From LIAM MEADE
Sir, - The decision to introduce a mounted Garda squad will no doubt be generally applauded (Irish Times, February 25th). However, the question of purchasing horses from abroad in order to facilitate its speedy introduction must be criticised.
The apparent necessity to import non-thoroughbred horses into this country, for whatever reason, by a Government minister, smacks of ad-hoc and piecemeal arranging. There appears to be no thought whatsoever given to the message which this importation sends out to the equestrian world in general and, more specifically, to those generous sponsors who have continuously supported non-thoroughbred horse development here at home. The fact that it may be construed as a snub to the voluntary societies and organisations who have promoted the Irish non-thoroughbred horse for decades also seems to have escaped the Minister's attention.
The announcement that the horses to be purchased in England are fully trained, and thus allow for the almost immediate deployment of the mounted Garda squad, does little to alleviate the sense of betrayal engendered by their purchase. The decision to introduce mounted Gardai had been mooted for years. There was, therefore, plenty of time in which to purchase and train local horses of the requisite age, height and temperament in order to patrol the streets of Dublin at Easter time 1998. Simple forward planning would have made this ill-advised purchase superfluous.
It is a matter of further frustration that the Minister and his advisers have overlooked the fact that the mounted police forces of Europe were founded and maintained on the strong backs of Irish-bred, non-thoroughbred horses. A glorious opportunity to display, once again, the highly commendable characteristics of our native Irish draught horse and its progeny is being sacrificed on the altar of the political quick fix.
Sixty years ago, an executive decision not to send the Irish Army Showjumping Team to the Berlin Olympic Games squandered just such an opportunity. Today, history is about to repeat itself, because coinciding with the growth of international interest in the Irish-bred horse, another executive decision threatens to shoot the industry in the foot once more.
If you will pardon the pun, it would appear that it is now the turn of the Department of Justice to make a horse's-collar of it. - Yours, etc.,
Hon. Sec., Hunter Improvement Society of Ireland, Springfield Drive, Dooradoyle, Limerick.