A NEW broom sweeps clean as the old saying goes and this week saw Horse Sport Ireland’s prestigious Studbook Series thrown open to all studbooks, approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

It’s the first big launch that new CEO Denis Duggan has spearheaded in his role at the helm of Horse Sport Ireland, flanked by Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue on site at the National Horse Arena in Abbotstown for the event, along with HSI’s interim head of breeding Dr Sonja Egan and HSI chairman Joe Reynolds.

Up to now, this top young horse production series was the preserve of the ISH Studbook, the emphasis focusing on the production of ‘green book’ top Irish-bred horses for possible Lanaken selection. Over the years since its inception, it brought many gold, silver and bronze medals home to our shores from the world breeding championships.

The proverbial gates - and parity along with it - have now been thrown open to all eligible. No doubt some will be elated at this development and others less so. If your horse is good enough, you’ll have a chance at championship selection.

Both Minister McConalogue and Minister Martin Heydon are highly interested in and passionate about the Irish sport horse industry, having expressed keeness in further developing its capacity for job creation and rural development across the country. Money talks and DAFM has delivered here.

Minister McConalogue’s positive comments at the launch about working alongside Horse Sport Ireland to develop our sector - which is diverse and largely untapped - are to be warmly welcomed. There’s much to be done, not least extending TAMS II to assist the equine community access greater grant aid for starters.