SOME 36 stallions are entered for Horse Sport Ireland’s reinstated stallion inspections, which will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday at Cavan Equestrian Centre.

In a last-ditch bid to boost footfall at this year’s inspections, which have been a heated topic since their initial suspension was mooted last November, HSI also announced details on Thursday afternoon of a new breeders seminar.

This will be held as part of the 16th annual National Stallion Parade, which takes place at 7pm on the second day of inspections at Cavan (Wednesday, 20th April).

The guest speakers for the seminar include Maurice Coleman and Jack Doyle, from the HSI stallion inspection panel, plus event horse breeder William Micklem and agent, Richard Sheane.

According to the HSI website, the panel will discuss the model and type of horse required for the modern show jumping and eventing markets. A demonstration on linear profiling for both type horses will be held, followed by a discussion on how this information can assist breeders in stallion selection.

Next week’s inspections could be the final time this format, first introduced in 2011, is followed, if HSI’s proposal for a new system in 2017 goes ahead.

However, there was overwhelming support for retaining the current inspection system at a meeting held last Sunday. Some 45 stallion owners and breeders from various Irish Draught organisations, the Traditional Irish Horse Association and Stallion Owners Society were present at the Athlone gathering.

The Irish Draught societies represented including the IDHBA, IDHS(NI), IWIDHO and representatives from daughter societies in Great Britain and Canada.

Proposals for a new stallion inspection system were criticised as lacking “mandate, justification and policy” and showing scant regard for both studbook management and the Irish Draught as an endangered breed.

All the organisations urged breeders to lobby the Irish Horse Board and Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine to retain the current system, with the Irish Draught module based on the recommendations of the breed’s 2010 Taskforce findings.

The fact that Irish Draught stallion owners have ironically been the largest group to support the inspections is underlined again in this year’s entries. Of the 36 candidates, 20 are Irish Draughts, while 14 Irish Sport Horses and two pony stallions complete this year’s inspection line-up which begins next Tuesday morning at 9am.

There is, for the first time, no thoroughbred entered for this year’s inspections and the absence of new thoroughbred prospects could be a matter of concern to traditional breeders.

The selection process includes conformation, movement and athleticism assessment, using linear profiling. Sport horse stallions will be assessed jumping under saddle on the second afternoon and successful candidates can also take part in the stallion parade that evening.

Horse Sport Ireland is encouraging breeders to attend the April inspections with Alison Corbally, HSI Director of Breeding and Programmes saying: “This year’s stallion parade and breeder seminar is a must for breeders that want to expand their knowledge of available stallions, market requirements and use of linear profiling in making decisions. There is no entrance fee for the event and I hope as many breeders as possible will attend”.