Breeding Initiatives
Incentive to encourage foals for the eventing discipline with greater than 70% TB to be bred in 2020.
From an analysis of the foal registration records over the past 4 years it was clear that very few (5%) foals are currently being bred in Ireland with more than 75% Thoroughbred (TB) blood. At the HSI eventing breeding conference at the end of 2018, the top-level event riders and trainers emphasised the need for more TB blood for the production of eventers. Padraig McCarthy and Chris Bartle emphasised the need for greater than 80% thoroughbred blood for the top 4* event horse. When Michael Jung was in Ireland last autumn, he too was looking for horses with 80% blood, and he claimed that they are very difficult to source in Europe.
Horse Sport Ireland has announced a scheme to provide a grant of €300 to the first 200 breeders that register a foal with more than 70% Thoroughbred blood in 2020. The mares must be inspected by a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) approved studbook and the stallions which cover these mares must also be Approved in a DAFM approved studbook. In the event that Horse Sport Ireland is over subscribed for the scheme, mares that have a significant performance record (meet HSI 2* or above criteria) or mares that have produced performance progeny will take priority in the scheme. Breeders can check their eligibility using IHR online’s hypothetical mating which indicates the mares Thoroughbred percentage and the stallions Thoroughbred percentage. Please click here to go to IHR online’s log in page. Once you’ve logged in you can then type in the mare’s name in the horse search box and her details including Thoroughbred percentage should be available (please see screen shot below).
Application forms may be downloaded here or you can enter your details using the online form below.
Applications must be received by Horse Sport Ireland by 31st October 2019.
Payment will be made in 2020, to the breeders of qualifying foals, on registration of the foal with a DAFM studbook by 30th October 2020.
This scheme was supported by the Registered Stallion Owners Association at a recent meeting with Horse Sport Ireland. They welcome the overall aim to encourage the use of Approved TB stallions and inspected TB mares by providing this financial incentive.
SCREEN SHOT FROM IHR ONLINE – highlighting where the TB% is shown for an animal and also where the hypothetical mating is on the animal screen.
Horse Sport Ireland Foal Championship 2019
Horse Sport Ireland is pleased to announce the details of the HSI Foal Championship 2019. The Championship has a prize fund of almost €24,000.The aim is to identify, evaluate and reward breeders who have bred a foal that has the potential to be competitive at the highest level in the disciplines of showjumping or eventing.
HSI are pleased to provide the opportunity for owners to have their foal marked, microchipped and DNA sampled by a vet at each of the venues. Entrants must have a mare declaration entered online and a covering certificate for their foals. This service will be included in the entry fee. Additionally Horse Sport Ireland will video each of the qualifiers and owners can purchase their promotional video following the qualifiers at a nominal fee of €15.
There will be six regional qualifiers with separate categories and sections for horses and ponies for potential showjumping foals and potential eventing foals. The aim is to identify, evaluate and reward breeders who have bred a foal that has the potential to be competitive at the highest level in the disciplines of showjumping or eventing.
The qualifiers will be held in August and September, dates listed in the table below. Four foals from each regional qualifier will advance to the final; the best show jumping type and the best eventing type in each category (horse and pony). HSI are pleased to include a prize at each of the qualifiers for the best traditionally-bred (TIH) foal in the horse sections.
Champions will be named at the final in both horse and pony sections where €6,900 will awarded across categories. There will be a Champion Show Jumping Foal for both horses and ponies as well as a Champion Eventing Foal in both categories. Additionally there be a €1,000 awarded for the overall best traditionally-bred (TIH) foal in the horse section.
All classes will run on a pre-entry basis. Entries will not be taken by the show/venue and will be required 2 weeks prior to the event.
