TEAGASC has revealed an impressive line-up of speakers for its 2016 annual equine conference, entitled ‘Opportunities to Grasp.’
Taking place at the Lyrath Estate Hotel on Thursday, November 24th, from 9am to 5.15pm, the conference will provoke discussion on stimulating growth in the sport horse industry, breeding technologies and the market place for ponies, show jumpers and eventers.
Aimed at all sport horse/pony breeders and producers, the objective of the conference is to look at the opportunities available and what can be done to ensure a vibrant and commercially viable trade for the future.
Minister Andrew Doyle TD; Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture will open the conference on the day.
The first session is entitled ‘Looking to the Future’ and speakers in this segment include Declan McArdle and Thomas Curran from Teagasc.
McArdle will speak about the outlook for the sector, regarding the current challenges and opportunities, while Curran will offer insight into how farm partnerships and other collaborative options work in other farming enterprises and could be adapted to the equine industry.
The second session revolves around ‘Successful outcomes’ and speakers in this session include Alison Corbally, Horse Sport Ireland breeding director, Wendy Conlon of Teagasc and veterinary surgeon Larry Dunne.
Corbally will provide some analysis on the road to success of the Irish Sport Horse. Conlon will address the essentials needed to maximise mare fertility, followed by a presentation by Dunne on attaining and retaining a successful pregnancy. Dunne specialises in artificial insemination and embryo transfer.
The third session is a panel discussion with Barra Sweetnam and Philip Scott on the market place for ponies and the opportunities available.
The fourth session will be a panel discussion on breeding and producing eventers for the global market.
To discuss the marketplace and offer an insight into what the market demands will be Vere Phillipps, Sarah Ennis and William Micklem.
In the fifth session, the subject of the global market place for the modern show jumper. Talking about the breeding and production of these horses will be Frederick De Backer, Barry O’Connor and Greg Broderick.
The final speaker of the day will be economist Jim Power, who will offer his perspective on the potential of the sport horse industry by discussing the current challenges and opportunities in the sector through his eyes.
Admission is €40 including lunch. Places can be booked online at https://www.teagasc.ie/equine-conference The day will begin at with registration at 9am and the conference closes at 5.15pm.
For further details contact
declan.mcardle@teagasc.ie , 087 6831876
wendy.conlon@teagasc.ie, 087 9879083
SPEAKERS
Vere Phillipps
Vere Phillips set up professionally as a horse dealer in Britain in 1981, primarily buying horses in Ireland. His business has grown by reputation, with little need to advertise. Phillips predominantly show jumped in his early career and he took up eventing in 2000. In one season he went from novice to four-star, culminating in fourth place at Burghley, win-
ning the Best First Timer award, and being the highest-placed British male rider.
Phillips has bought, produced and sold the winners of four-star, Olympic, World and European Championship senior British Team horses, as well as European young rider and junior British team horses, including multiple medal winners.
Frederick De Backer
Frederik De Backer works across Europe in different functions. He is auctioneer at several prestigious horse and foal auctions such as Flyinge Open Sales (Sweden), Expo Talent Sales (NED), Verdener Auktion (GER), Zangersheide Quality Auction (BEL) and organizes Woodland’s International Sales.
As a commentator and announcer he is one of the voices of the Longines Global Champions Tour livestream and the five-star World Cup show in Mechelen. As part of the team he organises the FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships in Zangersheide. As a breeder and amateur rider he runs Oak Hill Farm with his partner Anne-Liza Makkinga, where young show jumpers are produced to Grand Prix level.
Larry Dunne MRCVS
Larry Dunne runs a very successful veterinary practice in County Wicklow since 1977, specialising in artificial insemination and embryo transfer, but covering all aspects of veterinary care in partnership with Cormac Hassett. He brings a wealth of knowledge in relation to attaining and retaining successful pregnancies and the experiences of almost 40 years of veterinary practice to impart.
Barra Sweetnam
Show jumping has been an integral part of Barra’s life, with brother Shane jumping at Nations Cup level and his six children all competing. Barra has bought and produced show jumping ponies for the past 15
years for his kids and
Abbie, his youngest
daughter, has jumped in
eight different countries
and on five pony
Nations Cup teams
with the home-
produced Dynamite
Spartacus
Jim Power
Jim Power is owner manager of an economic and financial consultancy. He carries out consultancy projects, public speaking, and training for a variety of public and private sector entities.
He is chief economist to the Friends First Group and was previously treasury economist at AIB (1987-1991) and chief economist at Bank of Ireland Group Treasury (1995-2000). Jim has a particular interest in tourism and the agri-food sector. He writes a weekly column in the Irish Examiner and is a frequent contributor to media, as well as lecturing on the MSc Management at Smurfit School of Business, UCD.
TEAGASC EQUINE CONFERENCE TIMETABLE
9am Registration and tea/coffee
9.45am Welcome
Prof. Gerry Boyle
Director, Teagasc
Opening Address
Andrew Doyle TD; Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture
10.10am Session one – Looking to the Future
Chairman Mr. Fintan Phelan
Head of Farm Management and Rural
Development
Outlook for the sector
Mr. Declan McArdle; Teagasc
Benefits of Partnerships and other
Collaborative Options
Mr. Thomas Curran; Teagasc
10.40am Open Forum and Discussion
10.50am Session two – Successful Outcomes
Chairman Dr. Noel Cawley
Chairman, Teagasc
The Road to Success for the Irish Sport Horse
Ms. Alison Corbally; Horse Sport Ireland
Maximising Mare Fertility – laying the
foundations
Ms. Wendy Conlon; Teagasc
Attaining and retaining successful
pregnancies – a veterinary insight
Mr. Larry Dunne M.R.C.V.S.
11.50am Open Forum and Discussion
12.10pm LUNCH
1.15pm Session three – “Pony Tales” – the market
place for ponies
Chairman Declan McArdle
Teagasc
Mr. Barra Sweetnam
Mr. Philip Scott
2pm Session Four – “The Fifth Leg” –breeding and
producing event horses for the global market
Chairman Lt. Col. Tom Freyne Army Equitation
School
Mr. Vere Phillipps
Mrs. Sarah Ennis
Mr. William Micklem
2.45pm Open Forum and Discussion
3.15pm Tea/Coffee
3.30 pm Session Five – “Clearing the Fence”–
breeding and producing showjumpers for the
global market
Chairman Dr. Noel Cawley
Chairman, Teagasc
· Mr. Barry O’Connor
· Mr. Frederick De Backer
· Mr. Greg Broderick
4.15pm Open Forum and Discussion
4.45pm Realising the Potential of the Sport Horse
Industry
· Mr. Jim Power; Economist
5pm Open Forum and Discussion
5.15pm Close