‘It’s extremely important we showcase these young horses’ – Minister Charlie McConalogue launches HSI Studbook Series

For the first time, the competition is open to horses from all Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)-approved studbooks and with €80,000 in prize-money on offer HSI are expecting a strong entry as crowds return for the first time since the start of the COVID19 pandemic.

The series begins this Saturday in Meadows Equestrian Centre, Lurgan, running until July 24th and will take place in counties Wexford, Cavan, Westmeath, Mayo and Cork before the finals in Tattersalls, Co. Meath, and provides a platform for younger horses to compete and develop in classes for five, six and seven-year-olds.

It also offers competitors an opportunity to progress towards competing at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium, next autumn.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D. joined HSI Chief Executive Denis Duggan, Interim Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development Sonja Egan, and HSI Board Chairman Joe Reynolds to announce the 2022 series.

“I am very pleased to be here to help kick off this year’s Studbook Series, which has a major role to play in supporting and promoting equine breeding success through the industry as these young horses learn the ropes through competition,” Minister McConalogue said at the launch.

“It is extremely important that we showcase these young horses, their breeders, riders, and owners because they are the bedrock for the industry as we look to create champions of the future, but also that those connected to them have their time to shine in the limelight.

“My Department is delighted to work alongside Horse Sport Ireland to help develop the sector and industry through initiatives like the Studbook Series. With the crowds back in as normal to watch these stars of the future it really promises to be an exciting event.”

Denis Duggan added: “This year is the first time that the Studbook Series has been opened up to all of the DAFM-approved studbooks, not just the Irish Sport Horse.

“I am delighted that HSI have been able to open the competition up this year to horses from any DAFM-approved studbook within the age categories. Competitions, such as the Studbook Series, are great opportunities for all breeders, regardless of what book they have registered horses with to showcase their horses in competition.

“The equine industry is a thriving and vibrant industry, and I’m very pleased to open the series up to the other studbooks - I am hopeful now that this is the beginning of some exciting times ahead for the industry as a whole.”

Sonja Egan said: “This series represents an opportunity for breeders and producers nationwide to campaign Ireland’s showjumping champions of the future.

“This production initiative will support all DAFM-approved studbooks in the viewing, selection and campaigning of their respective top young show jumping horses for future international competition.

“The Studbook Series is designed in incremental stages to challenge young horses as they develop and gain experience throughout. It has been leveraged by Irish breeders, producers, and riders to successfully prepare and campaign Irish-bred show jumpers to compete on the world stage at the FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships in Lanaken, Belgium.

“Horse Sport Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine look forward to continuing to support all Irish breeders and producers to breed and produce the best horses in the world and would like to wish all competitors the very best of luck in the upcoming Horse Sport Ireland Studbook Series.”