Thoroughbred Percentage Scheme 2020 – Online Application

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. Padraig McCarthy and Chris Bartle emphasised the need for greater than 80% thoroughbred blood for the top 4* event horse. When Michael Jung was in Ireland recently, he too was looking for horses with 80% blood, outlining that they are increasingly difficult to source in Europe.

One of the Breeders who utilised the scheme last year was Mary Rothwell, from Tinahely, Co. Wicklow.  Mary told us that ‘This was my first year doing this scheme and we had three mares for it. I think it’s an excellent incentive for the breeders and breeding in Ireland. Over the years Ireland’s bloodlines have become diluted with the increased use of popular foreign stallions while we have lost some of our own Irish horse traits and characteristic. This scheme also helps the traditional breeder aiming for the event market, which is a longer road when going to the sales versus the produce from warmblood stallions which can usually command good prices as foals.”

She continued “It is a really worthwhile scheme introduced by Horse Sport Ireland because it encourages breeders to inject thoroughbred blood back into our lines and also the progeny from this scheme are predominantly aimed at the eventing discipline where we have been so well recognised in the world rankings for years. I definitely intend to use this scheme in the future and look forward to it being reintroduced in 2020.’

Horse sport Ireland are providing a grant of €300 to the first 200 breeders that register a foal with more than 70% Thoroughbred blood in 2021. Payment will be made in 2021, to the breeders of qualifying foals, on registration of the foal with a DAFM studbook by 30^th October 2021.

To check the schemes terms and eligibility criteria please read this Information Leaflet.  Please click here to apply online.

Mary Rothwell with Millennium Cruise (ISH) by Cruising (ISH) out of Greenhall Cailin Deas (ISH) by Mister Lord (USA) Picture by Susan Finnerty

If the scheme is oversubscribed, mares that have a significant performance record (meet HSI 2* or above criteria) or mares that have produced performance progeny will take priority in the scheme. Breeders can check their foals TB% using the IHR online hypothetical mating platform. Please click here to go to the IHR online log in page. Once you’ve logged in you can then type in the stallion/mare’s name in the horse search box and her details including TB% are detailed (see below).

Horse Sport Ireland would like to remind and encourage breeders to continue to apply for our existing breeding schemes and Registration services which remain open and unaffected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Mary Rothwell with Greenhall Wishing Well (ISH) by Crosstown Dancer (RID) out of Greenhall Miss Cruise (ISH) by Cruising (ISH) Picture by Susan Finnerty