DAFM Studbook Series – Eventing
HORSE SPORT IRELAND LAUNCH DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SUPPORTED DAFM STUDBOOK SERIES FOR 2024
- 20 March 2024, 10:28
Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) are delighted to launch the DAFM Studbook Series for Eventing taking place in regions nationwide from April to September. This DAFM Studbook Series is gratefully supported with a total prize fund of €65,000 by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) under National Breeding Services.
Dates listed below, please note all entries are handled through Eventing Ireland:
| Date | Venue |
| Leg 1: Sunday 7th April | Lisgarvan House (Co. Carlow) |
| Leg 2: Sunday 19th May | Kilguilkey (Co. Cork) |
| Leg 3: Sunday 16th June | Ballindenisk (Co. Cork) |
| Leg 4: Sunday 18th August | Tattersalls (Co. Meath) |
| Leg 5 (FINAL): 7th September | National Championships, Venue TBC |
The 2024 series will be open to all young horses provided they registered in any studbook with a breed recorded. Horses with pedigree recorded and a breed listed ‘UNK’ are not eligible to participate or be in receipt of any prize funds. Please see DAFM Eventing Studbook Series Rules for more information.
The Studbook Series represents an opportune production series for young horses targeted toward a career in eventing, and participation for Irish studbooks in the World Breeding Federations for Sport Horses (WBFSH) young horse jumping Championships at Le Lion d’Angers.
In this series riders, breeders and owners will be rewarded for the breeding and production decisions through several class and league-based prizes. There will be a total prize fund of €65,000 for the series. Breeder’s prizes will be awarded for leading performance in each class and overall league results. There will also be a prize for the top mare and recognition and support for leading young riders in the form of league prizes.
Sonja Egan, PhD, Head of Breeding Innovation and Development commented on the launch:
“We are delighted to launch this years DAFM studbook Series to support the production of young event horses here in Ireland. This year, the series is open to horses registered in any studbook, and not restricted to DAFM classified horses only. This aims to encourage participation and wider production opportunities available to Irish producers.
Last year the weather presented a considerable challenge to the eventing season, and we have worked together with Eventing Ireland to ensure the series is conducted over a longer period of the season, with contingency in place, should we face similar difficulties.
We are very much looking forward to getting to the beginning of the series and wish all participants the very best of luck in the league.”
HORSE SPORT IRELAND LAUNCH DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SUPPORTED DAFM STUDBOOK SERIES FOR 2023
Running from May through to September, Horse Sport Ireland have announced that the HSI Studbook Series will run in the disciplines of show jumping and eventing. The series is a platform for young horses as they develop towards elite level with a particular focus on representing Irish Studbooks at the WBFSH World Breeding Championships in Eventing, Le Lion D’Angers in France and for Show Jumping in Lanaken, Belgium.
At the launch of the Horse Sport Ireland Studbook Series, supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, at Karlswood in Meath, home of Irish Olympian Cian O’Connor, is Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD, second from right, with, from left, Breeding Director of Irish Warmblood Studbook of Ireland Tom Reed, Horse Sport Ireland CEO Denis Duggan, Cian O’Connor, Horse Sport Ireland head of Breeding, Innovation and Development Sonja Egan and Robyn Moran on Cushlas Fryday. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
The Department of Agriculture has dedicated a fund of €200,000 to support the series across disciplines, and a welcome re-introduction of the series for young event horses. Breeders’ prizes will be awarded for leading performance in each class and overall league results. A new prize for 2023 includes recognition and support for leading young riders in the form of league prizes.
“I am very pleased to be here in Karlswood to help kick off this year’s Studbook Series. The series plays a vital role in supporting and promoting equine breeding success through the industry through young horse competition as they learn their trade,” Minister McConalogue said at the launch.
“My Department is delighted to work alongside Horse Sport Ireland to help develop the sector and industry through initiatives like the Studbook Series and we are also very happy to have increased the prize fund by €15,000 this year in show jumping and open an eventing-specific series to the tune of €65,000.
“It is great to see Horse Sport Ireland and the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland here, as it is important to publicise the fact that Ireland’s studbooks are working together for the benefit of breeders. I hope it is a huge success again.”
HSI Head of Breeding Sonja Egan added: “The 2023 HSI Studbook Series represents another lift in support of the industry by HSI and the Department of Agriculture.
“This series will help to maintain Ireland as a leader in the production of eventing and show jumping horses. In 2023 the series commands a total fund of €200,000 dedicated to the production of young eventing and show jumping horses.
“HSI, WSI and DAFM welcome the return of an eventing specific series to support Irish eventing breeders, owners, and riders. This facilitates these Irish-bred eventers to be produced nationally through a bespoke series which targets Le Lion selection and a future career in eventing.
“I am delighted that breeders will now receive recognition and prizes for leading performance in each class, not just the finals, and the introduction of leading young rider league prizes for each age category.”
WSI’s Breeding Director, Thomas Reed added: “It is very important for WSI to be here at Karlswood and I am grateful to Cian for allowing us to bring a WSI-bred horse to his magnificent facility as we help launch the series alongside HSI. This is the second year that the series is open to other studbooks, and it is a crucial development for Irish Warmbloods, one of two breeds of sport horses in Ireland.
“It is a very positive step that we are here today, working together to launch the series and I’m hopeful and confident that WSI and HSI can work very well in tandem as we move forward.”
For all terms conditions and eligibilities, please CLICK HERE.
The dates for the 2023 HSI Studbook Series Eventing are:
| Date | Venue |
| Leg 1: Saturday 10th June | Clonmahon House 2, Co Meath |
| Leg 2: Saturday 17th June | Rosanna 2, Co Wicklow |
| Leg 3: Saturday 16th July | Ballindenisk 2, Co Cork |
| Leg 4: Sunday 20th August | Tattersalls, Co Meath |
| Leg 5 (FINAL): 9th -10th September | National Championships, Castle Irvine Necarne, Co Fermanagh |
