CONCERN ABOUT the decline in the use of thoroughbred stallions in the Irish sport-horse sector has been voiced by Horse Sport Ireland chairman Joe Walsh at the Dublin Horse Show.
Foal registration figures released by the organisation at the show indicated only 12 per cent of Irish sport-horse foals were the progeny of thoroughbred stallions.
Some 30 per cent of the foals registered were by Irish draught stallions, but 29 per cent were by foreign-bred sires, with 24 per cent sired by Irish sport-horse stallions.
The percentage of foals by thoroughbred stallions had been declining in recent years, he said, adding that the percentage in 2005 was 23 per cent.
Of particular concern was the small number of foals resulting from Irish draught mares covered by thoroughbred sires.
“Ireland has led the world in the breeding of event horses for 14 of the past 15 years. When you look at the breeding of horses that have led to our success in the world rankings, there is a significant influence from thoroughbred blood.
“In advance of the next breeding season, Horse Sport Ireland will be addressing the issue with a view to introducing a number of initiatives to deal with this trend.
“There has been a focus on improving the breeding of show jumpers in Ireland and this will continue but not all our mares are suited to breeding show jumpers and we must not lose focus of the need to retain our position in eventing.”
On his first visit to the show as Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney said the horse show was a huge event nationally and internationally and was a major highlight on the international show-jumping calendar.
“The value of the event, simply in terms of contribution to the horse sector and to Ireland’s international reputation as a breeding ground for good horses is immeasurable,” he said.
“Current estimates show that the race-horse thoroughbred industry is valued at €900 million per year and the sport-horse industry approximately €400 million annually.”
Mr Coveney said he was pleased to see so many buyers from abroad at the show and he congratulated the Royal Dublin Society for its efforts in showcasing the sport-horse sector.
Mr Coveney underlined the Government’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing the international standing and reputation of horse racing in Ireland, recognising its substantive contribution to the broader economy.
He recently signed into law enhanced rules governing equine identification, saying they were aimed at improving horse welfare and disease control in Ireland.
These laws require horse owners to ensure all horses have a passport and that foals be identified before December 31st of the year of their birth or within six months of their birth, whichever date is the later one.
The new law is required to comply with EU legislation. The enhanced system for identifying horses has three elements: an equine passport, a microchip and the assignment of a unique equine life number to the horse in the database of the approved passport-issuing organisation.
Mr Coveney said he would introduce further laws which would require all keepers of horses to register their location with the department and to keep records that would enable tracing of horses in the event of a disease outbreak.