Warmblood Studbook of Ireland

Madam,

There are several points in last week’s article concerning the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland that require clarification.

The General Assembly of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses, not the FEI’s General Assembly, recently ratified WSI’s full membership in the WBFSH. The FEI is not involved in this process.

WSI has been fully approved since March 2009, when the Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries granted approval and a license to manage the Irish Warmblood breed.

Membership in the WBFSH does not carry an approval, as the WBFSH is a voluntary trade association, akin to IBEC or the Chamber of Commerce.

WSI now looks forward to seeing Irish Warmbloods compete in the World Breeding Championships in show jumping and eventing. The directors of WSI hope that HSI’s almost six year policy of discrimination against and exclusion of WSI and Irish Warmbloods is soon repealed as this will best serve the interests of sport and breeding in Ireland.

Yours etc,

Thomas Reed, Warmblood Studbook of Ireland, 14 Carrowgar, Ogonnelloe, Scarriff, Co Clare.