HORSE Sport Ireland’s Director of Breeding and Programmes, Alison Corbally, has departed the organisation after 15 years to pursue other career goals.

Corbally commenced her career with Horse Sport Ireland in September 2007 having been appointed to the role of Education and Training manager. She previously worked with the Equestrian Federation of Ireland from July 2001.

During her tenure with HSI, Alison was promoted to the role of Director of Breeding and Programmes from November 2008 and had responsibility for national breeding and studbook policy, and the development of the HSI Coaching programme in Ireland.

In a statement yesterday (Friday), Horse Sport Ireland said they “acknowledge the contribution that Alison has made to the organisation and indeed the sport horse sector and wish her well in her future endeavours.”

Dr Sonja Egan has been appointed on an interim basis as the head of breeding until such time as open recruitment process is concluded. Sonja has worked with the breeding team since 2019 and holds a PhD from UCD in Equine Bio-mechanics.

Alison Corbally statement

In a statement to The Irish Field, Alison Corbally said: “My time spent spearheading the National Breeding and Studbook initiatives has been incredibly fulfilling, due in no small measure to those I worked with from the Breeding and Production Council and stakeholders, during my tenure in Horse Sport Ireland.

“With a small but committed team, I am also proud of the developments that have been achieved within the Coach Education programme. I hope and expect that this collaborative effort has laid the groundwork for the teams to make continued progress into the future.

“I would like to particularly acknowledge the support of successive Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) Ministers and officials for the significant trust and uplift in funding for breeding schemes in recent years. This has enabled vital breeding initiatives, once only dreamt of, to become a reality for the growth and benefit of all stakeholders.

“I am honoured and fortunate over this time to have worked with so many gifted breeders, producers, and riders – the true horse people of Ireland; their support ensured my time in Horse Sport Ireland was not so much just a job, but a pleasure.”