THE Irish Field understands that controversial proposals are to be put forward in February at committee level of Show Jumping Ireland to change how points are recorded on all registered horses and ponies. The proposed changes could mean only clear rounds will be shown on animal records or the top six in a competition.

It is also believed that changes could also be introduced to the video recording of individual rounds of jumping which would see riders selecting which rounds were available for public viewing or not.

Currently all scores of a registered horse or pony are recorded on the SJI website and the database is seen as a hugely useful tool when checking the performance of an animal by prospective customers. Irish Sport TV record all premiere series, national Grand Prix and regional Grand Prix rounds, along with several young horse classes and some smaller competitions also.

However if these new proposals get the green light, buyers will have to take the seller at their word on the performance record of an animal.

Chairman of the SJI national committee, Eamon Rice, confirmed: “It is something that is on the agenda for discussion. Nothing has been decided yet. It will need careful discussion as these changes will affect a lot of people if they are introduced.”

Rice also confirmed that some riders did not want some of their jumping rounds to be available to view online. “Yes, we are looking into that and it is on the agenda. We are looking at what systems are in place abroad before making any changes.”