THERE is of course no time like the start of a new year to take stock of things, on a personal, business or indeed, a sectoral level.

Suffice to say it’s been an absolute rollercoaster of a year for Horse Sport Ireland, capped off by HSI’s recent announcement of hefty fee increases for 2023. Taken without consultation with its own Breeders’ Production and Advisory Council (BPAC), not surprisingly, that went down like a lead balloon within the industry to cap off its 2022.

This weekend’s mass meeting of affiliates to HSI represents a welcome opportunity to meet up, exchange views, and hopefully represent the start of a more open, fit for purpose relationship between the national governing body for equestrian sport and the key industry stakeholders. Invites have been issued to the affiliate organisations, Horse Sport Ireland, and political figures. There’s little to be gained by not showing up at the door at this stage of the game.

Our industry has enormous potential to grow - on the medals front, 2022 was a glittering, hugely successful year for Irish equestrian as our end of year reviews recently illustrated for our readers.

Are we making the most of our vibrant sector or not?

New heights or new lows?

We are also now well into the last quarter of the 10-year timeframe since the landmark Reaching New Heights Report was launched by then Minister for Agriculture and for Defence, Simon Coveney TD (FG), outlining a blueprint strategy for the future development of the Irish equestrian sector (2015-2025).

We are just two years out from 2025 now, has the Report’s main goals been achieved? Has its many recommendations been implemented or fallen quietly by the wayside?

What too are the possible future implications for the Horse Sport Ireland fees hike for the ISH Studbook, the Irish Draught Studbook, and beyond?

(See News pages 84-85).