National Breeding Services

Breeding Initiatives

For all breeders, it is recognised that the basic requirement is to produce a sound athletic young horse, that is well trained and produced in its formative years. These schemes contribute to the Young Horse Pathway delivered by Horse Sport Ireland.

This pathway is open and available to all studbook breeders, producers, and owners in Ireland. These schemes provide support for all aspects of the sport horse sector with something for all breeders and all studbooks at virtually each stage or age of the horse’s life; from conception to 7/8 years.

Not only do these schemes play an important role in supporting breeding and production, but also the health and welfare of the national herd, education, and knowledge transfer.

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

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Focus Areas

  • Mare Breeding Package Scheme
  • Premium Retention Scheme
  • Mare X-Ray Screening Scheme
  • Embryo Transfer Scheme
  • Starting Scheme
  • Schooling Scheme I & II
  • Environmental Testing Scheme
  • High-Performance Stallion X-Ray Scheme
  • Stallion Health Screening Scheme
  • Colt Retention Scheme

Mare Breeding Package Scheme

Background

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is delighted to launch the new subsidised Mare Breeding Package Scheme in preparation for the breeding season in 2025. This scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under National Breeding Services. This scheme is open to all active breeding studbook registered mares carrying their own pregnancy in the sport horse sector (performance, rare and leisure studbook breeds) during the 2025 covering season. This scheme is open to all studbook registered mares (horses or ponies) and subsidises the cost of the pre-breeding scanning and health screening along with the post cover scans up to the 28-day scan. Breeders can apply for a maximum of 2 mares for one breeding cycle.

Applicants will be asked for their details, the screening vet, and to upload the relevant veterinary reports and receipts to draw down a maximum of €300 per horse subsidy following a valid and approved online application.

This scheme has two objectives:

1. To incentivise venereal screening the sport horse sector (including CEM, EIA, EVA screening), which in turn protects against these notifiable diseases particularly in the absence of vaccines (EVA Vaccine)

2. Incentivise proper scanning for breeding sport horse mares

Under Horse Sport Ireland & International codes of practice, this pre-breeding screening should be undertaken annually and ahead of preparing to breed, please CLICK HERE for more details.

All applications MUST be submitted by 26th June 2025*

All supporting Documentation must be returned by 24th July 2025

Scheme terms and conditions are available HERE.

Please click HERE to complete an online. (Scheme FULL- Applications for Waitlist ONLY)

Premium Retention Scheme

Background

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is delighted to launch the Premium Retention scheme for breeders of young high merit mares and young performance stallions, aged 5-7 years old; this scheme was first introduced for mares in 2023. In 2025 we wish to include support for breeders to retain young performance stallions. 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 & young performance stallions. Carrying on from the 2024, the retention scheme focuses on the support for breeders to professionally produce mares/ stallions which they do not have the capacity to do themselves. This scheme subsidises production costs of young high-performance mares/ stallions which can retained for future breeding.

This scheme has two objectives:

  1. To encourage owners and breeders to retain, produce and breed from equines which
    are of high genetic merit or descended from rare bloodlines.
  2. To identify potential premium equines and enable breeders to produce them, and
    potentially breed from them, and in doing so add value to the animal and the breeder’s
    breeding herd.

The scheme is open to mares and stallions, aged 5-7 years old, who are studbook registered and have completed a studbook selection in a DAFM approved/other approved studbook. Equines must meet the specific requirements outlined in the terms below. Successful applicants are eligible to receive up to €6,000 towards the retention costs of the mare/ stallion over a 5-month period.

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

Stallions entered on the scheme must have initiated the approval process with a DAFM approved studbook and have passed the relevant veterinary screening (stage 1/ approved stallion).

All horses have to be owned by their breeder as in the studbook passport.

Application Deadline: 1st May 2025

All supporting Documentation must be returned by 30th September 2025

Please CLICK HERE to complete an online entry.

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

Mare X-Ray Screening Scheme

Background

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

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.

Application Deadline: 25th July 2025

X-rays must be completed and submitted by COB 1st August 2025

Please CLICK HERE for full details regarding terms, conditions and eligibility.

CLICK HERE if you would like to apply online. (Scheme FULL- Applications for Waitlist ONLY)

Embryo Transfer Scheme

Background

Horse Sport Ireland is happy to announce the reinstatement of the Embryo Transfer Scheme in 2025 following its success over the previous eight 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.

To accelerate the dissemination of superior performance genes.

The scheme is open to mares that are 3 years or older, are studbook registered and meet the performance or progeny performance requirements.

