Tough decisions must be made

Madam,

I refer to the recent letter from Harold McGahern, recently published in your sister paper, the Irish Farmers Journal, and I unreservedly endorse the sentiments expressed.

I was a founder member of the Irish Horse Board (IHB) and its mandate was clearly defined in its Articles and Memorandum of Association. It purported to harness the collective knowledge and experience of Irish Sport Horse Breeders for the betterment and promotion of Irish-bred horses in equestrian sport.

Under the commanding chairmanship of Dr Noel Cawley, it had the absolute trust of the Department of Agriculture to dispense any monies allocated to those organisations and individuals which complemented its objectives. It thus became “the rich uncle” of the industry and two-thirds of its correspondence was petitioning financial support by equestrian bodies which promoted this view.

The Connellan report then suggested an all-Ireland equestrian organisation, should unify under one umbrella body, which would synthesise the breeding and sport elements of Irish equestrianism. I was also an executive member of the SJAI which, along with the IHB, embraced and supported this vision.

It was thought that the existing duplication of administration within equestrian organisations could be efficiently fused into a central office with attendant cost benefits.

International entries of Irish horses was administered through the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) whose administrative costs were originally underwritten by the Department of Agriculture, but this was subsequently withdrawn, leaving individual disciplines to organise their own international affairs.

The obvious advantage for an umbrella body to amalgamate these functions was overwhelming and (after the Dowling report tweaked the Connellan report), Horse Sport Ireland was formed.

However, what has evolved after eight years of Horse Sport Ireland is a disaster for Irish Sport Horse breeders who have been stripped of funding, strategy and any meaningful currency.

There is less synthesis between Irish Sport Horse breeders and equestrian sport now than there was eight years ago when HSI was formed and there is no indication that internal reformation is forthcoming.

To use an agricultural analogy, “HSI is a tractor stuck in gear!” It’s going nowhere!.

When the IHB enthusiastically supported the HSI concept, there was a condition that the partnership would be “reviewed within four years”, but this never happened.

It is now time for the IHB co-operative shareholders to review their position within HSI in the certainty that the vast pool of experience, which exists within and among Irish Sport Horse breeders, is not being currently tapped or utilised to advantage.

The Minister for Agriculture has a duty of care to the Irish Sport Horse industry to intervene and rescue it before it disintegrates into obscurity, with consequent collateral damage to the Irish exchequer. Self-regulation, appeasement and wishful thinking have not worked.

Since the IHB no longer conforms to its mandate as defined by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, it must either disband or reform immediately. To endure, a strong capable chairman must be appointed with knowledge experience and vision.

In my opinion the obvious choice would be Dr Noel Cawley, whose track record is incomparable and whose integrity is impeccable.

Tough decisions must be made without fear or favour to any constituent. Time is not a luxury we cannot any longer afford to waste.

Yours etc

Brian Gormley MRCVS

Granard

Co Longford