Members of the Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA) were out in force for the AGM of the Irish Horse Board Co-operative in Horse and Jockey last week as they presented motions aimed at achieving special status for traditionally bred Irish horses in the Irish Stud Book.

John Watson and Chris Ryan of TIHA first presented three very specifically worded motions but the one calling for election of a special “management body” to oversee the traditional Irish sub-group was withdrawn after discussion from the floor.

Chairman Jim Beecher took on board the following two motions for consideration by Horse Sport Ireland’s breeding policy committee, which has the authority to ratify them:

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Motion 1: It was proposed that the Irish Horse Register clearly identifies all those animals within the register which conform to the definition of traditional Irish pedigree to ensure that such animals are recorded, managed and developed as a specific genetic entity.

Motion 2: That effect be given to Motion 1 by establishing a formal section for traditionally bred animals within the Irish Horse Register.

In presenting the proposals, John Watson stressed that this was not an attempt by TIHA to breakaway from the Irish Stud Book. Rather, it was their desire that the establishment of a sub-group would help to “ring-fence and promote the current population of traditional Irish horses”.

However, it did appear that the TIHA would prefer to go just one step further and have the people overseeing the sub-group be of like mind in relation to what constitutes a traditional Irish pedigree.

It was mentioned in relation to the withdrawn third motion that its aim was to ensure that the traditional Irish sub-group of horses would be judged and assessed only by people involved in traditional breeding.

Chairman Beecher affirmed that further discussions will take place between delegates from TIHA and HSI to tease out how matters can progress from here.