Minister McConalogue joins HSI and Eventing Ireland to promote Eventing Studbook Series

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D joined Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) to promote the HSI Eventing Studbook Series for 2023 and launch the HSI Breeding Grant for 2023. In attendance at the launch at the National Horse Sport Arena in the National Sports Campus, Dublin, are from left, RDS chief executive Geraldine Ruane, Robert Draper of the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association, Horse Sport Ireland chief executive Denis Duggan, Tomás Rosengrave of the Kerry Bog Pony Society, Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD, Eventing Ireland board member Bridget McGing, Elizabeth Deane Cogan of the Irish Draught Society and Horse Sport Ireland head of breeding, innovation & development Dr Sonja Egan with DS Candescent. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D has welcomed the return of the HSI Eventing Studbook Series for the first time since 2019.

The Minister joined Denis Duggan, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) Chief Executive, Dr. Sonja Egan, HSI’s Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development and Eventing Ireland Board member Bridget McGing to the promote the ongoing series.

The HSI Eventing Studbook Series is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and consists of four legs and a final, taking place at the Eventing Ireland National Championships.

The series includes classes for five-, six- and seven-year-old horses and the next leg will take place at Ballindenisk 2 on July 16^th.

Minister McConalogue said: “I am delighted to support the Horse Sport Ireland Studbook Series for Eventing with this dedicated financial fund through the National Breeding Services programme.

“The sport horse industry in Ireland is of significant importance to the wider rural economy. Initiatives supported through the National Breeding Services programme administered on behalf of my Department by HSI provide a significant financial support to assist breeders and producers to develop their young horses for the wider marketplace.”

Denis Duggan, Chief Executive of Horse Sport Ireland said: “We are delighted to be joined by Charlie McConalogue T.D, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland and Bridget McGing of Eventing Ireland to promote the Horse Sport Ireland Studbook Series for Eventing.

“It is a positive move for the eventing community, that this year sees the return of a Studbook Series competition for eventing from when it was last held in 2019. The Studbook Series for Eventing provides graduated opportunities for eventing breeders and producers to produce eventing horses toward their future breeding and competition careers.

“Programmes of support such as this Eventing Studbook Series are an important avenue for Horse Sport Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to provide financial support directly to breeders and producers of young horses.”

Mark Redmond, Managing Director, Redmond Property Management with Sonja Egan, Head of Breeding, Development and Innovation, Horse Sport Ireland and Ian Gaughran, Media and Communications Manager, Horse Sport Ireland

HSI’s coverage of the Eventing Studbook Series is supported by Redmond Property Maintenance and Managing Director Mark Redmond told of why his company got involved in this discipline, having supported live streaming of the Show Jumping Studbook Series in 2022.

He said: “Redmond Property Maintenance were proud to support the Show Jumping Studbook Series last year. It’s amazing to watch these young horses develop early in their careers and exciting  to think that we could have helped play a small part in identifying a superstar of the future.

“I worked in the industry for many years and I feel very strongly about supporting grassroots competitions such as this one. We’re very much looking forward to seeing how the competition plays out during this year’s cycle.”

Dr. Sonja Egan, Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development at Horse Sport Ireland added: “The series began strongly on the 10^th of June at Clonmahon House, Summerhill Co. Meath.

“The event was the McNallys’ inaugural event and proved a huge success with all competitors, followed by Rosanna in Co. Wicklow.  The Series is open to eventing breeders and producers of any five-, six- and seven-year-old eventing horses registered in a DAFM-approved studbook.

“We would encourage all breeders and producers to enter the remaining legs of the competition in Ballindenisk and Tattersalls in July and August respectively. Entries can be submitted through the Eventing Ireland website.”

The series also provides specific supports to breeders, young riders and mares. HSI has worked closely with Eventing Ireland in the delivery of the series. We wish all breeders and producers continued success over the course of the series. The series is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine through National Breeding Services administered by Horse Sport Ireland.

Breeding:

DS Candescent (ISH) – 2018 gelding by Sligo Candy Boy (ISH) out of Largan Lady Cruise (ISH) by Cruising For Chics (ISH). Breeder: Liam Lynsky. Owner: Alyssa O’Neill and Deborah McCann.

The HSI Studbook Series is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under National Breeding Services and is brought to you in association with Redmond Property Maintenance.