Breeding Initiatives

ATTENTION BREEDERS – don’t miss availing of these opportunities
Please note, all schemes operates on a first come first served basis up to the maximum allocation facilitated by the existing budget allocation. Horse Sport Ireland Breeding Initiatives are funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine through National Breeding Services. By entering you email below you provide Horse Sport Ireland with consent to contact you in relation to Breeding Initiatives, Inspections and other breeding/studbook activities.

1. Mare Upgrade Scheme

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) are delighted to continue the Mare Upgrade scheme in 2023 for breeders who wish to obtain a performance mare for their breeding herd. This initiative is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) under National Breeding Services. The aim of this initiative is to incentivise Irish breeders to invest in performance dam-lines abroad as either filly foals, active performance mares or retired performance mares that may/or may not be already in foal. The scheme will finance the veterinary screening and transport back to Ireland of qualifying purchased high genetic merit mares/fillies. A Horse Sport Ireland Breeding Scheme Advisor will be available to assist breeders through this process.

The HSI scheme is open to Irish breeders aiming to register foals in a DAFM approved studbook and who intend to purchase a mare or filly meeting specific dam-line performance and other requirements. Breeders will have the opportunity to apply to participate in the mare upgrade scheme by completing an online application. Following receipt of a valid application which is subsequently approved, HSI will cover the cost of the veterinary screening and transport back to Ireland up to a maximum of €2,000 per horse (in accordance with scheme criteria).

Ponies are also eligible to receive funding under the scheme but must also meet the performance criteria and be registered in a WBFSH/DAFM Approved Pony Studbook.

Please CLICK HERE to complete an online entry.
Please click here for the full Terms and Conditions of the scheme.

2. Premium Mare Retention Scheme

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) are delighted to launch a premium mare retention scheme for breeders of young high merit mares aged 5-7 years old. This scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) by National Breeding Services. It is vital to encourage breeders to retain and breed from high merit performance mares. A new scheme for 2023, the mare retention scheme focuses on the support for breeders to professionally produce mares which they do not have the capacity to do themselves. This scheme subsidises production costs of young high-performance mares which can retained for future breeding.

The scheme is open to mares who are registered in a DAFM approved studbook or are listed as bred in Ireland in their passport and registered in the main section of a studbook. Mares must meet the specific requirements outlined below. Successful applicants are eligible to receive up to €6,000 towards the retention costs of the mare over a 3-month period. Please see the table below for relevant deadlines.

Pony mares are also eligible to receive funding under the scheme but must also meet equivalent pony criteria and be registered/endorsed in a DAFM Approved Pony Studbook.

Please CLICK HERE to complete an online entry.

Please CLICK HERE for the full Terms and Conditions of this scheme.

3. Mare X-Ray Screening Scheme

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) are delighted to launch an x-ray screening scheme for breeders/owners of young fillies/mares aged 2-5 years old. This scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) by National Breeding Services. The scheme is open to fillies/mares who are registered/endorsed in a DAFM approved studbook and meet specific requirements. Breeders/owners will have the opportunity to apply to participate in the x-ray screening scheme by completing an online application.

Ponies are also eligible to receive funding under the scheme but must also meet the performance criteria and be registered/endorsed in an EU/DAFM Approved Pony Studbook.

This scheme has three objectives:

1. Provide breeders with an accessible x-ray screening programme for their own personal use in benchmarking their breeding herd.
2. Document the prevalence osteo-abnormalities the degree of bony changes in the Irish young horse population.
3. Use the data as a benchmark for bony changes in the Irish herd and disseminate this information in a scientific journal/scientific conference(s).

Breeder/owners may apply for up to two fillies/mares to be included in the screening. Following a valid and approved online application, Horse Sport Ireland will notify the selected approved veterinarian and cover the cost of screening and a full radiological report from an expert radiological panel.

Please note the full details in the Terms and Conditions
CLICK HERE  if you would like to apply online.

4. Embryo Transfer Scheme

Horse Sport Ireland is happy to announce the reinstatement of the Embryo Transfer Scheme in 2023 following its success over the previous six years. This scheme, which is being funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) under the National Breeding Services, aims to increase genetic improvement by maximising the genetic potential of Ireland’s top-class performance mares. This initiative has been developed to encourage usage of AI and ET in order to accelerate the dissemination of superior genes. Performance ponies are also eligible to receive funding under the scheme.

Following a valid and approved online application, a payment of €1,500 per embryo will be payable to the owner once all documentation outlined in the terms and conditions has been submitted and checked. Owners may apply for two embryos (ETs) and two Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSIs).

Any breeder applying for *ICSI will have to provide a legitimate reason as to why the mare cannot reproduce naturally or via ET (age > 20 or vet report or semen only available for ICSI.)

The scheme is open to mares that are 3 years or older, are registered/endorsed in a DAFM approved studbook and meet the performance or progeny performance requirements.

Please CLICK HERE for full details regarding terms conditions and eligibility. All foals must be registered within 12 months of birth in order to draw down funding, where proof will be required.

Please CLICK HERE for applications for ET ONLY.

Please CLICK HERE for applications for ICSI ONLY.

The embryo transfer must take place at a designated clinic in 2023 and an online application must be submitted before 26^th June 2023.
For further information on the Embryo Transfer Scheme please contact Lorraine McMahon: schemes@horsesportireland.ie

 5. Future Breeding Horse Starting Scheme 2023

Horse Sport Ireland are delighted to re-launch the starting (breaking) scheme for owners of future breeding performance sport horses including fillies, young mares, and stallions. This scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) by National Breeding Services. In 2023 the scheme will be split into three distinct categories – a starting (breaking) scheme and two schooling levels. Continuity will be allowed across the schemes, but not in the same year.

