THE ‘Young Breeder Training Programme’ is resuming active training on performance sport horse breeding and production farms around the country. Teagasc facilitate the training alongside industry trainers including Andrew Hughes, Jack Doyle, Philip Scott, and Tiernan Gill who, without exception, are extremely generous in their sharing of knowledge. The programme is supported by Horse Sport Ireland (Irish Sport Horse studbook) and Department of Agriculture Food and Marine.
What is the Young Breeders’ Training Programme?
The programme includes training days and, usually every other year, a National Competition with opportunity for selection to represent the Irish Sport Horse Studbook at World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses Young Breeder World Championships. Participants can attend some, or all, training sessions delivered around the country.
Do you have to be a breeder to participate?
Training is accessible to all young horse lovers in the age group 15-25 years. The vision is to train the breeders, and industry contributors of the future, while providing opportunity to network with other like-minded people, and maybe even meeting new lifelong friends. However, participants do not have to be breeders or even necessarily come from an equestrian background. An avid interest and an eagerness to participate and learn is all that is required.
What will participants learn about?
Training focuses on assessing conformation and athleticism (movement and jump) traits of sport horses. Trainers share their insights, while also encouraging participants to get involved in the conversation. Every effort is made to visit farms with modern performance sport horse types which will educate participants not only on how to assess the detailed aspects of conformation and athleticism, but also suitable types to breed, trade, produce and so on.
Those opting to enter competition also complete a theory test on aspects of husbandry and knowledge of the sport (showjumping, eventing and dressage); and present a horse/pony in hand.
At World Championships, teams also demonstrate their equine turnout skills. Following national competition a select group undergo further training and selection to identify the eight team members who represent the ISH Studbook at World Championships (four juniors 15 to 19 years of age; and four seniors 20 to 25 years of age). Not all who train compete, so we would love to see more take the plunge.
When are the next competitions?
The ISH Young Breeders National Championships is usually the first step in the qualification/selection process for team participation at the Young Breeder World Championships. The hope is to schedule National Championships in 2022. WBFSH Young Breeder World Championships are planned for July 7th-9th 2022 in Ermelo, Holland at the home of the KNHS, the National Sports Federation of The Netherlands, and KWPN Studbook. Lots of events are organised at the KNHS like the WBFSH Dressage World Championships for Young Horses, National Championships and the KWPN Championships.
Where is the national training happening?
Training days at stud farms and production yards around the country provide a fantastic opportunity to engage with some of the best in the business. All training days for the remainder of 2021 are scheduled on Saturdays from 10.30am to 3.30pm.
On October 30th the venue is Hughes Horse Stud, home of international show jumper, breeder and producer Marion Hughes and not far from Kilkenny city. Andrew Hughes will join Wendy Conlon Teagasc to facilitate training, ably assisted by Brendan Doyle and his team in presenting a selection of HHS horses.
On November 20th Andrea Etter welcomes young breeders to Belmont House Stud in Co Offaly where she breeds, produces and trades the ‘B’ horses and has demonstrated a flair for sourcing and breeding stallions. Tiernan Gill will join participants on this occasion.
December 11th brings young breeders to Global Event Horses near Mallow in Co Cork where international event rider Brian Morrison and business partner Christopher Hunt produce and trade high quality event horses. Philip Scott is the mentor for this visit.
Are there incentives to get involved?
On October 30th; November 20th and December 11th, generously supported by HSI, the following individuals will be identified:
Also the highest ranked junior and senior attending all three days based on cumulative combination of scores in conformation and athleticism assessment will be identified. Based on these selection criteria tailored educational experiences for both age groups will be awarded:
Juniors (15-19 years of age) will attend Cooley Farm in Glenealy Co Wicklow.
Seniors (20-25 years of age) will attend Ballypatrick Stables near Thurles Co Tipperary.
The 'Young Breeder Training Programme' offers all young people (15-25 years, interested in sport horse breeding to learn from the experts
Pre-booking to attend training is essential https://bit.ly/YoungBreederEvents or contact wendy.conlon@teagasc.ie
What do young breeders say about the programme?
Vera O’Callaghan, Macroom, Co Cork: “Participation in the programme has given me great confidence to judge the horse in front of me. I’ve also made a network of contacts all over Ireland and even kept in contact with young breeders based overseas.”
Conor Wixted, Sixemilebridge, Co Clare: credits “training without doubt stood to me during the Irish Shows Association judge’s assessment” and “a chance to visit some of the top breeders and producers alongside experienced and generous trainers, provided a source of invaluable information you wouldn’t get anywhere else.”
Nicole Groyer, Naul, Co Dublin says “the programme has opened up so many doors for me and I have made some great friends.” She is also grateful to the trainers “who take the time to explain what they see through their eyes and discuss with us.”
David Bourke, Enniskerry Horse Farm, Co Wicklow appreciates “the confidence and tool kit (gained) to objectively assess his stock, stand back and be critical”. Contacts across Europe with young people he met at the World Championships in 2009 have “sustained to this day.”
Melissa Glynn, Crannaghmore, Co Roscommon is “grateful for the network of connections with trainers and other contributors, including farm hosts” and training “really benefited my critical thinking and how to assess each horse I look at carefully. The practical experience of showing in-hand was really beneficial”.
David Browne, Castledermot, Co Kilkenny says training “fed my enquiring mind, while also giving me the confidence to ask questions and look for guidance. I learned an awful lot from the many horses assessed on training and competition days with the guidance and feedback from trainers.”
Dan Geaney, Castleisland, Co Kerry concedes “it was challenging at times when we had to vocalise our thoughts in the group and with the trainers, but the only way to learn is to speak up and ask questions. The more you ask the more you learn, it’s very important to do that.”
Sharon Mannion, ‘Windgap Stud’ Doon, Co Offaly describes “a huge amount of valuable experiences and information through the various yard visits, talks and training sessions and the next generation are indebted to these yards, the trainers and organisers”.
Sarah Brashaw, Newtownards, Co Down says “the programme impacted my life hugely. I am now breeding my own sport horses with my own mares and stallions which has been a life goal that I now have the confidence and knowledge to embark on.”
You can read more about these young breeder participants at https://bit.ly/YoungBreederParticipants