Horse Sport Ireland congratulates Equestrian Clubs receiving new Sports Capital Funding

In all, 16 clubs receive more than €26m in grants under SCEP scheme

Horse Sport Ireland, the National Governing Body for Equestrian Sports, has congratulated 16 equestrian organisations that have received State funding under the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP).

On May 9^th, Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Thomas Byrne T.D., Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, announced over €26 million in equipment grants under SCEP scheme and this included a significant tranche of funding for the equestrian sector.

CEO of Horse Sport Ireland, Denis Duggan said: “Seventeen organisations spread across the country – including Horse Sport Ireland – are benefiting from almost €350,000 in financial support from the Department of Sport under this element of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. This funding will play a significant part in supporting grassroots participation in our equestrian sports. Riding clubs, pony clubs and riding establishments are at the heart of our equestrian community and enable thousands of young people in particular to get their introduction to our sports, gaining their early tastes of success in competition and finding the attraction of participating alongside their peers. This is a welcome financial support to the seventeen beneficiaries from Pony Clubs, Riding Clubs and HSI affiliates such as Dressage Ireland and AIRE – Association of Irish Riding Establishments.”

Horse Sport Ireland will receive just over €55,000 for the purchase of Olympic standard show jumping fences. “These new fences will enable HSI to provide training using Olympic standard fences to our youth, pathway, and high-performance athletes on their journey to this and future Olympics,” stated Mr Duggan.

Horse Sport Ireland wishes to formally acknowledge the commitment from Minister Martin and Minister Byrne and the officials within the Department of Sport, and wishes each of the 16 organisations continued success.

The grant recipients include:

• County Meath’s Headfort Riding Club will receive €14,754 towards the purchase of cross country jumps, trailer and container.
• Monaghan’s Border Counties Riding Club will receive €9,690 for showjumping jumps.
• Clewbay Pony Club in Co. Mayo will receive €24,480 towards containers, jumps, lighting and a generator.
• Tipperary’s Golden Grove Riding Club will receive €60,628, while the Golden Vale Pony Club will receive €6,000 towards the purchase of showjumping equipment.

The full details of Equestrian Grant Recipients are as follows: