THE 2022 HSI Studbook Series was officially launched on Friday at the Sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown in Dublin by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D, ahead of the first leg this weekend at The Meadows Equestrian Centre.

For the first time in the series’ history, the competition is open to horses from all Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)-approved studbooks. The series for five-, six- and seven-year-old horses boosts €80,000 in prize money over the six legs and final.

At each leg, there will be €9,000 in prize money on offer between the three age classes. The winner of each age class will receive €2,500 in prize money, while the winner of the qualifying round at the show will get €500.

For the final, held in Tattersalls on July 23rd and 24th, there will be €12,500 on offer between the classes. The winner of the five-year-old final receives €3,200, while the six- and seven-year-old winners get €3,450.

The winning rider and breeder of each league gets €1,000, plus there is another €1,000 available for the breeder of the winners of the final leg.

The HSI Studbook Series provides a platform for younger horses to compete and develop in classes for five-, six- and seven-year-olds and offers them an opportunity to progress towards competing at the FEI/WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium, in the autumn.

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Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D. joined HSI CEO Denis Duggan, Interim head of breeding, innovation and development Sonja Egan, and HSI Board Chairman Joe Reynolds to announce the 2022 series.

Minister McConalogue said: “I am very pleased to be here to help kick off this year’s Studbook Series, which has a major role to play in supporting and promoting equine breeding success through the industry as these young horses learn the ropes through competition.

“It is extremely important that we showcase these young horses, their breeders, riders, and owners because they are the bedrock for the industry as we look to create champions of the future, but also that those connected to them have their time to shine in the limelight. My Department is delighted to work alongside Horse Sport Ireland to help develop the sector and industry through initiatives like the Studbook Series. With the crowds back in as normal to watch these stars of the future it really promises to be an exciting event.”

Horse Sport Ireland CEO, Denis Duggan, said: “This year is the first time that the Studbook Series has been opened up to all of the DAFM-approved studbooks, not just the Irish Sport Horse. I am delighted that HSI have been able to open the competition up. Competitions, such as the Studbook Series, are great opportunities for all breeders, regardless of what book they have registered horses with to showcase their horses in competition.

“The equine industry is a thriving and vibrant industry, and I’m very pleased to open the series up to the other studbooks – I am hopeful now that this is the beginning of some exciting times ahead for the industry as a whole.”

Sonja Egan, interim head of breeding, innovation and development at HSI, added: “This series represents an opportunity for breeders and producers nationwide to campaign Ireland’s show jumping champions of the future. This production initiative will support all DAFM-approved studbooks in the viewing, selection and campaigning of their respective top young show jumping horses for future international competition.

“The Studbook Series is designed in incremental stages to challenge young horses as they develop and gain experience throughout. It has been leveraged by Irish breeders, producers, and riders to successfully prepare and campaign Irish-bred show jumpers to compete on the world stage at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championships in Lanaken, Belgium.

“Horse Sport Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine look forward to continuing to support all Irish breeders and producers to breed and produce the best horses in the world and would like to wish all competitors the very best of luck in the upcoming Horse Sport Ireland Studbook Series.”

The series will be held at The Meadows this weekend, Barnadown Showjumping (May 6th-8th), Cavan Equestrian Centre (May 13th-15th), Mullingar International (June 2nd-3rd), Ard Chuain Equestrian Centre (June 23rd-24th), Maryville Stables (July 16th-17th) and the final at Tattersales on July 23rd and 24th.