HSI sets up taskforce after dispute over Irish draught horse breeding
Tuesday June 16 2009
Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has announced it is setting up a taskforce on breeding policy for the Irish draught horse.
The seven-person taskforce will be charged with defining a suitable breeding objective for the Irish draught horse studbook and proposing a suitable classification system.
The committee will also propose studbook initiatives to improve the quality of Irish draught horses being bred in Ireland.
The move is part of HSI's strategic plan to develop a sustainable breeding policy for the Irish draught horse.
Submissions from breeders will be sought in relation to what they see as the future for the breed and how the studbook should be changed.
Irish draught breeding has provoked much controversy in recent years, as some breeders broke away from the Irish Draught Horse Breeders' Association to form another group known as the Irish Draught Horse Society Co-op.
There were angry exchanges between the groups and high court proceedings were threatened several times.
Earlier this year, the HSI cancelled the spring Irish draught mare inspections to provide breathing space to try and find an overall solution to the dispute.
About 800 breeders have remained part of the original breeders' association while it is believed that there are 200-300 members of the co-op.
However, the political controversy left a bad taste with many breeders, with some preferring to resign their membership of any representative organisation rather than choose between them.
Ironically, there appears to be little difference between the two groups in terms of how to preserve the breed attributes and protect it in the future.
The Irish draught horse is an active, short-shinned, powerful horse with substance and quality. It has a proud bearing, deep girth and strong back and quarters. It has an exceptionally strong and sound constitution and is known for its intelligence and docility.
There are approximately 95 Irish draught stallions currently standing at stud in Ireland, with some 1,000 mares actively breeding.
This is a vast improvement on the situation seven to 10 years ago when breeding mare numbers had dwindled to 600 and the breed was in danger of dying out.
The HSI taskforce includes Michael Duignan, Norman Storey, Pat Hanly, Alphonsus Gavigan, Timothy O'Regan, Charlotte Moore and Pat Gleeson.
The taskforce is expected to report to HSI before September 30 this year.
- Caitriona Murphy
