THE use of foreign-bred stallions has increased by 10% in the last decade according to Horse Sport Ireland’s Irish Sport Horse Report published this week.

Compiled by geneticist Dr Jennifer Doyle, the report provides a data-led overview of the Irish Sport Horse population, in line with the second priority of HSI’s Strategic Plan. This is to optimise genetics, genomic insight and performance data to strengthen breeding excellence, highlighting continued progress in the application of genomic and data-driven tools to support sustainable breeding and selection decisions.

The Irish Sport Horse (ISH) breed originated during the 1920s, when breeders began to cross Irish Draughts with thoroughbreds to produce versatile, athletic horses. The Irish Sport Horse Studbook was established in 1974 to support the development of this emerging population, which has since evolved into a genetically diverse sport horse population through the inclusion of warmblood genetics.

The breeding objective of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook is the continual improvement of a sound, athletic and rideable horse with good movement, temperament and longevity, capable of excelling in the Olympic disciplines of show jumping and eventing. Breeders appear to be meeting this objective, as the report records 2,263 Irish Sport Horses registered with the FEI to compete internationally by the end of this July.

Typically, approximately 5,000 Irish Sport Horse foals are born every year, although in line with other WBFSH studbooks, there has been a slight decrease in recent years due to the pressure of inflation and the associated increase in costs.

Key findings of the Irish Sport Horse Report include:

  • 4,245 ISH foals are registered with a 2025 date of birth, although these figures may continue to grow due to late registrations.
  • 789 stallions contributed to the 2025 ISH foal population.
  • 44% of ISH foals born in 2016 were born to foreign (warmblood) sires, which has increased to 54% in 2025.
  • The average thoroughbred percentage of 2025 foals is 43%.
  • The average thoroughbred percentage of ISH horses registered with the FEI for eventing in 2026 is 50%.
  • 23% of ISH foals were born to ISH stallions in 2025.
  • 72% of ISH foals were born to ISH dams in 2025.