WITH Storm Isha gathering pace in the west, the Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA) AGM in Portlaoise was a thorough but swiftly-ran event to allow attendees to get home promptly.
Despite the dire weather warnings, chairman Kevin Noone addressed a roomful in his opening statement when he welcomed the TIHA president Hugh Leonard and praised both his fellow Council members for their unpaid contribution and members, whose annual membership fee was a vital part of the association’s budget.
Summarising the previous year, Noone listed the TIHA’s affiliation to Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), an updated TIHA website, which includes a list of traditional breeders, a new marketing booklet, “The Irish Horse Board paid for the printing,” and their flagship event, the performance championships hosted at Mullingar Equestrian Centre last September.
“We’ve held several meetings with HSI. I have to say the meetings are a pleasure. We mightn’t have always got everything we wanted, but if you don’t get it, there’s generally a reason given to you why you haven’t received it and that’s understandable. Our wish list would be quite large, so we’re never going to get everything we want,” stated Noone, adding that HSI’s sponsorship had increased from €900 in 2021 to €8,000 in 2023.
He also noted that entries had doubled from 2022 to last year’s performance championship at Mullingar, sponsored by HSI, Westmeath County Council and Tattersalls.
Pippa Funnell and Maja's Hope (ISH, TIH) at Badminton Horse Trials 2023
In the unavoidable absence of treasurer Jim Cooke, Jennifer Haverty presented the TIHA’s 2022 financial accounts, audited by David O’Sullivan Associates, Westport. Sponsorship (€25,480) and membership fees (€5,525) were the main contributors to the association’s income of €31,295 while show costs (€11,912) were the main outgoings from the overall expenditure of €17,983.
“To keep building the TIH community” was one goal of secretary Louise Leonard, who said that the TIHA membership had increased 100% in the past year and repeated the chairman’s message that “We’re always an email or phone call away”.
The ever-young Irish Sport Horse Flexible and Rich Fellers in action at the London 2012 Olympic Games
Noone, Liam Lynskey and Chris Ryan were re-elected to the Council.
Once the AGM was opened to the floor, David Cosby expressed his disappointment at the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association information stand being priced out of Dublin Horse Show.
“If the Royal Dublin Society are able to offer such enormous prize money to the show jumping winners, it is not beyond the remit of the management to at least accommodate the breeders’ associations, of which there are few. In doing so, they would do honour to their insignia, Minerva and the breeders. I repeat, these are not trade stands and, with a little foresight, it is perfectly possible for the Royal Dublin Society to construct in a conspicuous place, stands to accommodate the native Irish breeds, so that these associations can promote that which they represent,” he said, reading out a letter on the matter.
The cost and shortage of people to man its stand were two reasons why the TIHA no longer had a stand at Dublin, explained Kevin Noone. Eileen Brennan, the doyenne of the Irish Draught world and face of the IDHBA stand at Dublin, said that she had been in contact with the RDS president John Dardis and had been invited to a meeting on this matter.
Other options suggested included a Horse Village for breed societies or to liase with the Irish Horse Board, as it had operated a successful stand in Simmonscourt during last year’s Horse Show.
Numbers game
That horse breeding is a ‘numbers game’ with popular stallions having an increased chance of producing successful performers, the difficulty some overseas buyers have in distinguishing traditional Irish horses with green passports now issued to all denominations of Irish Sport Horses and the issue of outcross stallions, with examples given from thoroughbred, Holstein and traditional lines, were all issues raised from the floor.
Another example of dwindling TIH numbers was the observation that only three out of 95 entries in last year’s Monart Sale were traditionally-bred.
Similarly, in response to a query about how many payments were made in the latest round of the TIHA performance mare scheme, Noone replied that 27 mares had entered the scheme and to date, five payments had been made, adding that that figure could be updated as mare owners receive foal passports, a prerequisite of the scheme.
Difficult conditions, weatherwise and ahead for traditional breeders, but at the end of an amicable AGM of an association operating on a shoestring budget, there was the widely-held feeling that the TIH is in good hands.
What they said
“These stands are not, and I repeat, not tradestands. They are in essence, an arm of the Royal Agricultural Society, which is incorporated in the Royal Dublin Society. My grandfather, along with others, went through great lengths to improve and promote the improvement of the native Irish horse. These people I’m sure, would not have permitted what would appear to be excessive commercialism on the part of the Royal Dublin Society at the expense of the breeders.”
David Cosby.