For further information on the qualifiers please download the Information Note Foal Championship
| Regional Championship | Venue | Date | Closing Date |
| Region 1
Wicklow, Louth, Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Meath, Westmeath, Dublin |
Coilog Equestrian Centre, Kilmeague, Co Kildare | Tuesday 10thSeptember 2019 | CLOSING DATE on Tuesday 27th August 2019 Entries directly to the show: info@coilog.com or call 045 860842 |
| Region 2
Tipperary, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny |
Wexford Equestrian, Tomhaggard,
Co. Wexford |
Tuesday 27th August 2019 | CLOSING DATE on Tuesday 13th August 2019 Entries directly to the show: www.wexfordequestrian.ie or call 086 3902309 |
| Region 3
Waterford, Kerry, Limerick, Cork |
Bridestown Towers Equestrian Centre, Glenville, Co. Cork | Thursday 1st August 2019
|
CLOSING DATE on Thursday 18th July 2019 Entries directly to the show: info@bridestownequestrian.com or call 087 9627302 |
| Region 4
Mayo, Galway, Clare |
Creagh Equestrian Centre, Ballinasloe, Galway | Thursday 5thSeptember 2019
|
CLOSING DATE on Thursday 22nd August 2019 Entries directly to the show: creaghequestriancentre@googlemail.comor call 086 2254227 |
| Region 5
Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford, Roscommon |
Tubberbride Stables, Co. Sligo | Monday 23rdSeptember 2019
|
CLOSING DATE on Monday 9th September 2019
Entries directly to the show: noeleenkerins14@gmail.com or call 087 6712200 |
| Region 5
Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford, Roscommon |
Roscommon Agricultural Show, Athlone Road,
Roscommon |
Saturday 17thAugust 2019 | CLOSING DATEon SATURDAY 17TH AUGUST 2019
Entries directly to the show: Ursula Hannon at ursulahannon1@gmail.com or via the website: www.roscommonagriculturalshow.com |
Entry Forms
CLICK HERE for an Entry Form for the HSI Foal Championship Qualifier at Coilog Equestrian Centre (Region 1)
CLICK HERE for an Entry Form for the HSI Foal Championship Qualifier at Wexford Equestrian Centre (Region 2)
CLICK HERE for an Entry Form for the HSI Foal Championship Qualifier at Bridestown Towers Equestrian Centre (Region 3)
CLICK HERE for an Entry Form for the HSI Foal Championship Qualifier at Creagh Equestrian Centre (Region 4)
CLICK HERE for an Entry Form for the HSI Foal Championship Qualifier at Tubberbride Stables (Region 5)
CLICK HERE for an Entry Form for the HSI Foal Championship Qualifier at Roscommon Agricultural Show (Region 5)
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Horse Sport Ireland continues the Embyro Transfer Scheme for 2019
Horse Sport Ireland is happy to announce that following the success of the Embyro Transfer Scheme introduced in 2017 it will continue to run the scheme in 2019. This scheme, which is being funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will aim to increase genetic improvement by maximising the genetic potential of Ireland’s top class performance mares.
The scheme is open to mares that are 3 years or older, are registered in a DAFM approved studbook and meet the performance or progeny performance requirements (see application form for details). The embryo transfer must take place at a designated clinic after the 1st March 2019 and an application must be submitted before the 30th August 2019. A payment of €600 per embryo may be payable to the owner upon submission of a veterinary declaration confirming that the recipient has been scanned in foal and a receipt from the clinic.
PLEASE NOTE: Applicants must comply with Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine legislation for equine foal passport registrations to be eligible to participate in future Embryo Transfer Schemes. Proof will be required.
Mare owners can apply for funding for up to 4 embryos under the scheme in 2019. Semen used for the embryo transfers must be from stallions which are Approved in a WBFSH studbook or a pony studbook approved by DAFM.
This initiative has been developed in line with recommendation R.1.2 from Reaching New Heights which advocates the increased usage of AI and ET in order to accelerate the dissemination of superior genes. The scheme will benefit the owners of performance mares, or mares that have already produced top class performance horses, through the support of the Embyro Transfer process. Many of these mares may not otherwise be available to contribute to the breeding of sport horses in Ireland as their owners may wish for them to remain in competition or they may be incapable of carrying a foal to term. We are very grateful to the Department of Agriculture for their support with this initiative.
To download the application forms for mare owners wishing to participate in the scheme please CLICK HERE
For further information on the Embryo Transfer Scheme please contact Lorraine Mc Mahon on 045 854517 or Antonette Doran on 045 854508
Email lmcmahon@horsesportireland.ie or adoran@horsesportireland.ie
