MINISTERS will spend this weekend hammering out the final details of Budget 2024 as we speculate what the Irish Sport Horse industry might be in line for next week. The word from Government camps is that this Budget will be even more challenging than last year and the general feeling is that it may not deliver in spades on the equestrian front.

It is not publicly known how much lobbying went on behind the scenes this year between Government and Horse Sport Ireland, who receive the funds for the industry. A public lobbying day of politicians did not take place but perhaps it is safe to assume that with a chairman who is a former Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, that the governing body are going about their business in the best possible manner on the recommendations of Michael Dowling and his board?