As the fourth strategic meeting for the sport horse industry went west to Gort last week, one breeders group, Horsecare Ireland, had a strong message for the Minister.

The Minister was unable to attend but sent a video link message to the meeting and was represented by MEP Mairead McGuinness.

Horsecare Ireland was set up by people interested in protecting the Irish horse industry and it will officially launch itself as a representative body for the sport horse sector in May.

“We aim to ensure that the voice of Irish horse breeders and producers is not lost,” explains the group’s chairman John Martin Griffin.

“There is currently too wide a gap between the Government and horse breeders. Horsecare Ireland’s mission is to highlight insufficient interest from the Government regarding the crucial state of the Irish horse industry.

“We have engaged with the current process of consultation that is underway within the industry (organised by Teagasc, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) and the RDS), including attending all of these public meetings.

“We have forwarded a submission to this strategic group,” said John.

“We have also spoken with the IFA last week at a meeting attended by Professor Pat Wall and Damian McDonald of HSI,” John continues, “and before that the Minister, who is aware of the disconnect our members feel and the lack of progress we feel is being made on the key issues.”

With 600 signed-up members, Horsecare Ireland is in favour of a selection/deselection programme.

“We have held meetings all over the country and spoken to thousands of horse breeders,” said John.

“Farmers need to select the stock that they wish to breed from and, more importantly, deselect unsuitable stock. It is crucial that the Government bite the bullet in relation to this.”

“After Easter, we will be talking to the sub-committee on Agriculture, along with other industry stakeholders.

“Towards harvest time, the group’s hope is that the Minister will move from this consultative stage to a productive stage.

“The Government needs to address more than welfare and regulation issues within the sector and pursue a more progressive agenda.

“The Minister cannot take for granted breeder co-operation if he is not going to engage with us and our needs in a timely fashion,” concludes John. CL