LAST week, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) published the 2026 Traditional Irish Horse (TIH) report, which is an updated version of the original TIH Genetic Diversity Report released in 2025. Compiled by geneticist Dr Jennifer Doyle, the document provides a comprehensive and up to date analysis of the genetics, population structure and reproductive trends within the TIH breeding herd.

The TIH category was introduced to the Irish Sport Horse (ISH) studbook in 2017, in order to differentiate between traditionally-bred horses with only Irish breeding in their back pedigrees, and Irish Sport Horses bred from continental bloodlines. To be eligible for TIH classification, horses must be registered in the Main Section of the ISH Studbook, and have only ISH, Irish Draught, thoroughbred and Connemara Pony breeding recorded in their pedigrees, with no foreign ancestors.

The key findings of the report are as follows:

  • There were 667 TIH foals born in 2025, though this number continues to grow due to late registrations.
  • 53% of these were born to TIH dams.
  • The average percentage of thoroughbred blood among active TIH sires is 56%.
  • Irish Draught stallions are the most common sires of TIH foals.
  • 81% of TIH foals born in 2025 have full recorded breeding going back four generations.
  • The average inbreeding coefficient of TIH foals born in 2025 is 0.47%, which supports population genetic diversity.

    • HSI encourages breeders to begin the registration process for their foals within the first month of birth to support accurate population monitoring and maximise the value of these data-driven tools. It is a legal requirement to register foals within a year of birth, and foals not registered within this time frame have a higher cost associated with their registration and are automatically stamped out of the food chain. Late registration also makes reports like this one more difficult to produce.

    HSI will recommend a genomic-based TIH designation route within the studbook to the DAFM, based on research soon to be presented to the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. This development would enable horses that meet the genetic profile of a TIH to be included in the designation, while maintaining the integrity of these traditional bloodlines. The intention is that this move would support the population of the TIH herd, improve data accuracy and ensure that breeding decisions are informed by both pedigree and genomic insights.

    The report’s author, Dr Jennifer Doyle, commented: “This report highlights the continued strength of the Traditional Irish Horse population, underpinned by its cross-bred structure and strong foundations in Irish bloodlines. The consistently low levels of inbreeding, combined with improving pedigree completeness, demonstrate the effectiveness of current breeding practices in maintaining genetic diversity. While recent foal registration numbers show some decline, this is influenced by late registrations, and the overall trends point to a resilient population. The sustained use of Irish Draught stallions and the balanced Thoroughbred contribution reflect the enduring value of traditional breeding systems in producing versatile, quality horses.”