HORSE Sport Ireland (HSI) has reduced its new High Performance (HP) levy to €45 (incl VAT) following widespread criticism from athletes and stakeholders. The reduction has not been well received however, with many maintaining the levy should be abolished entirely.

In a press release HSI said: “Part of the new HP levy was originally designed to have been ring-fenced to fund entries into Nations Cup events, as some athletes had previously expressed a desire for HSI to fund this activity directly.

“However, HSI has received significant feedback from athletes in relation to how certain costs, such as Nations Cup entry fees, should be treated.”

It said the change meant “HSI will not fund Nations Cup entry fees, with these costs instead covered directly by owners, or by athletes as is currently the case.”

The press release continued: “Following the Tokyo Olympic cycle, Sport Ireland advised HSI that a more secure funding model was essential to ensure continued investment in equestrian HP sport. A key requirement of Sport Ireland’s 2025 investment framework is that national governing bodies generate 20% of HP funding from within the sport itself. This levy ensures this funding.

“HSI has decided to apply the new levy for two key reasons. Firstly, the sport itself needs to partly fund its HP programmes to unlock the required funding from the State. Secondly, the current model, which relies on key affiliates contributing a fixed annual amount for High Performance equestrian sport in Ireland is broken, as these affiliates have stopped remitting the necessary funds to HSI.

“Showjumping Ireland (SJI) historically contributed €100,000 annually from its ‘International Fund’ levy. No contribution has been remitted for 2023, 2024 or 2025. This is despite SJI continuing to deduct its International Fund levy from prize money across competitions, as outlined in its own rule book.

“Dressage Ireland (DI) traditionally contributed €25,000 annually, and €50,000 in an Olympic year. No contribution was made in 2024, despite it being an Olympic cycle, further demonstrating the unreliability of the affiliate contribution model.

“Eventing Ireland have contributed up to 2024 and advised HSI they do not have “financial or operational resources” to undertake a HP owners programme in lieu of a direct financial contribution to HSI. Due to the inconsistency and uncertainty of contributions from the affiliates, HSI cannot allow the State investment to be lost as it would put the entire Olympic equestrian programme in doubt.

“The HP levy cannot be reduced below €36.50 ex VAT, as doing so would fail to meet Sport Ireland’s minimum requirement for internally generated funding. All funds raised from the HP Levy go directly into the HP programme.

Newly appointed interim Chair of HSI, Dr Pamela Byrne, said: “While we understand that the proposed levy may not be welcomed by everyone, it is a necessary step to ensure the financial sustainability to provide the continued support to High Performance in equestrian sport.”

Asked whether it would consider removing the levy HSI responded ‘no’ and confirmed the levy was now in effect. It also confirmed it expects to co-fund the 20% contribution raised by the levy at approximately €240,000.

“All funds raised will be invested into the HP programmes, team managers, certain technical coaching, veterinary fees, and championship entry fees,” it said.

‘Troubling’

Showjumping Ireland strenuously rejected the statement from HSI that it imposes an international levy on riders stating: “There has been no consultation at all with SJI regarding the levies or any changes to them. Their statement regarding international levies is absolutely wrong and they have been informed on multiple occasions that no specific levies are collected by SJI for international participation since 2005/2006.

“SJI made a specific contribution toward international participation initially to assist the start-up of HSI of €200,000 €225,000, €250,000 and €100,000 thereafter. The first three years was a signed agreement, the €100,000 since had been at the discretion of SJI as no contract was in place. SJI sought to formalise and put a funding structure in place, but HSI did not engage fully in relation to doing so.

“SJI have numerous items of correspondence to the CEO, CFO and the Board of HSI over the last four years where they have clearly outlined that levies are not collected and a contract or agreement to include a budgetary submission process needed to be in place (for this to happen).

“It is extremely troubling and frustrating that HSI continue to make these inaccurate statements in public. SJI continues to get inquiries from owners and riders as to whether this levy will be enforced by HSI when it will have a detrimental effect on livelihoods and places Irish athletes working in foreign yards at a distinct disadvantage compared to other riders.”

Consultation

Speaking on behalf of Dressage Ireland, Mark Ruddock said: “I feel that the reduction is an insult to international riders and their owners. If HSI would actually give detailed information about what the levy is going to be used for and if they had done any consultation then this situation may not have happened. I can confirm that they have never spoken to DI on this matter.”

Eventing Ireland chairman Niki Potterton said: “They tried to appease things by reducing it, but they didn’t and I can confirm they haven’t been in touch with EI on this issue. What’s more the only thing they’ve told us is what they are not doing with the money, i.e. Nations Cups which they were never funding anyway, but they haven’t actually told us what they are doing. All they’re doing is penalising the people who pay the most for the programme already which is the owners.

“With regard to us not undertaking an owners programme in lieu of our contribution, I can confirm we had a meeting in May where they proposed an owner retention programme and said the contribution model was not happening this year. Since then, they never came back to us with any further detail so how could we start something we had no information on?”

Robert Fagan of Mullingar Equestrian said: “A token 25% off is not good enough, zero is what will be tolerated. I’m very disappointed the Board of HSI cannot see the harm it is going to do to. Also, what of their responsibilities to find sponsors? Irish equestrian sport is an absolutely world class product, any marketing firm given an Olympic sport that caters for both genders on an equal footing, and produces teams that are competitive at championship level could sell this product. Instead, they come and they hit the fish in the barrel.”