IN recent weeks, we have seen quite negative fallout for the wider Irish equestrian community as a result of the confusion over whether horse-related activity comes under the umbrella of agriculture or not.

We saw how riding schools, equestrian and racing nationwide are all basically under the gun to pay huge commercial rates to local authorities who are classifying it as non-agricultural. The high bills are enough to put some establishments on the brink of viability or of pushing them over the edge.

Being classified as agricultural activity would go a very long way towards helping equine establishments up and down the country stay afloat when it comes to the bottom line.

But whether your pockets are deep or not, every establishment in the country needs a ready workforce, we all know that looking after performance horses of any discipline is basically a 24/7 operation, akin to a well-oiled machine.

Virtually every horse yard is following Ballydoyle’s appeal of the Workplace Relations Commission notice to the Labour Court, arguing that horse training is exempt from the Organisation of Working Time Act 1998 as it should be – and previously was – classed as agricultural.

Everyone knows there is no point in closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Let’s hope that it is not too late to be a winner in the agricultural stakes.

BEVA WARNING

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) released a strong statement this week saying its members are being asked to break the law by inseminating imported equine semen that does not have an accompanying health certificate from its country of origin.

The fear is that using such product will jeopardise the high health status of the UK horse population and also put the professional status of the vets involved at risk.

Some agents in the UK are advising mare owners that such certificates are not really necessary with some reports of vets who refused to inseminate mares with uncertified imported semen were subjected to criticism and the threat of business walking out the door to those who would inseminate mares without the paperwork.

BEVA said it was “outraged” at the development and rightly so.

The adverse implications of an outbreak of CEM for example would be enormous for the sport horse industry.

Online shopping of semen, ova or embryos has exploded in recent years.

It brings great choice.

However, everyone has to play their part to make sure it does not also bring great risk.