HSI seeks a new head of performance and coaching

HORSE Sport Ireland (HSI) has commissioned recruiters JLB Search to lead the search for a new Head of Performance and Coaching. This is a full-time position and reports directly to the new Chief Operating Officer Avalon Everett.

HSI described the role as a rare opportunity to lead Ireland’s Olympic equestrian performance strategy and shape a legacy of coaching excellence, talent development, and international competitiveness. The successful candidate’s leadership will shape Ireland’s Olympic pathway to Los Angeles 2028, Brisbane 2032, and beyond. It will also be essential to maintain Horse Sport Ireland’s social licence to operate by ensuring our high-performance system reflects the highest standards of welfare, transparency, and public trust.

Search for a Star date change

THE Connemara Pony World ‘Search for a Star’ finals will now take place at the Irish Pony Society’s Hunter Pony Show at Barnadown Equestrian Centre, Co Wexford, on September 14th.

There will be three championship classes: four-year-old Connemara performance, five-year-old Connemara performance and, new for 2025, four and five-year-old Connemara ridden championship. All finalists will be judged by a ride judge in the final stages. The event ran for the first time last year and was a huge success, with participants praising the inviting tracks and the opportunity to showcase their young ponies’ talent. Follow the Connemara Pony World Facebook page for further updates.

New classes at The Clare

TWO new classes have been added to The Clare 2 One-Day Event on July 26th. First is a qualifier for the Corbury International Horse Trials Thoroughbred class in association with Treo Eile. This is open to all Thoroughbreds registered by Weatherbys and will be run at EI100 Level.

There is a €1,000 prize fund including €500 plus a rug from Treo Eile. All entrants must register their intent to compete with Treo Eile so that eligibility can be verified. The other class is the 2026 Mondial Du Lion Pathway five-year-old class sponsored by Belline Equestrian, which will be run over the EI100 course.

Debbie Byrne, Manager of the Irish Squad for WBFSH Eventing World Championship for Young Horses, said: “Having produced horses that have competed at Le Lion d’Angers and progressed on to 4* and 5* competitions, Becky and Declan Cullen recognise the importance of the Championships as a stepping stone for young event horses to progress through the grades. They are now facilitating the preparation for next year’s possible candidates by securing generous sponsorship for the five-year-old class at The Clare at the end of July.”

HSI Passport update

FOR the 2025 breeding season so far, HSI has received 2,009 foal passport applications and issued 408 completed applications.

1,940 pedigree applications have had their foal kit sent to the applicant. As at June 11th, 1,025 of those foal kits had not yet been returned from breeders to HSI.

Of the 915 applications who have returned their foal kits to HSI, 408 had been completed and the passport issued and 47 were undergoing quality control checks, while the remaining applications’ DNA samples were with the laboratory for analysis. Of the 455 passport applications, where the DNA samples had been returned to HSI from the laboratory, 408 were completed. 11 non-pedigree applications have been submitted this year with three completed and the others awaiting the return of marking charts.