All foals must be studbook registered within 12 months of birth, proof will be required.

Application Deadline: 18th July 2025

Please CLICK HERE for full details regarding terms, conditions and eligibility.

CLICK HERE if you would like to apply online.  (Scheme FULL- Applications for Waitlist ONLY)

Starting Scheme

Background

Horse Sport Ireland is 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 was 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 and born in 2021 or 2022 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.

Application Deadline: 1st May 2025

All supporting documents must be returned by 14th August 2025 OR 2 weeks post completion of Starting (whichever is earlier)

Please CLICK HERE to apply online. (Scheme FULL- Applications for Waitlist ONLY)

Please CLICK HERE for further information on Terms and Conditions.

Schooling Scheme I & II

Background

Horse Sport Ireland is delighted to re-launch the Schooling Scheme for 2025. 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 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, height categorized/other. Horses and ponies must be studbook registered. 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, height categorized/other. Horses and ponies must studbook registered and have completed the relevant studbook inspections. Mares/stallions must 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.

Application Deadline: 1st May 2025

All supporting documents must be returned by 14th August 2025 OR 2 weeks post completion of schooling (whichever is earlier).

Please CLICK HERE for further information on terms and conditions and eligibility for Schooling I (Scheme FULL- Applications for Waitlist ONLY)

Please CLICK HERE for further information on terms and conditions and eligibility for Schooling II (Scheme FULL- Applications for Waitlist ONLY)

Please CLICK HERE to apply online.

Environmental Testing Scheme

Background

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is delighted to re-launch the 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 an Irish Equine Centre (IEC) 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. This service is offered by the Irish Equine Centre and is widely utilised and subscribed to in the thoroughbred industry.

This scheme is open to breeders with a minimum of one breeding mare or stallion under 20 years of age who are Irish bred as documented in their studbook passport OR registered/ endorsed in a DAFM approved studbook. All applicants must provide a valid Equine Premises Registration Number (EPRN).

Application Deadline: 14th August 2025

All testing must be completed and reports returned by 21st August 2025 OR 2 weeks post completion (whichever is earlier)

Please CLICK HERE to apply online.

Please CLICK HERE for further information on Terms & Conditions.

High-Performance Stallion X-Ray Scheme

Background

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is 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.

This scheme has three objectives:

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

Breeder/owners may apply for up to two stallions 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.

Application Deadline: 25th August 2025

All relevant documentation must be submitted by 1st October 2025

Please CLICK HERE for full details regarding terms, conditions and eligibility.

CLICK HERE to apply online.

Stallion Health Screening Scheme

Background

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is delighted to offer a subsidised reproductive health screening/sampling for all active breeding stallions in the sport horse sector during the 2025 covering season. The safeguarding of the equine national health status and the reproductive health of stallions and mares is of vital importance. Protecting the national herd against these equine diseases is vital to preserve our high health status and to maintain our ability to safely breed, transport and participate in national and international competition.

This scheme, which is funded the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) under National Breeding Services was previously open to stallions in 2021 and 2022. This scheme is open to all horses or ponies registered in a studbook and will subsidise the cost of pre-breeding screening up to a maximum of €80.

The pre-breeding screening must include testing for sport horses as follows:

  • Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA),
  • Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA),
  • Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)

As part of the Horse Sport Ireland Code of Practice, this reproductive health screening should be undertaken annually and ahead of breeding. Mare and Stallion owners should always request proof of health status ahead of breeding. All imported semen must be accompanied by a health certificate and zootechnical certificate, please CLICK HERE for more details on preparing to breed.

All applications and screening documentation must be submitted to HSI before the 23rd of May 2025.

Please CLICK HERE to apply online

Please CLICK HERE for further information on T&Cs

Colt Retention Scheme

Background

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is delighted to re-introduce a colt retention scheme for breeders/owners of young colts who are 2 years of age and wish to go forward for studbook inspection. This scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) under 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 €2,000 towards the retention costs of the colt over a 3-month period.

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.

This scheme has two main objectives:

  1. To encourage owners and breeders to retain and breed from colts which are of high genetic merit or descended from rare bloodlines.
  2. To identify potential breeding colts in advance of studbook inspection and support their breeders/owners to retain them for future studbook selection.

Please CLICK HERE further information on Terms & Conditions.

Please CLICK HERE to apply online (Scheme FULL- Applications for Waitlist ONLY)

Applications close on 1st May 2025

All supporting documents must be returned by 29th August 2025

2025 Breeding Initiatives are funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine through National Breeding Services.