HORSE Sport Ireland has announced that the Equestrian Skillnet has secured a grant of 90,000 euro from Skillnets Ltd to run subsidised training programmes for people involved in the Sport Horse Industry in Ireland.
Equestrian Skillnets was established in April 2008 and after successfully running a full programme of courses in 2008 and 2009 Horse Sport Ireland is delighted that the Skillnet will receive further funding.
Horse Sport Ireland chairman Joe Walsh said he was pleased that the funding had been secured.
“Training and education is at the core of what Horse Sport Ireland is about and to secure this additional funding is very important when funding is so tight and it is a testament to the work of the Steering committee under the Chairmanship of David Abbott and the staff who worked on the programme and subsequent application," he said.
Equestrian Skillnet Steering Committee Chairman David Abbott said that the programme had been of great benefit to the sector over the past two years and was an example of what could be achieved through co-operation.
“There is a great desire for training within the equestrian sector and the Skillnet programme means that the cost of training can be kept at an affordable rate for participants,” he said.
Training in 2010 will recommence in August and range from Sport Horse Production, Course Design, Business Administration, Computer Literacy and Occupational First Aid amongst others. This year there will also be a limited amount of spaces for the unemployed coming onto the training programmes. Unemployed participants will need to provide proof of employment status and with this will then be funded at 100 per cent.
The new Skillnet has been widened to include breeders and will also encompass courses for equine veterinarians.
Equestrian Skillnet is promoted by Horse Sport Ireland and is overseen by a Steering Committee of David Abbott AIRC (Chair), Alison Corbally HSI (Promoter), Linda Young AIRE, Joan Keogh Dressage Ireland, Bridget Speirs Eventing Ireland, Mary Fitzpatrick IPC, Liam Murphy SJI, Tristan Kingston Sport Horse Breeders and Joe Collins UCD Equine Veterinary.
Currently the Equestrian Skillnet is inviting tenders for venues and trainers and tenders should be submitted by June 25th.
Though it is the policy of Horse Sport Ireland that programmes are open to participants from all 32 counties, however the Equestrian Skillnet programme is one of a number of Skillnet networks throughout Ireland and is funded by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Innovation in the Republic of Ireland. It is a condition of receiving funding that all courses funded through the Skillnets initiative be run in the Republic of Ireland.
For further information on the Equestrian Skillnet please contact Cathy Cooper on ph: 045 854514 or email to: ccooper@horsesportireland.ie