ON Wednesday, members of the four largest affiliates of Horse Sport Ireland, as well as two representatives from the Equestrian Competition Venue Owners (ECVOA), appeared before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine and didn’t hold back on their feelings towards how the governing body, Horse Sport Ireland, is running the industry.

Deputy Joe Flaherty TD likened the exchange to “marriage counselling” and commented “we might be able to save this marriage to some degree”. While it garnered a laugh from the chambers and many watching, the reality is this breakdown in communication between HSI and the bigger affiliates is not a good look for the industry.

We have a sport that is thriving. I have lost count of how many weeks in-a-row we have a medal-winning team or individual on the cover of Irish Horse World, from ponies, juniors, young riders and seniors in show jumping, eventing and para dressage. We have scarcely ever had better results on the international circuit.

The co-operation between HSI and the affiliates is essential to nurture these successes going forward. Flinging insults at one another, in public or behind closed doors, is not going to fix any problems, what we need now are solutions, especially with Budget day 2024 fast approaching. Hopefully the intervention of government can help mend these fractured relationships.

Leo’s farewell

If you are a reader that starts at the back with Irish Horse World, I would urge you to read page three today. After 20 years and a phenomenal 1,045 editorials, Leo Powell has penned his final one. The fact that he never missed a single editorial shows the enormous dedication he has shown over his exactly 20 years at the helm of The Irish Field.

While Leo’s writings are predominantly seen in the racing section of this paper, he is familiar to everyone in the sport horse world through his many roles in the industry. I would like to thank Leo on behalf of the entire Irish Horse World team and contributors for his unwavering support of the section and I know it will continue going forward in his new role of contributing editor to the paper. You will still be able to read Leo’s expert breeding analysis every week in the paper, plus many other columns. Congratulations and thank you, Leo, on leading this great publication for the last 20 years.