Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), is seeking COVID-19 operational parity with the thoroughbred and greyhound sectors as serious concern for equine welfare and jobs in the rural economy mounts.

The sport horse industry employs over 14,000 people in Ireland and HSI has raised concerns that, due to the pause of activity for a second time this year, the industry faces a very dark period.

HSI’s acting CEO Joe Reynolds said:“Horse Sport Ireland are very concerned that due to the cessation of activity, the industry is now facing a perilous situation heading into the winter period.

“The sector endured significant hardship in the spring of this year due to the cessation of activity. With moderate levels of activity over the summer months, some recoup of losses were made, however this is now being wiped out due to the Level 5 restrictions.

“The current penal restriction has dramatically truncated the traditional end of season stock movement, with equines having little or no performance testing record for onward sale. As such, breeders, owners, producers and athletes are now facing a horrifying position of being overstocked with dwindling or no income.

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has categorised sport horse equestrian activity on an equal basis with horse racing.

Point-to-point

Point-to-point racing is still allowed to go ahead, although it is important to note that point-to-point activities are run by the various registered hunt packs around the country, the Hunting Association of Ireland (HAI), which is an affiliate of HSI (Show Jumping Ireland, Eventing Ireland and Dressage Ireland are also HSI affiliates but cannot run events under Level 5 restrictions).

On Thursday 29 October, HSI corresponded directly with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConologue, proposing an immediate temporary solution to the current restrictions arising from Level 5. On Friday 30 October HSI were advised that this request was denied.

HSI is worried that there may be a return of trends we saw from 2010 to 2013, where due to financial insecurity of producers and owners, horses became unwanted stock leading to a welfare crisis.

HSI is now requesting a hearing before the Agriculture Committee to discuss the immediate crisis facing the industry and the unequal treatment of the sport horse sector in comparison to horse racing, greyhound racing, point-to-point’s and harness racing.

Olympic funding

On a brighter note, HSI was allocated €1,040,000 on Monday (2 November) by Sport Ireland as part of its Covid-19 fund to help address the threat to National Governing Bodies and their club networks.

The Olympic Federation of Ireland received a funding package of €85 million from the Government. It is hoped that the funding will provide some stability to protect performance programmes for elite athletes currently preparing for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo next year.