WITH Budget Day 2024 just 10 days away, what can the Irish Sport Horse industry expect or hope for? Last year, Horse Sport Ireland, who distribute the funding into the industry, was allocated €5.2 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Despite a big pre-Budget push and an ambitious ask of €33 million, the funding allocation represented no increase on the previous year at a time when inflation was running riot. There has not been as much noise around Budget Day this year from Horse Sport Ireland who, three weeks ago, revealed they would be seeking an increase to the tune of €1.5 million in Budget 2024 from the DAFM.