Our Vision
Horse Sport Ireland leads a modern, innovative and
welfare-centred equestrian sector, integrating grassroots
participation, breeding and high-performance sport, with
recognised international impact.
Our Purpose
To strengthen and innovate Ireland’s
equestrian sector, by advancing excellence,
expertise and education, supporting horses,
people and communities to thrive.
Focus Areas
- Leading the sector
- Developing a sustainable funding model
- Competing on the world stage
- Building our organisational capability
- Engaging with the equestrian community and stakeholders
What we do
Horse Sport Ireland is the National Governing Body for equestrian sport as recognised by the FEI Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), Sport Ireland, Olympic Federation of Ireland, Paralympics Ireland and Sport NI
Providing supports and services for the wider equestrian industry in Ireland including:
- Interfacing with the Government and Government agencies on behalf of the sector
- Issuing equine passports through the Horse Source online system
- Acts as an umbrella body for the sector with 28 recognised affiliates
(sport, recreation & breeding) - Licences and regulates athletes and horses for international competition
(FEI & Olympics) - Promotes high performance equestrian sport & selects international teams
- Manages 19 high performance equestrian programmes
- Coordinates the National Equine Anti-Doping Programme
- Acts as a centralised safeguarding hub for recognised affiliates
- Maintains the Irish Horse Register under Horse Source, which incorporates the Irish Sport Horse, Irish Draught Horse, Irish Sport Pony, Kerry Bog and Irish Cob studbooks, under licence from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)
- Provides support tools to breeders to facilitate them to reach their objectives for producing horses capable of competing at the highest levels in equestrian sport or providing horses for the leisure and recreation industry in Ireland and abroad
- Engages with research organisations to develop further services for breeders
- Runs the National Equestrian Coaching Development Programme in conjunction with Coaching Ireland through Sport Ireland
