Restorative action needed to preserve Irish Draughts

Madam,

IN last week’s article entitled “Confusion arises over Irish Draught foal classes”, it was stated that a spokesperson for Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) confirmed that the Progeny of “Class 3 and 4 stallions are not eligible for inspection.Yet in HSI’s 2017 application form for stallion inspections it expressly states on Page 5, Section 2, that eligible stallions “be sired by a stallion that is classified as ‘Class 1’, ‘Class 2’ or ‘Class 4’.

We would expect that HSI would be most concerned that their stated policy and the position allegedly presented by their representative would be at odds with each other.

An amnesty granted by HSI began with the breeding season of 2016 and granted permission to the progeny of Class 4 Irish Draught Horses to be inspected, for a limited period of five years. Class 4s are purebred Irish Draught Horses that have not yet been inspected. The 2015 foal returns revealed a growing number of foals from Class 4 mares and stallions as many breeders have turned their backs on inspections.

HSI agreed with concerns raised that these foals could be lost to an already depleted breeding herd with endangered status. The Irish Draught Horse Society Ltd. fully supported the need for an amnesty for these foals. This amnesty was to allow for and confer eligibility on the progeny of Class 4 horses for inspection. If this is not the case, as your article suggests, then the announced amnesty would be completely without substance.

Under EU law, these are purebred equidae and must be registered in the studbook of origin. The amnesty agreed by HSI granted further status in accordance with EU regulations and would be interpreted as a measure to ensure breed conservation. The recent suggestion that only filly foals from these matings may be accepted for inspections contravenes these same EU Directives.

With over half the Irish Draught foundation sire lines gone or in peril, now is not the time to start excluding purebred colts from contributing to the herd. Restorative action is needed to preserve the Irish Draught in its distinct state, through measures addressing the loss of genetic diversity and type. Classification to demote is detrimental to any endangered breed.

It is unfortunate that the Foal Championship victory of Ms. Myers’ colt in the RDS Show of 2017 has been sullied by the inaccuracies of your article. We hold that the significant success of this colt foal supports our position that there is an alternative to an inspection process that has served only to demote, devalue and degrade our native breed of horse. Many Irish Draught Horse breeders make informed decisions based primarily on their expert knowledge of the breed. In 2016, they did so encouraged by the HSI’s stated position that a foal of Class 4 parentage would be eligible for inspection. Such an informed decision resulted in the breeding of Mrs Myers’ successful colt by an uninspected stallion, going on to win at the prestigious Royal Dublin Show of 2017.

Your article also mentioned the 2015 Irish Horse Board (IHB) AGM in relation to a strong opposition at the time to the suspension of inspections. In balance, and out of respect to your many readers, you could have referenced that there was significant opposition by our members to the restoration of inspections as was evidenced at the 2016 AGM of the IHB. The fact that stallions, unsuccessful when inspected by HSI inspectors in Ireland, when brought to the UK and presented to HSI Inspectors were successful, raises serious questions around the credibility of the inspections.

We would like to express our agreement with the RDS spokesperson and acknowledge their role in pursuing solutions to restore our native endangered Irish Draught Horse.

Yours etc,

Sean McGurk, on behalf of the National Council,

IDHS Ltd.,Athlone,

Editor’s note: Our correspondent obtained comments from both the RDS and HSI and duly reported same.