The Horse Sport Ireland stallion selections will begin on 25 March at Cavan Equestrian Centre, one month later than last year’s inspections. Owners must submit application forms by Friday 30 January.

The veterinary phase of the inspection process begins in February at four designated veterinary clinics, where the candidate stallions can undergo their examination prior to the Cavan sessions. This phase can also be completed on the day at Cavan, just before the conformation, linear profiling, movement and athleticism phases of the inspection.

This is the sixth year of the new classification system. At its first running in 2008, there was a huge entry of over 100 stallions. This has settled down during the subsequent years and in 2014 the entry was less than 30. This is a more realistic figure and no doubt it will remain at about that level for 2015.

Entry is open to sires of three years and over in sections devoted to thoroughbreds, sport horses and Irish Draughts. It is all part of the revival programme for Irish sport horse breeding and those with young colts that have the genes and potential for contributing to that revival should take part.

Looking further ahead, there is a job of work to be done in following the careers of the approved sires and finding ways of encouraging owners to keep them on.