THE Warmblood Studbook of Ireland (WSI) announced a new growth strategy which it claims will put breeders back an the centre of the show jumping industry and re-focus show jumping breeding in Ireland.

In a statement, WSI said the new strategy would support Irish breeders through nationwide mare inspections, further develop the studbook’s stallion approval system, create a semen bank open to all mares sired by an approved stallion and change studbook rules to allow all mares sired by an approved stallion to breed within the studbook.

WSI breeding director, Dr Thomas Reed said: “The cornerstone of it is WSI Rewards, a membership program that offers breeders, mare owners and stallion owners a wide range of free and low-priced services including free semen, free foal registration, free mare inspection, free foal inspection, and free subscriptions to Horse International and L’Annee Hippique all for one reduced all-inclusive price.”

WSI has applied for support to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for support and it is expected that decision will be made in the coming weeks.

“Recently WSI went through its re-approval process with the Department and we presented our new strategy to support Irish breeders, increase the number of foals we register and re-focus show jumping breeding in Ireland. We are hopeful that Minister Simon Coveney and his officials will provide strong support and funding for several cornerstones of our new strategy.

“For the first time, we will offer nationwide mare inspections, which will benefit all breeders including farmers who are required to have their mares inspected for the DAFM Equine Discussion Groups; an enhanced stallion approval system, which will see us transition from a one day inspection to a 2.5 day inspection for both young stallions and mature stallions; and the WSI Semen Bank, which will offer free semen from high genetic value stallions approved by WSI,” added Dr Reed.

WSI is offering free semen from at least five unnamed WSI-approved stallions.