SPORT Ireland has allocated €3.6 million to Horse Sport Ireland’s High Performance programme for the Los Angeles Olympic cycle (2025-2028). It indicates an increase of €400,000 on the main bulk of HP funding allocated for the Paris Olympic cycle.

As part of a record investment in High Performance sport of €27m in 2025, announced on Wednesday by the Government and Sport Ireland, HSI will receive €900,000 each year from 2025-2028.

A press release from HSI said: “High Performance funding provided by Sport Ireland to HSI ensures that programmes to support athletes from youth to senior level are supported with team managers, veterinary care, training, etc. This funding supports the current squads and prepares the next generation of Irish equestrian athletes.”

HSI CEO, Denis Duggan, extended his thanks to Sport Ireland and Department of Sport, adding: “A huge amount of effort goes into the HSI High Performance programme, from the team managers, support teams (vet, farrier, etc), athletes, grooms and families, along with support staff within the staff on the sport team in the HSI office to deliver a top-class programme. We have enjoyed incredible success in equestrian sports in recent years, both in senior and youth ranks, and this increase in funding is testament to the hard work that goes into the programme.”

Backlash

However, on foot of the news, the Eventing Ireland Youth committee aired their frustration surrounding the lack of a High Performance programme for underage eventing since the end of October 2024, when the managers’ contracts ended. Tenders were invited for the pony and junior team managers but, at the time of writing, no announcements had been made. David Nestor, chairman of the Eventing Ireland Youth committee, said: “The Eventing Ireland Youth committee welcomes the additional funding provided to HSI to execute High Performance programmes. Our youth athletes competing in eventing had enormous success during the last Olympic cycle, delivering 39 European medals. An aligned and robust High Performance programme for youths is paramount, together with the massive investment by parents.

“Despite this success, HSI has abandoned our youths since last October, with no meaningful engagement and no sense of urgency to establish a HP programme. The eventing season has already commenced, we are three weeks away from the first youth international competitions and we still have no managers in place, no programme and no training dates for ponies and juniors. We are at a complete disadvantage with team preparations for European Championships that start as early as June for our ponies.

“The reaction from athletes, their parents and supporters this week reflects the enormous frustration they feel. They are completely fed-up with the dismissive attitude and will not continue to suffer in silence.”