IN a positive move, the Department of Agriculture (DAFM) seem to be attempting to make headway on equine traceability in this country. A new set of requirements, introduced with immediate effect, ensures that all equines being certified for export by the DAFM are subject to identification checks before a health certificate application is made.

All horses must be registered with the Department’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) database, and they must have their microchips verified with the Department’s online chip checker.

The new rules are further explained in a ‘trader notice’ issued by DAFM on September 26th, which states the aim is to ‘ensure all equines being certified for export by the Department are subject to an identification check by exporters prior to application for a health certificate’.

The move comes in the midst of the fallout from the RTÉ Investigates: Horses - Making A Killing documentary in June, which highlighted major flaws in the traceability system of equines.

HOYS success

Congratulations to all the breeders of the successful Irish-bred horses at the 2024 Horse of the Year Show last weekend. None more so than Brian Clinghan from Banbridge in Co Down, who bred the Supreme Champion, Mulberry Lane. He is the third Irish-bred win in four years, after View Point (bred by Sean Jones, ridden by Robert Walker) did the double in 2021 and 2022.

Brian Clinghan talks to Lesley Hunter-Nolan on page 84 and says it was “a dream come true” to bred a HOYS supreme winner. A jack of all trades, Mulberry Lane also excels in working hunter and was also supreme at the Royal International Horse Show after clinching the working hunter title there.

Best of luck to all the Irish breeders, riders, owners and connections at the WBFSH World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses 2024 at Le Lion d’Angers this weekend. Margie McLoone provides a update on these pages and will bring you the full report next week.