope that the Young Event Horse Series and RDS leadership in this area will drive adoption of our system by more equine events in Ireland and Europe who want to ensure the best equine biosecurity protocols are being followed at their events.”