Describe the history of the Horse Board Co-Op and its current role in relation to Horse Sport Ireland?

It is important to realise that the Irish Horse Board (IHB) is a standalone legal entity and should not be confused with any other equestrian organisation or body. The IHB is technically a co-operative society or membership organisation that operates in line with Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) rules.

In the early 1990s, the IHB was set up to replace Bord na gCapall, which had been in-situ since 1970 as a semi-state body. The IHB had responsibility for the administration of the Irish Horse Register, or Irish Sport Horse and Irish Draught Horse studbooks, at that time on behalf of the Department of Agriculture.

Originally, the IHB also implemented Quality Improvement Schemes for the sport horse sector; was involved in promotion and marketing of Irish Sport Horses and assisted with equestrian training, education and tourism. In 2008, many of these functions were transferred to Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) and the role of the IHB was to advise HSI in matters of breeding and studbook policy, while holding five seats on the HSI Board of Directors. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is the ‘Competent Authority’ and ensures that all such equine studbook business is conducted in compliance with the relevant EU Zootechnical legislation and regulations.

What is the current role of the Horse Board Co-Op?

Currently, the IHB is affiliated to Horse Sport Ireland and provides nominees to represent various studbook interests on the Breeding and Production Advisory Council (BPAC) as part of the new HSI corporate structure. Presently, IHB board members occupy these roles, (it was deemed to be the appropriate interim response) for a two-year term that commenced with the formation of the BPAC in 2018.

BPAC nominations will arise in July 2020 again and all current IHB shareholders, whose membership renewal fees are in credit, are eligible to put themselves forward for a BPAC position. Details regarding theses developments will be made available in the coming weeks and interested individuals should consider making their intentions known to the IHB.

Is the Horse Board Co-Op still relevant to breeders or do breeders feel HSI implement breeding policy/handle foal registrations etc. instead?

The IHB Co-Op is and will remain relevant to breeders or primary producers of Irish sport horses, ponies and cobs. While HSI currently handles studbook administration and implements breeding policy, IHB members whose accounts are in credit receive discounted transaction fees on their registration fees.

For individual breeders with two or more mares breeding each year or two or more financial transactions, these fee arrangements can amount to considerable savings. Similarly, IHB members in good standing receive various HSI breeding related publications free of charge, such as the Stallion Book, Foal Book and Breeders Magazine.

What is the current status of the studbook licence?

As outlined above, HSI currently has responsibility for the administration of a number of studbooks (Irish Sport Horse) Irish Draught Horse; Irish Sport Pony and Irish Cob) on behalf of DAFM in line with current EU Animal (Equine) Breeding Regulations.

While the Indecon report 2017 recommended consideration that studbook administration – often referred to as the license – might be transferred back or returned to the IHB, no definitive decision has emerged in relation to this issue at this point in time.

And while it remains as possibly the only outstanding item to be dealt with from Indecon, it will be HSI and DAFM that ultimately make the final call in relation to the ‘status’ of the studbook licence. That said, the IHB is well-positioned to actively engage in any strategic development in relation to the studbook licence if or when any such requirement or opportunity arises.

How many meetings do Co-Op members have per annum?

As is the case normally with membership organisations, the IHB holds an AGM once in every year – typically in late November or early December. The AGM is open to all interested parties but only IHB members that have paid their current years membership fees are entitled to vote. Previously, the AGM has been held at different locations on a rotational basis associated with the five IHB Electoral Regions. More recently, the AGM has been held at a central location so that it is accessible by the majority of attendees within a reasonable commuting distance.

Unfortunately, the IHB AGM is often poorly attended, which is disappointing but it does offer stakeholders an opportunity to learn of developments and exchange views in relation to horse breeding matters. The Board of Directors attend between four and six board meetings on average during the year to discuss and deal with administrative issues associated with the normal managerial activities of the IHB, including financial, legal, operational and election matters, as part of the Co-op business.

In line with public health advice relating to holding group meetings of unrelated individuals and social distancing and ICOS operational guidelines regarding board meetings, the use of virtual meeting platforms and teleconferencing may be used in the future and negate the necessity for people to travel but instead participate from their own safe remote location.

Which regions will have elections this year?

In 2020, IHB election of Directors to the Board will occur in two regions – Region 2 (Tipperary, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny) where the seat currently held by Marion Hughes will be up for election; and Region 4 (Mayo, Galway, Clare) where the seat currently held by Kathleen Gielty-Cunney will also be up for election.

Both of the current incumbents are eligible for re-election and equally any IHB shareholder that has his/her annual membership fees paid prior to the 31st of May, 2020 could also put themselves forward for election as an IHB Director. Directors are elected for a four-year term in accordance with the rules of the society.

A standard nomination process is employed where intending candidates are nominated and seconded by current ‘paid-up’ members via ‘nomination form’ and the candidate is added to the ballot paper. Advertisements for the elections will appear shortly in both the Irish Farmers Journal and The Irish Field with the relevant details. Further information is available online, via the Irish Horse Board homepage.

Indeed, any individual interested in going forward for election or keen to cast their vote, but have not yet paid their IHB 2020 membership renewal fee, may still do so prior to May 31st through the IHB Online portal by simply logging in to the IHB Online and following the simple steps involved in the process.

Why is it important for breeders to support these elections?

Breeders should always engage and keep themselves appraised of current activity in their sector. The IHB needs enthusiastic members and interested, enlightened and committed people on the board to continually grow and develop with and for the sector.

Given the current COVID-19 global pandemic situation and potential after-effects that it may have on every aspect of human endeavour, this is the time for all good people to support the IHB elections for the benefit and betterment of an important sector of the Irish equine and equestrian landscape.