When you see long-term buyers such as Mylie Cash or Jim Derwin checking passports at fairs like Spancil Hill, Maam Cross or Ballinasloe, then you know that there is something different afoot in terms of pony buying. The information contained in passports can add or subtract from value. The inclusion of breeding details from the newly created Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) Irish Sport Pony Studbook in passports can be a plus in that regard. Ireland has an unsurpassed tradition and reputation for producing outstanding performance ponies and ponies for the leisure market. The new studbook can aid not only in promotion and marketing but also in upping the value of the products on offer to an increasingly sophisticated world market.

When he was minister for agriculture, Simon Coveney set the identification and registration of every equine in the country as a prime objective. As a consequence, there has been an increase in the number of “white books” being issued. However, the information contained in these is minimal at best. In an effort to move the project on a bit further, HSI last year instituted the Irish Pony Studbook.

ENCOURAGING BREEDERS

According to HSI breeding director Alison Corbally, the move was aimed at “encouraging breeders to record the pedigree of their ponies and to provide us with a platform from which to market Irish ponies both at home and abroad”.

In order to promote that idea, HSI has this year announced a reduction of over 50% to €30 (including DNA) for registering a pony with full parentage in the studbook. This offer will extend to the end of 2017 and it is hoped that, come January, there will have been a good uptake.

So, if you currently have a pony with a “white” identification document and you know the sire and dam of the pony, you can be in line for upgrading under this reduced fee offer. According to the announcement from the HSI breeding department: “If the pony’s sire and dam are registered with recorded parentage in the main section of pony and/or horse studbooks that are recognised by the ministry of their country of operation, then your pony should be eligible for the Irish Sport Pony Studbook registration.”

SPECIAL CLASSES

In an added move, HSI has also sponsored special classes aimed at promoting the new pony studbook. The first of these took place at Cavan Equestrian Centre in July. A further set of 128cm, 138cm and 148cm events are in the planning for November.

At these events, an information desk on the implications of the new Irish Sport Pony Studbook will be in operation. In the meantime, you can get further information by contacting dcraig@horsesportireland.ie