MADAM,

I wrote a while ago suggesting that the suffix ISH or the description of a horse as ‘Irish Sport Horse’ was being misused. The success of Irish-bred horses in eventing has led to more and more of this incorrect classification.

With the help of the USEA registration database and the Irish Horse Register (IHR), I looked at a group of 15 horses that were repeatedly incorrectly claiming to be ‘Irish’. Neither the sires (14 claiming to be ISH and one ID), nor the dams, were on the IHR. These dams are a variety of various breeds including an American Appaloosa. They are owned by a variety of different people, but have retained their original prefix. It is wrong because these owners may think they have an Irish horse when in fact they do not.

While I accept that the ISH is a breed code with many different ‘breeds’ within it (some might say too many), any claimant to the suffix ISH or a horse described as Irish Sport Horse must have both been born in Ireland and be on the Irish Horse Register. It tells the horse world that the animal was bred in Ireland, by those who for years have bred a horse that is everything an eventer should be. Why then should anyone be permitted to use this suffix or describe a horse as Irish when it so clearly isn’t?

While it is a compliment to the Irish breeders of today and those in the past, that people want to be associated – albeit wrongly – with ‘Irishness’, something should be done to stop any misuse and dilution of this most valuable suffix.

I am sure that there will be plenty of reasons why nothing gets done but for the sake of the Irish breeders, it must be done and done soon. Sadly, I am too far down the food chain, but we must hope this task will not prove too much for those with the power and influence, to get it done – for Ireland and the Irish breeders. Ordinary owners, breeders and horse lovers need it to be done – an extraordinary person must get it done.

Yours etc,

Charlie Ripman,

Co Tipperary