Minister welcomes the return of eventing series

THE third leg of the 2023 HSI Eventing Studbook Series takes place tomorrow (Sunday) at Ballindenisk. The series returns for the first time since 2019 and, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has been welcomed by Minister Charlie McConalogue, T.D.

The Minister joined Denis Duggan, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) Chief Executive, Dr Sonja Egan, HSI’s Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development, and Eventing Ireland Board member veterinary surgeon Bridget McGing to promote the ongoing series.

The HSI Eventing Studbook Series is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and consists of four legs and a final, taking place at the Eventing Ireland National Championships at Castle Irvine, Necarne, in September.

Minister McConalogue said: “I am delighted to support the Horse Sport Ireland Studbook Series for eventing with this dedicated financial fund through the National Breeding Services programme. The sport horse industry in Ireland is of significant importance to the wider rural economy. Initiatives supported through the National Breeding Services programme administered on behalf of my Department by HSI provide a significant financial support to assist breeders and producers to develop their young horses for the wider marketplace.”

Denis Duggan, Chief Executive of Horse Sport Ireland, said: “It is a positive move for the eventing community, that this year sees the return of a Studbook Series competition for eventing from when it was last held in 2019. The Studbook Series for eventing provides graduated opportunities for eventing breeders and producers to produce eventing horses toward their future breeding and competition careers.”

HSI’s coverage of the Eventing Studbook Series is supported by Redmond Property Maintenance and Managing Director Mark Redmond told of why his company got involved in this discipline, having supported live streaming of the Show Jumping Studbook Series in 2022.

He said: “Redmond Property Maintenance were proud to support the Show Jumping Studbook Series last year. It’s amazing to watch these young horses develop early in their careers and exciting to think that we could have helped play a small part in identifying a superstar of the future.

“I worked in the industry for many years and I feel very strongly about supporting grassroots competitions such as this one. We’re very much looking forward to seeing how the competition plays out during this year’s cycle.”

Dr Sonja Egan, Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development at Horse Sport Ireland, added: “The Series is open to eventing breeders and producers of any five-, six- and seven-year-old eventing horses registered in a DAFM-approved studbook. We would encourage all breeders and producers to enter the remaining legs of the competition at Ballindenisk and Tattersalls.”