“The reality is that there’s a fourth line now [in addition to Clover Hill, Cruising and King of Diamonds], which is the Imperius line, because Master Imp and Puissance have been such good stallions. Master Imp particularly has a high number forward and Puissance has quite a few as well. The Imperius line is more of an issue than the King of Diamonds line, because King of Diamonds only appears generally now in the fourth to sixth generations.”
Seamus Davis.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to work with them [TIHA Council]. It’s just positive attitude people and if there’s a job to be done, people just want to do it.”
Kevin Noone.
“It [HSI stallion book] was a very, very easy document to flip through. I’m sorry, I might be a Neanderthal, but trying to look up stallions on the internet just doesn’t suit me, unfortunately. And I don’t think I’d be the only one, who doesn’t get an internet signal in the cave either!”
John Watson.
By the numbers
*€31,295 - TIHA income (2022).
*€25,755 - annual minimum wage salary (2024).
*€25 - TIHA annual membership fee.
Sam Watson, John Watson, William Micklem, Chris Ryan and Joan Bateman of the TIHA in 2012 when the association was relaunched \ Susan Finnerty
Twelve years on ...
IN his Breeders’ 10 feature last week, chairman Kevin Noone mentioned a TIHA roadshow meeting that took place in Ballinasloe in January 2012. Looking back through the photo archives produced this one of five TIH ambassadors at that meeting. A dozen years on, three questions for this group of five:
Sam Watson
1. This is the weakest area for me, as an observer. I believe the TIH has magnificent qualities, and it should be this group that designs the test, which highlights and showcases these qualities. They are an intelligent, athletic and durable animal.
This would be perfect for cross-country that is great fun - testing stamina, bravery, footwork, athleticism, intelligence, concentration and stamina. Many other breeds do not possess these qualities in such plentiful supply.
The loose jumping and young horse classes rarely test or showcase any of these qualities.
I would encourage you to team up with Eventing Ireland and use their venues to create a more suitable test for younger horses.
Don’t be afraid of length, undulations, footwork - the fancy warmblood horses thrive on flatter, shorter and more simple tracks where they can flex their powerful muscles and show off their exuberance.
A series that plays to the TIH strengths will not only be more suitable to identify five-star potential (where we see numbers dying now because we have been doing it the wrong way and producing the wrong horses), but it will benefit your breeders by highlighting the qualities of their horses, (reaping better financial reward) and it will be more exciting and fun to both ride and watch.
2. My proudest achievement is becoming world number 7 (2019), the highest ranking achieved by an Irish event rider, and doing so with exclusively TIH horses (as I have done my whole career). This included the team silver at the world championships with Ardagh Highlight (2018).
3. I continue to put my faith and my future career in the TIH breed. I hope more riders and breeders continue to do the same. We are over the toughest point regarding the sport’s perception of what an event horse is. Riders are coming back to us.
They have tried to carry the dressage horses around five-stars, but now they want the natural cross-country stars back.
Sam Watson and Horseware Ardagh Highlight (ISH, TIH) at the 2018 World Equestrian Games \ Tomas Holcbecher
Chris Ryan
1. Identification of the TIH and its unique registration, within the ISH Sport Horse Studbook, as (ISH)(TIH). This has been the foundation of all the subsequent work from the TIHA in protecting, conserving and promoting the TIH.
Following a detailed submission from the TIHA, reference in the “Reaching New Heights” sport horse roadmap, advocating the importance of the TIH and the need to “establish a development programme” (ref R.1 in Reaching New Heights). Developing a TIH Performance Mare Scheme. Establishing a TIH class at the RDS, Limerick, Mullingar and numerous shows throughout the country and in addition, awarding TIH sashes to the highest-placed TIHs in open classes. Presentations at Dublin Horse Show to the breeders of the top international performing TIH. Affiliation to Horse Sport Ireland.
2. Lenamore, McKinlaigh, Mandiba and High Kingdom have been great ambassadors and more recently, the perennial five-star top performers: Alfies Clover and Away Cruising, but how amazing was Burghley last year with Oughterard Cooley in fifth place, Majas Hope in sixth, Arklow Puissance in eighth and SAP Talisman in 13th.
Grantstown Jackson and Master Point had excellent five-star debuts last year. When you consider the size of the TIH gene pool, this is extraordinary.
In show jumping, Flexible, winning the Longines World Cup Final and the United States Equestrian Federation ‘Horse of the Year’ title to include an individual 8th placing in the 2012 London Olympics; Oldtown KC and Hallowberry Cruz and some great 1.60m horses ex TIH mares, such as James Kann Cruz and ABC Quantum Cruise.
3. Continue to conserve and promote the TIH at home and to bring our message abroad. We have such a unique selling point (USP) .
To build up our finances to further reward our TIH breeders and owners.