The aim of this initiative is to incentivise Irish breeders to produce future breeding horses through a designated training pathway. This adds value to these young horses while providing information to their owners regarding their positive and negative traits, and aids breeders with informed decision making.
Successful applicants are eligible to receive up to €1000 in receipted training and associated expenses over a 6-week period pending compliance with the relevant conditions.

Breeders may apply for up to two horses to participate in the scheme but only one option (starting or schooling) may be selected for each horse per annum.

Horses must be DAFM approved studbook registered/endorsed OR WBFSH studbook registered and Irish bred and born in 2019 or 2020 to avail of the starting option.

This scheme includes breeders and owners of Native Rare Breeds (Irish Draughts, Connemara Ponies and Kerry Bog Ponies), aiming to purpose these equines, incentivise their production and retention as future breeding horses. This initiative supports identifying target populations and purposes for which to market their horses and ponies and adds overall a value and appeal to Native Rare Breeds in Ireland.

Please CLICK HERE to apply online.

Please CLICK HERE for further information on Terms and Conditions.

6. Schooling Scheme

Horse Sport Ireland are delighted to re-launch the Schooling Scheme for 2023. The aim of this initiative is to incentivise Irish breeders to produce future breeding horses through a designated training pathway and in so doing add value to them, provide additional information to their owners and breeders as to their negative and positive traits and ultimately to ensure that more informed breeding decisions are made.

There will be two Schooling for Competition options. For Schooling I option horses and ponies must be either mares or stallions and be between 4 and 6 years of age*. The sire of the horse must be Approved/Preliminary Approved/Recognised/Preliminary Recognised/Class 1 in a DAFM/WBFSH approved studbook. Horses and ponies must be registered/endorsed in a DAFM approved studbook. HSI will reimburse breeders with funds towards eight weeks training with a producer to school their young horse up to a maximum of €1,500 per horse/pony following receipt of a valid application which is subsequently approved prior to the training period.

For Schooling II, horses and ponies must be either mares or stallions and be between 4 and 6 years of age*. The sire of the horse must be Approved/Preliminary Approved/Recognised/Preliminary Recognised/Class 1 in a DAFM/WBFSH approved studbook. Horses and ponies must be registered/endorsed in a DAFM approved studbook and have dam line (sister/dam/granddam with performance equivalents to mare merit 2* (SJ/Eventing/dressage)) OR EBV of 120 OR the relevant 2* for 2 progeny. HSI will reimburse breeders with funds towards eight weeks training with a producer to school their young horse up to a maximum of €3,000 per horse/pony following receipt of a valid application which is subsequently approved prior to the training period.

*5-8 years of age for Kerry Bog Ponies and gelding are permitted.

• Breeders may apply for up to two horses but only one option (schooling I or schooling II may be selected for each horse based on performance criteria). Producers for both schooling options must meet the relevant criteria, outlined in the Terms and Conditions.

Please CLICK HERE for further information on terms and conditions and eligibility for Schooling I

Please CLICK HERE for further information on terms and conditions and eligibility for Schooling II

Please CLICK HERE to apply online
Closing date: 3rd July 2023. 

7. Environmental Testing Scheme 2023

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) are delighted to launch an environmental testing scheme for breeders/owners who wish to determine the suitability of their environment for equine breeding and production. This scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) by National Breeding Services.

This scheme involves a farm visit by a microbiologist and or an environmental scientist to sample various aspects of the applicants breeding premises (foaling stables, foal paddocks, water, fodder and concentrate feed). These samples will be analysed and reported back to breeders with regards the quality of feed and presence of toxins in the breeding environment. This preventative approach is more cost effective than being reactive and can greatly reduce treatment, loss of time in development of the animals, labour costs and loss of breeding outcomes for stallions and mares.

Currently this service is offered by the Irish Equine Centre (IEC) and is widely utilised and subscribed to in the thoroughbred industry.

Please CLICK HERE to apply online.

Please CLICK HERE for further information on Terms & Conditions.

8. Colt Retention Scheme

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) are delighted to launch a colt retention scheme for breeders/owners of young colts aged 2 years old who wish to go forwards for studbook inspection. This scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) by National Breeding Services. The scheme is open to colts who are registered in a DAFM approved studbook or are listed as bred in Ireland in their passport and registered in a studbook and meet the specific requirements outlined below. Breeders/owners will have the opportunity to apply to participate in the colt retention scheme by completing an online application. Successful applicants are eligible to receive up to €2000 towards the retention costs of the colt over a 3-month period. Please see the table below for relevant deadlines.

Ponies are also eligible to receive funding under the scheme but must also meet the criteria and be registered/endorsed in a DAFM Approved Pony Studbook.

Please CLICK HERE to apply online.

Please CLICK HERE  for further information on Terms & Conditions.

9. High Performance Stallion X-Ray Scheme

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) are delighted to launch an x-ray screening scheme for breeders/owners of performance stallions aged 5 years old and older. This scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) by National Breeding Services. The scheme is open to stallions who are registered/endorsed in a DAFM approved studbook and meet specific performance requirements. Breeders/owners will have the opportunity to apply to participate in the x-ray screening scheme by completing an online application. Following receipt of a valid application which is subsequently approved, HSI will cover the cost of the screening (up to €350 total ex vat) and notify the selected HSI approved veterinarian. Ponies are also eligible to receive funding under the scheme but must also meet the performance criteria and be registered/endorsed in a DAFM Approved Pony Studbook.

Please CLICK HERE to apply online.

Please CLICK HERE for further information on Terms and Conditions.

Horse Sport Ireland Breeding Initiatives are funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine through National Breeding Services.