Breeders and others will have a great opportunity to see behind the scenes of the Irish Equine Centre on Wednesday week. It is not a unique opportunity as the centre welcomes guests at all times, but this is an open day when all are invited to come and see what they do.

The Irish Equine Centre is an important bulwark for the industry. What has been an issue for some years has been sustaining it, as the work it carries out is costly. Funding of the IEC is a full-time preoccupation in itself and the facility at Johnstown has had to change with the years.

The centre is a beneficiary of the Foal Levy and, as such, has come under more public scrutiny and questioning in recent years. Sarah McNicholas, its chief executive, understands this and has endeavoured to make the IEC and its work even more accountable and transparent. Her actions have not always met with universal acclaim, but it is a case of not being able to please everyone.

While it receives grants by means of the Foal Levy, the majority of its income is garnered from the charges it makes for day-to-day diagnostic services.

It is a not-for-profit organisation and has as a mission the provision of an insurance policy for the equine industry. This is not always appreciated, and it is only at the time of a disease outbreak when that work is fully appreciated.

FEEDBACK

On a visit to Newmarket this week I was somewhat surprised to find a number of people bringing up the subject of the Plus 10 scheme independently and without prompting. I heard a number of different views expressed. Have you got something to say about the scheme, its value and the operation of it? Have you benefited from it? If so, I would love to hear from you. Please email me and let me know your thoughts at leopowell@theirishfield.ie

SUPPORTING BREEDERS

For the 11th year Connolly’s Red Mills has agreed to support the Breeder of the Month competition in The Irish Field. With a decade under our belt, we have decided to change the voting procedure to make it even more widely available. From today there is no cost involved, just go online at www.theirishfield.ie/vote and make your choice.