Safeguarding our heritage

Madam,

At a very well attended Irish Horse Board AGM and Breeders Awards night, two very important motions were ratified.

The Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA) proposed that the traditional Irish-bred horse be registered in a sub-group or section of the Irish Sport Horse Stud Book (ISH) confined and closed to all but the three composite breeds of thoroughbred, Irish Draught and Connemara.

This now gives the TIHA the necessary easy to recognise identifier which will quantify, ringfence and preserve this unique breed – our heritage.

There will no longer be the vague choice at registration. The horse is either genetically traditionally Irish-bred (with three listed generations) or not. Now the modern Irish and the traditional Irish breeds can progress forward and vigorously embrace the forthcoming strategic plan captained by Horse Sport Ireland’s excellent chairman Professor Pat Wall.

TIHA would like to publicly thank the efforts from all at Horse Sport Ireland and the Irish Horse Board who have helped safeguard our valuable resource.

Yours etc,

Chris Ryan,

Traditional Irish Horse Association,

Chinese trade

Madam,

I have enjoyed the Irish Horse World’s recent series of articles arising from the 2014 China Horse Fair, an event at which my company, Botanica International Ltd, proudly represented Ireland.

We first went to China in October 2005 and returned six months later to sign a 10-year contract with China’s leading veterinary distributor Beijing Kang Mu Animal Health Products, for the pet industry. Our packaging in China displays ‘number one in the world’, which is a great honour.

In the beginning the equine market was virtually non-existent so we focused on the small animal market which is a huge success. Botanica produces all natural herbal creams, washes and sprays for both human and animal use.

The company was created in 2005 and has grown every year. Our Chinese sales are up 45% so far this year. We ship to China by the tonne and Botanica is the only western company exporting herbal medicine to China.

When I first went to China, owning a horse there would have been the equivalent to driving a Rolls Royce or a Bentley. Today, however, there are many Rolls Royces and Bentleys in China and the horse market is growing steadily year on year.

China is the world’s second largest economy and will very soon be the world’s number one. Doing business in China is a must if you want to grow your company.

The Chinese prefer face-to-face meetings so my advice to anyone thinking of doing business there is to be prepared to go yourself or send a competent representative.

Yours etc,

Sean Cooney,

Botanica International

Suicide awareness

Madam,

Following on from the very successful Jock Paget clinic where almost €2,000 was made for the suicide awareness and support charity SOSAD, through your pages may I thank the many people who helped me organise the raffle and donated prizes, as well as run the clinic.

Special thanks to Terri Brosnan, Michelle O’Connor Veterinary Physiotherapist, Brian Duff, Jonathan Paget, Marie-Claire Bellew and Niall Dillon.

Thanks also to Deirdre Lusby, Neal Fearon, Barry Lynch, Marnie Crerar, Ringfort Sport Horses, Marion Greene, Marie Bd, Polly Jackson, Sandra Blake Farrell, Nicky Mummery, Clare Lambert, Kevin McGuinness, Louisa Markes, Irene Lawler and Siobhan English.

I am indebted to Kate Murray, Ciara O’Connell, Erin Fergus, Nessa O Sullivan, Marc Higgins, Clair Meabh O’Neill, Karen Gibney, Joanne Threadgold, Joseph Murphy, Elaine Slattery, Kate Hardt, Mary Dooner, Judy Maxwell and Jenny Doran.

My gratitude goes also to Hannah Sparkles Watson, McKevitt Gareth, Cheryl McWilliams, Nico Morgan, Dian George, Baileys Horse Feeds, Stracomer Stables, Broadmeadow Equestrian Centre Bullstown, Bluegrass, Gemosi, Lexvet, Equilibrium, Hilltop Rugwash, Equiniche Services and Monart.

Thanks also to the Fingal, Meath, Tara and Louth hunts, Morningside Stud, Dr Tom Reed, Woodlands Stud, Whitethorn Stud and Meab Enamels for their support.

Yours etc,

Christa Dillon,

Blackhill Eventing,

Co Westmeath.