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.
Breeding Initiatives: Notification Request
1. Thoroughbred Percentage Scheme for 2022 Foals
Have you bred a foal with more than 70% thoroughbred blood? Horse Sport Ireland launched the thoroughbred percentage (TB%) scheme to incentivise the breeding of sport horse foals with greater than 70% thoroughbred blood. Analysis of foal registration between 2015-2019 demonstrated that only 5% of foals produced in Ireland are more than 75% Thoroughbred (TB) blood.
Horse sport Ireland are providing a grant of €300 to the first 80 breeders that register a foal with more than 70% Thoroughbred blood in 2022.
Key dates: Closing date for applications is the 30th September 2022.
Payment will be made to the breeders of qualifying foals, on registration of the foal with a DAFM studbook by 31th October 2022.
CLICK HERE. to apply online (for foals born in 2022).
CLICK HERE for details.
2. Mare Upgrade Scheme 2022
Horse sport Ireland (HSI) are delighted to continue to offer a mare upgrade incentive scheme for breeders in 2022. This scheme, which is being funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), will facilitate breeders who wish to purchase performance dam-line fillies or retired performance mares from abroad for breeding purposes. Through this scheme 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) or a filly/mare that is purchased by a breeder.
Please CLICK HERE to complete an online entry.
Please click here for the full terms and conditions of the scheme.
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.
Closing date: 3oth September 2022
3. X-Ray Screening Scheme 2022
Horse Sport Ireland are delighted to re-launch the mare/filly x-ray screening scheme for 2022. This scheme, which is being funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), will provide breeders/owners with an accessible pathway to completing a full set of x-rays for their own personal use:
- Bench-marking the breeding herd
- Support breeding decision making
- Support performance decisions
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.
Closing date: 30th September 2022
4. Embryo Transfer Scheme
Horse Sport Ireland is happy to announce the reinstatement the Embryo Transfer Scheme in 2022 following its success over the previous five years. This scheme, which is being funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), 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.
A specific Traditional Irish Horse (TIH) category was introduced in 2019 and is offered again this year. 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.
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 & CLICK HERE to apply online. All foals must be registered within 12 months of birth in order to draw down funding, where proof will be required.
The embryo transfer must take place at a designated clinic after the 1st March 2022 and an application must be submitted before the 30th September 2022.
For further information on the Embryo Transfer Scheme please contact Lorraine McMahon: schemes@horsesportireland.ie
5. Breaking and Schooling Scheme
Horse Sport Ireland are delighted to re-launch the Breaking and Schooling Scheme for 2022. 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. This year, the scheme encourages breeders and owners of Native Rare Breeds (Irish Draughts, Connemara Ponies and Kerry Bog Ponies) to apply, 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. The sire of the horse must be Approved/Preliminary Approved/Recognised/Preliminary Recognised/Class 1 in a DAFM/WBFSH approved studbook.
Horses entered into this scheme must be eligible for breeding and be between 3 and 6 years of age. Horses must be registered or endorsed in a DAFM approved studbook. The sire of the horse must be Approved/Preliminary Approved/Recognised/Preliminary Recognised/Class 1 in a DAFM/WBFSH approved studbook.
- Breeders may apply for up to two horses but only one option (breaking or schooling for competition) may be selected for each horse
- Preference will be given to mares/fillies who have completed the HSI Xray Screening Scheme in 2020/2021/2022; a waiting list will operate for all other entries
- Horses who were broken/schooled under the 2020 or 2021 scheme are not eligible for funding under the 2022 initiative.
Please CLICK HERE for further information on terms and conditions and eligibility
Please CLICK HERE to apply online
Closing date: 30th September 2022
6. Stallion Health Screening Scheme
HSI are delighted to offer subsidised reproductive health screening in a HSI designated clinic for all stallions active in the sport horse sector. The scheme will include screening for sport horse sector stallions standing in Ireland for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), Contageous Equine Metritis (CEM) and Fragile Foal Syndrome (FFS).
The safeguarding of the equine national health status and the reproductive health of stallions is of vital importance. As part of the Horse Sport Ireland Code of Practice, this reproductive health screening should be undertaken annually.
Please CLICK HERE for further information with regards terms, conditions and eligibility
Please CLICK HERE to apply online
Closing date: 30th September 2022
