THE announcement of Mullingar Equestrian Centre (MEC) as Ireland’s nominated host for a future leg of the Longines EEF Series was somewhat overshadowed by a letter sent from Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) to the venue last week pointing out critical comments MEC representatives have made about HSI in the past.
In the letter, sighted by The Irish Field after being widely circulated in the public domain, HSI CEO Denis Duggan said that while MEC met a number of the operational and infrastructural requirements to host a Nations Cup, he quoted comments made by Robert Fagan and Pat McCartan at a joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture hearing in October 2024.
He said the comments “reflect a consistent and public position that questions the legitimacy, leadership, and capability of the National Federation.”
The letter also noted MEC’s involvement in promoting ‘HSI V2’, a proposed alternative High Performance equestrian sport federation to HSI.
The letter said these comments “go beyond critique; they reflect a sustained public position that questions the very legitimacy, competence, and strategic leadership of the National Federation (HSI).”
The letter stated that the dynamic of “good standing” appears to be “compromised in both directions”.
It ended by asking the venue owners and event organisers to clarify whether they maintained the views previously expressed regarding the governance and leadership of HSI, as well as their willingness to work constructively with HSI in planning the series, should the application be successful.
Response from MEC
A response from Mullingar, also seen by The Irish Field and signed by Pat McCartan, said it was surprised by the negative tone and content of HSI’s letter.
“When an individual, or a representative of a sector of the sport horse industry in this country, is invited to appear before a Government Committee, that individual should tell the truth as they perceive it, without fear of any subsequent consequence or threat.
“No adverse comments were made against any individuals at HSI, yet, in your response to our submission of the EOI, you have clearly taken personal offence to our comments regarding the modus operandi of HSI.”
The response continued: “Let us be absolutely clear: we stand by the comments made in public forums regarding the shortcomings of Horse Sport Ireland. Those statements were – and remain – rooted in a deep concern for the strategic stagnation, apparent lack of leadership and a worrying disconnect between HSI and the wider equestrian community.
“Criticism is not disloyalty. Transparency is not misconduct. Challenging poor governance is not a breach of ethics – it is a duty. Since when has the core rights of a citizen of Ireland to free speech and right of association become the concern of HSI?”
The letter continued: “We remain committed to the advancement of Irish equestrian sport. That includes hosting world-class events, welcoming international athletes, and upholding the standards expected by the FEI and EEF. We are willing and able to do so, on terms that respect mutual accountability, not enforced submission. If Horse Sport Ireland equates “good standing” with silent compliance, then the problem lies not with us, but with your definition of good governance.”