To assist in the development of top outcrosses to the excellent Cruising, Clover Hill and Imperius bloodlines.
Wills Oakden and Oughterard Cooley (ISH, TIH) at the 2022 Burghley Horse Trials
William Micklem
1. The fundamental achievement, for all registered traditional Irish foals from 2017 onwards, was the acceptance, recognition and use of TIH in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook and passports, to create the category ISH(TIH).
This has led to a better understanding and value of the Traditional Irish Horse in sport and breeding and an increasing awareness of the need to support and preserve this unique genetic heritage.
2. It is impossible not to be personal here. In 2012, my home-bred High Kingdom (a full-brother of the WBFSH 2010 Event Horse of the Year Mandiba and my stallion Jackaroo) was on the British silver medal winning team at the London Olympics, ridden by Zara Phillips.
There was little between the top teams after dressage and the challenge in the cross-country was to make the time over the undulating, slippery and twisting terrain of the golf course venue.
The British chef d’équipe Yogi Breisner briefed them before the cross-country to go with the three F’s...Fast, Furious and Fearless! Zara and High Kingdom were the epitome of his words, clear inside the time, with High Kingdom showing the sheer beauty of a horse galloping and jumping with ease and enthusiasm.
My tears of joy were repeated the following day in the show jumping when the Olympic course designer Richard Jeffery said that he was the one horse in the competition who was a real jumper. He finished all his 5* events in the top-10 individually.
Sam Watson has a Jackaroo, who may well be able to repeat his uncle’s success. Great memories and great dreams to power a breeding life.
3. I look forward to the work of Professor Emmeline Hill, on the genetics of the TIH, coming to fruition. It is going to open up the possibility of identifying Traditional Irish Horses that may have missed out previously on identification, and in addition proving that the TIH has unique genes that provide both mental and physical performance advantages.
This will be a key tool going forwards to enhance the longterm commercial success of the TIH.
In The Rolex Ribbons: William with Zara Tindall and High Kingdom, the second of High Dolly’s Olympic horses, after the pair finished third at Rolex Kentucky in 2017 \ Susan Finnerty
John Watson
1. ISH (TIH) is now widely recognised and TIH has become part of the Irish equestrian vernacular.
2. Most important achievement has been by a TIH supporter rather than a horse, (i.e. Sam). This was the latest scoring system review of eventing by the FEI, still under review, including to the extent of an admission just last week by FEI Eventing Committee, “We have the wrong horses competing at five-star”.
In my day, we tried to teach dressage to cross-country horses for which rider education was needed.
Today, the sport is trying to teach cross-country to dressage horses, as well as to dressage riders.
3. A stand-alone TIH breed code and studbook where Alpha-specimens are selected and promoted by the Association for the good of the breed and not for the aim of egalitarianism of the membership.
Wake-up admission that the Olympic Equestrian Team format is an un-mitigated sporting disaster.
Social licence (not just in equestrianism), is the tail wagging the dog and until ‘society’ cops on, it is sliding down a slippery slope of un-reality.
The Top TIH filly in the three-year-old filly loose jumping at Warrington EC in November 2023 \ laurence dunne jumpinaction.net
Joan Bateman
1. In 2017, all TIH foals registered in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook were categorised as “Traditional Irish Horse Category ISH(TIH). This has been a huge step forward for the TIH. As a result, people have a much better understanding of what a TIH is and its unique characteristics. Buyers are very pleased with the clarity this has provided, particularly foreign buyers.
The TIHA has worked hard at growing its membership over the years, which has allowed us to run various schemes and programmes for breeders and producers around the country. This, in turn, has helped us broaden our reach in building a “TIH community” at home and abroad, something we in the TIHA are very proud of.
2. Irish-bred horses, in particular traditional Irish bloodlines, came to the fore at Badminton Horse Trials in 2023. From a starting field of 85 horses, a total of 24 were Irish-bred and 22 represented the Irish Sport Horse studbook, for riders representing Ireland, Great Britain, the United States of America, and New Zealand.
For me, the stand-out ones were Pippa Funnell’s traditionally-bred gelding Maja’s Hope (ISH) (TIH), and Oughterard Cooley (ISH)(TIH). Maja’s Hope has successfully completed CC15* events at Bicton (GBR) [Burghley’s stand-in in 2021], Burghley (GBR), and Kentucky (USA). Jack Murphy and Gerry Lynch, the breeders of these animals, must be congratulated.
3. Looking forward, I hope TIHA will do everything in its power to increase the herd of quality TIHs and ring-fence TIH bloodlines to ensure they are there for future generations.