WITHOUT doubt Ireland’s 15,000 sport horse breeders are the backbone of the Irish sport horse industry, which is worth close to €1 billion to the country’s economy.

More than ever, it’s essential that the wheels of the breeding industry keep turning as it is the cornerstone that our vibrant equestrian sector is built on, the vital cog in that wheel.

The competition side of the industry may currently be paralysed by the Covid-19 restrictions, but thankfully, with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine allowing the movement of horses to continue domestically, the 2020 breeding season is progressing, albeit at a slower pace than usual given the current circumstances, combined with our old foe of Brexit.

It’s business as usual at Horse Sport Ireland’s breeding department with the major services such as registration readily available.

We may be living and working in jittery times but the only certainty for us all is that this uncertain time will pass.

Ireland is known the world over as a nation that can and does breed and produce good horses – there will always be a ready market and a job waiting for a well-bred Irish horse or pony that ticks the boxes for the key attributes of rideability, soundness and temperament.

In our main markets of the UK, Europe and North America, prospective buyers and agents are engaged in a near endless search for quality horses and ponies that are fit for purpose. Good horses and ponies are increasingly hard to find. The perennial dream that every breeder has of breeding a good one are matched by the innate passion, knowledge, commitment and dedication of generations of stallion-keepers and breeders alike.

There is an ever-growing amount of data available to breeders to aid mating plans on paper and all similar tools should be utilised to the full. This breeding season could see more Irish stallions being used and the top advice from expert breeders, is to go and look at stallions in the flesh where possible. Talk to the stallion-keepers, get their advice as to which horse will better suit your mare, speak to other breeders and to riders.

Milestone anniversary

This year The Irish Field celebrates its 150th anniversary milestone and in those 150 years, our nation’s extraordinary affinity with the horse has been through many bumps along the road. As a people, we have collectively overcome centuries of economic and social repression, survived mass emigration, famine times, political uncertainty, decades of high unemployment and the more recent rollercoaster boom-to-bust years.

Our country, like so many others, is currently in the grip of a cruel pandemic that has caused thousands of untimely deaths and financial upheaval, turning economies on their head across the globe.

Already, we have achieved much as a country, acting in almost complete unison, to take much of the sting out of Covid-19’s indiscriminate barb.

Our country has seen tough – and tougher – times before and while we are where we currently are, we are all in this together. The future health of our industry is in our hands. Horses are in our national DNA. So enjoy making those plans for this year’s breeding season – it’s high time to get on top of that curve!

Cruising clones

Hartwell Stud’s Cruising clones Cruising Encore (ISH)(TIH) and Crusing Arish (ISH)(TIH) at home

The Swedish Curators

Susan Finnerty interviews renowned breeder Ann Gustavii who gives her views on Irish-breds

Mating plans

Judith Faherty chats to some well-known breeders about their plans for the 2020 season

Kinmar going places

Judith Faherty talks to breeder Gerry Marron

Veterinary

Isabel Hurley reports on some of the latest equine reproductive developments

HSI Championships

An opportunity to showcase as well as gaining insight

Business as usual

HSI’s Alison Corbally advises breeders on initiatives

Dressage queen

Judith Faherty features the breeding of Heike Holstein’s home-bred Sambuca

Covid-19 advice

Judith Faherty condenses the top advice on coronavirus

Knowledge is power

Know your numbers – Teagasc equine specialist Wendy Conlon advises on foal production costs

Breeding to win

Emer Bermingham talks to four riders who bred their own show jumper for the amateur circuit

Stallion listings

Comprehensive listings of sires to suit every mare

Editor: Isabel Hurley. Assistant editor: Judith Faherty. Contributors: Susan Finnerty; director of breeding at Horse Sport Ireland; Alison Corbally; Teagasc equine specialist Wendy Conlon; Emer Bermingham.

Cover image: Hartwell Stud’s Cruising Encore, photographed by Lorraine O’Sullivan. Advertising: Brendan McArdle, Niamh McCarthy and Mary Gordon. Production: Domhnall Dervan, Niall Connolly and Anthony Murphy.

Picture desk: Philip Doyle and Jerome Dunne Photography: Lorraine O’Sullivan; Laurence Dunne of Jumpinaction.net; Siobhan English Photography Printed by: The Irish Times