HORSE Sport Ireland has confirmed that all horses ridden by Irish riders from which samples were taken for drug and medication testing in 2009 were negative.

In total 107 horses and ponies were tested by the international governing body, the FEI, during international competition in 2009 and it has been confirmed that all were negative.

The horses are mainly show jumpers but also included were some eventers, dressage and and endurance horses.

The FEI posts the results of all tests carried out on their website after the results have been confirmed and all 2009 results are now available on the FEI website.

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh said that the results were as they should be and that it was a top priority for Horse Sport Ireland to try and ensure that no Irish riders had positive tests in international competition.

He pointed out that the new rules brought in by the FEI at international level which make a clear distinction between substances which have no place in a horse at anytime, and those which were permitted to treat horses, but not during competition, would make the system clearer.

Under this new system riders whose horses test for substances which have no place in a horse at any time will face a minimum two year ban.

He also highlighted the fact that a new detailed banned substance list will be in place from April of this year and that the FEI have introduced a new website www.feicleansport.org as a reference for riders, vets and other support staff.

Horse Sport Ireland has also introduced a new rule book for riders representing Ireland, incorporating a new code of conduct backed up by a strong disciplinary process.

Another clause in the rules is that Horse Sport Ireland can insist that riders maintain a logbook of substances used on their horses and which they must submit before competing.

Last year, this was in place for the Senior European Championships in Eventing and Show Jumping but it will be extended to cover more teams in 2010.

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh said that the results in 2009 were encouraging and that all the changes should result in far fewer inadvertent breaches of the rules.

"The new rules are also much stricter on those who set out to cheat, which is only correct as such people have no place in our sport,” he said.