appointment of Elaine Hatton as international marketing
director, heading up the new International Marketing
Division within HSI. The creation of this new department was
recommended in the industry strategic plan,
HSI by the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
Simon Coveney, in the 2015 Budget.
McDonald, said: "There is a global market for horses and
ponies for all levels of riders and we need to connect our
breeders and producers with buyers in a range of markets.
Elaine's experience in Irish thoroughbred marketing, which
does outstanding work in marketing to the thoroughbred
sector abroad, will be a huge asset as we start out on the
journey of establishing an International Marketing Division for
the sport horse sector. The Irish sport horse sector is worth
over 700m to the Irish economy and we believe we can
grow the sector further by driving export growth in the
coming years."
Gateway (IHG), promotes Irish horses and ponies, liaises with
prospective international clients and oversees the Inward
Buyer Programme. In addition, the division manages Team
Ireland Equestrian sponsorship and promotional activities, as
well as overseeing the press and public relations wing of HSI.
initiated to connect the world to the Irish horse. It is the first
point of contact for overseas clients seeking information on
Irish horses and ponies for equestrian sport and leisure.
In 2015, under the banner of the IHG, the International
Marketing Division of HSI had a presence at all domestic and
select international sales auctions, to ensure that the IHG
message is being communicated and international buyers
sought about international buyers' experiences of purchasing
animals at Irish sales. In addition to sales, the IHG also had a
visible presence at international events held in Ireland in 2015.
RDS Dublin Horse Show, Millstreet International, Camphire
International, Ballindenisk International and Clifden Pony
Show were some of the events that were sponsored by or
attended in order to meet visiting international riders and
owners.
Showjumpers sales took place in November 2015. The latter
sale saw the Irish sport horse, Dougie Douglas, set a new
Irish record for public auction by selling for 1.4 million.
The Nations Cup showjumper, competed by Holly Gillott
and jointly owned by the rider and Graham Smith, has
represented Great Britain in a number of Nations Cups. The
10-year-old chestnut gelding, by Ard VDL Douglas (KWPN)
out of the High Roller (ISH) dam Neills Girl (ISH), was
purchased by Irish agent, Barry O'Connor, for USA's Katie
Dinan.
Alexander Butler and Neal Fearon's seven-year-old prospect,
Dekato, was sold for 250,000 to Michael Drea of Great
Britain as a mount for his daughter, showjumper Jessie Drea.
The 11-year-old Irish sport horse, Javas Wild Child, was also
purchased by Michael Drea for 80,000. The last lot of the
auction was another first for Ireland, where an embryo out of
the 2014 Goresbridge sales graduate, Ard Ginger Pop, was
purchased for 50,000 by Barry O'Connor on behalf of a
European client.
clearance rate recorded at Goresbridge public auction, with a
rate in excess of 85 per cent clearance. The 10-year-old Irish
sport horse mare, Gorsehill Pearl was purchased for 85,000
by Irish Olympian, Joseph Murphy. The Go For Gold sale
international
marketing director,
Horse Sport Ireland.
winning Nations Cup team at Odense in 2014. Dougie Douglas set a
new Irish record for public auction at Goresbridge in 2015.