ON her return from a trade mission to the Gulf States with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Michael Creed, Elaine Hatton opened the Horse Sport Ireland International Marketing Symposium on Thursday conference with a clear message – there is a high demand for Irish horses that are produced, packaged and marketed correctly.

Hatton, HSI director of International Marketing, revealed the results of a recent HSI survey which showed that international buyers are travelling to Ireland to source event horses (67%), show jumpers (40%) and hunters (31%). Temperament remains the most important factor for those buyers, followed by conformation and rising standards.