There is just a week to go before the close of nominations on Friday next for the Irish Horse Board (IHB) elections in the East and West regions. With implementations of the Indecon report recommendations on the overall governance of Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) well under way and the prospect of new Government funding in the offering, it is more than ever important that these nominations and the ballot to follow are taken more seriously than ever.

Democracy is a great thing but as we all know it only works through individual participation. Both Brexit and Trump are examples of how a result that a majority does not really want can be coughed up through non participation in the process by a large segment of the population. More than ever we need quality representation on the IHB and we will only get it through thoughtful involvement an open ballot.

This year elections are due to take place in two IHB Regions – Region Two covering Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford and Tipperary. Meanwhile Region Four provides representation for Galway, Mayo and Clare. Alex Deon of Tynagh retires in the West but could seek re-election. This also applies to Barbara Hatton of Bagnalstown in the East.

HSI representation

At this stage in the Indecon implementation process, it is unclear just how the Irish Horse Board will be represented on the overall Horse Sport Ireland Board. In the previous system, IHB had five seats on the 19 member governing body of HSI. However, under the new system it is proposed to reduce that overall HSI Board to just nine. It appears the Horse Board will still exist but its representation on the HSI Board will not be at all the same. In the plan outlined in the Indecon Report it is proposed to have a Breeding and Production Council that will advise the HSI Board. The elected members of the Irish Horse Board will surely be well represented on this council. It will in turn elect its own chairperson who will automatically have a seat on the nine member HSI Board.

If all this comes about as proposed, it is more important than ever that a great deal of thought and participation goes into the direct election process of the Irish Horse Board. Out of this body will come a large segment of the new Breeding and Production Council which will have its voice heard on the overall HSI Board through its chairperson.

So one can only plead that nominations for the two vacated seats are in on time and if there is to be a ballot that the IHB membership in those two regions will take the time and effort to have their say.

Breeding success

Congratulations to Susan Laigan O’Keeffe and Marily Power of Suma Stud for their breeding of Paris Global Champions Tour winner Suma’s Zorro. Bred from their good Horos (TB) mare Vixens Frolic and by Ard VDL Douglas. This was one of their first outcrosses to a continental sire back in 2004 and it has really paid off now for new owner Joanne Sloan-Allen and Egyptian rider Sameh El Dahan.