HORSE Sport Ireland is facing a series of fresh resignations from its board, forums and a committee over governance concerns.

Yesterday, the governing body for equestrian sport in Ireland acknowledged the resignation of equestrian entrepreneur and world class horse owner Barry O’Connor as the riders’ representative on the Senior Jumping High Performance Advisory Group.

This news was followed by an announcement from The Irish Equine Veterinary Association (IEVA) that it was withdrawing its current representation within Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) effective immediately. The IEVA had a representative on three of HSI’s four industry forums from which a number of board members are drawn. The IEVA board member, until yesterday, was Dr Siobhan McAuliffe.

"This decision follows ongoing governance concerns that have made continued representation untenable at this time," the IEVA statement read. "While regretting the need to take this step, the Irish Equine Veterinary Association remains committed to constructive engagement across the sector and is open to future collaboration with Horse Sport Ireland."

The news of the resignations follows the recent appointment to the board of Dr Robert Huey. There is no suggestion the resignations and this appointment are linked.

'Piecemeal stuff'

Mr O'Connor has been openly critical of HSI’s High Performance programme in the past and was equally so today when speaking to The Irish Field.

"As someone that works in the industry, the direction of our industry really worries me." he said.

"If you take a European and a worldwide view of things, we have so much potential, we are actually excellent at what we do, and yet we're stuck - stuck for any type of constructive leadership and constructive knowledge of how to do this. There are absolutely pathetic levels of funding for High Performance, it's piecemeal stuff.

"The department and Horse Sport Ireland seem to view us as sort of like a hobby persuasion where a few people are making money - they do not give us the professional courtesy that they give other sectors of the industry. All we all were getting is bureaucracy and higher charges, that's all we're getting.

"From the first meeting we were told that we had no say, and that's very disappointing. For the record, I support Jessica Kurten (show jumping High Performance Manager), I supported Michael Blake (her predecessor), but to help the riders win medals, we need funding and support structures. And sure, it was like being at an amateur club making suggestions.

"The costs of the administration, the coverage that they get, the basic kit that they get, it's all sort of last minute.com. There's no understanding of how this is done.

"We're very, very passionate about what we do (high level show jumpers and owners), and it takes an awful amount of passion and grace and determination to do it, and an awful amount of inner strength and fight. But when things aren't progressing, when you see people in a position that they're there to make a change and it doesn't happen it's very, very frustrating.

"In the end I felt like in this circumstance I wasn't producing. I have helped with lots of different things, given my free time but this, this was a waste of time."

Turbulance

The resignations bring echoes of a previous raft of resignations at HSI. In November 2022, after a turbulent week where seven of its eight directors resigned, a new board of four ministerial appointees was rolled into place by the then Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue TD (FF).

Jack Doyle, another member of the Senior Jumping High Performance Advisory Group, today said: "I support Barry's position and I am considering my position.

His fellow advisory group members Bernard Jackman and Nicola Fitzgibbon have also been contacted for comment on these developments.

Structured input

In its statement on Mr O'Connor's resignation HSI said:

"Following his decision to step down, a process will commence over the coming months to appoint a replacement athlete representative. This process will be informed by the principles underpinning athlete representation, including consideration of an Athletes’ Commission model to ensure effective and structured input from athletes into the high-performance system.

"Horse Sport Ireland remains committed to ongoing engagement with athletes as a key stakeholder group in the continued development of high-performance structures."

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has been contacted for a comment on these developments. It was also asked whether the contract of Horse Sport Ireland's CEO, Denis Duggan, would be renewed after it was confirmed to The Irish Field that this was discussed by the HSI board recently. DAFM said the question was a matter for the board of Horse Sport Ireland. HSI said it could not comment on matters related to employment.

Further statement

In a later statement sent this evening (Thursday) regarding the IEVA resignations HSI said:

"HSI acknowledges receipt of correspondence from the Irish Equine Veterinary Association (IEVA) dated 3 June 2026, indicating its decision to withdraw its current representation.

"HSI operates in full compliance with recognised governance standards, including the Sport Ireland Governance Code and, where applicable, the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. The organisation remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and good governance across all its activities.

"HSI has made contact as of Wednesday, 4th June, with the IEVA to seek a better understanding of the basis for this decision. The organisation remains open to constructive dialogue and is available to meet with the IEVA at any time to discuss any concerns and to support a positive and collaborative way forward. Horse Sport Ireland greatly values the role of veterinary expertise within the sector and remains committed to working with all stakeholders in the best interests of the Irish sport horse industry."