Huge interest has been reported from breeders nationwide in the first Equine Knowledge Transfer (Discussion) Groups, funded by the Department of Agriculture in a €100m package that includes the beef, dairy and sheep sectors.

One of the 15 group facilitators, Michael Doherty of Horse Sport Ireland, hailed the advent of the equine groups as a “game-changer’’ for Ireland’s €700m sport horse industry.

The three-year programme officially runs from 1 June 2016 to 31 May 2017.

There are two compulsory topics from the DOA for each group: Health and Safety and Farm Succession.

One of the key aspects of the equine groups’ work is a Farm Improvement Plan for each individual breeder and data will be automatically fed into the system as the work progresses. Both Michael Doherty of Horse Sport Ireland and Dr Jack Murphy are handling five groups each.

Each group has a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 breeders in it. A lot of the groups have the maximum of 18 people already committed.

“These new Equine Knowledge Transfer Groups will bring together for the first time breeders from all over Ireland into groups where they can meet, discuss things, learn from each other. It’s an incredible opportunity for the industry and I really think it is going to be a game changer going forward,” said Michael Doherty of Horse Sport Ireland.

Payments of €750 per participant breeder will be made at the end of year one. Those already involved in other KT groups will receive a split payment.