Preliminary figures from Horse Sport Ireland show that foal numbers for 2017 continued on an upward trend as they topped the 5,000 mark.
They had hit a high of 7,633 before the economic downturn of 2008. But they steadily declined year-on-year after that until slumping to a low of 4,548 in 2014.
By 2016 numbers had recovered to 4,968. Almost 200 were added in 2017, the total standing at 5,165.
This represents a good, steady trend but, at the same time, one is hoping that there will be demand for all of them.
The dream would be that among their number would be another one like Cooley Master Class (by Ramiro B out of a Master Imp dam), recent winner of a prestige Land Rover three-day-event in Lexington, Kentucky.
The result boosted Britain’s Oliver Townend to the number one slot in the world eventing rankings.
We should also be looking to produce more horses capable of competing at Badminton, where last weekend Irish sport horses filled four of the top six places.
As yet, we do not have a breakdown on the sires and dams of these 5,000-plus foals but no doubt they will to some degree mirror those of 2016 when the share of foals by continental stallions had climbed to almost 40%, while those by thoroughbreds was holding steady at about 18%,
Of the 5,165 foals registered in 2017, some 819 were Irish Draught and this represented a rise of 72 over the previous year.
Irish Sport Horses were up by 120 to 4,311. The new Irish Sport Pony added 35, returning to the exact same number as in 2016.
White passport drop
In another bit of good news the dreaded practice of breeders applying for a white passports - in which neither DNA not parentage is recorded - is showing a further decline.
Following their introduction in 2012 as a method of getting every equine at least on the book, they rose to 1,200-plus in 2013. In 2017 that number dropped by almost 50% to 697.
This is a good trend but, in view of the recent horse meat scare, it is still too high and one would hope that the practice will be totally wiped out in the years ahead.
White passports were introduced with the aim of coming to grips with the number of unidentified equines in the country but they also pose a danger as they allow a loophole for horses which are unfit for human consumption to enter the foodchain.
A recent case in which Irish horses who were unfit for human consumption were discovered on the continent with white passports did nothing for the reputation of Ireland as a source of quality meat products.
Only more stringent and widespread identification, such as solid DNA and parentage identification, will do the trick.
So, let’s hope that at the end of this breeding season we will see a further drop in the number of white passports issued.
Read more
Michael Salvin: Good horses are not bred by chance
Michael Slavin: DNA could end horsemeat scandals
Preliminary figures from Horse Sport Ireland show that foal numbers for 2017 continued on an upward trend as they topped the 5,000 mark.
They had hit a high of 7,633 before the economic downturn of 2008. But they steadily declined year-on-year after that until slumping to a low of 4,548 in 2014.
By 2016 numbers had recovered to 4,968. Almost 200 were added in 2017, the total standing at 5,165.
This represents a good, steady trend but, at the same time, one is hoping that there will be demand for all of them.
The dream would be that among their number would be another one like Cooley Master Class (by Ramiro B out of a Master Imp dam), recent winner of a prestige Land Rover three-day-event in Lexington, Kentucky.
The result boosted Britain’s Oliver Townend to the number one slot in the world eventing rankings.
We should also be looking to produce more horses capable of competing at Badminton, where last weekend Irish sport horses filled four of the top six places.
As yet, we do not have a breakdown on the sires and dams of these 5,000-plus foals but no doubt they will to some degree mirror those of 2016 when the share of foals by continental stallions had climbed to almost 40%, while those by thoroughbreds was holding steady at about 18%,
Of the 5,165 foals registered in 2017, some 819 were Irish Draught and this represented a rise of 72 over the previous year.
Irish Sport Horses were up by 120 to 4,311. The new Irish Sport Pony added 35, returning to the exact same number as in 2016.
White passport drop
In another bit of good news the dreaded practice of breeders applying for a white passports - in which neither DNA not parentage is recorded - is showing a further decline.
Following their introduction in 2012 as a method of getting every equine at least on the book, they rose to 1,200-plus in 2013. In 2017 that number dropped by almost 50% to 697.
This is a good trend but, in view of the recent horse meat scare, it is still too high and one would hope that the practice will be totally wiped out in the years ahead.
White passports were introduced with the aim of coming to grips with the number of unidentified equines in the country but they also pose a danger as they allow a loophole for horses which are unfit for human consumption to enter the foodchain.
A recent case in which Irish horses who were unfit for human consumption were discovered on the continent with white passports did nothing for the reputation of Ireland as a source of quality meat products.
Only more stringent and widespread identification, such as solid DNA and parentage identification, will do the trick.
So, let’s hope that at the end of this breeding season we will see a further drop in the number of white passports issued.
Read more
Michael Salvin: Good horses are not bred by chance
Michael Slavin: DNA could end horsemeat scandals
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