HORSE owners and breeders can continue to move their animals within Ireland under the current movement restrictions introduced by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last Friday.

However, the provision of export certification for horses is not considered an essential service by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and has been temporarily suspended since Monday, March 30th until April 12th, meaning horses cannot leave the country.

“The provision of export certification services for horses and pets cannot be considered an essential service in the context of the current public health challenge. On this basis, the Department advised equine industry stakeholders on Saturday 28th that it was suspending applications for such certification until 12th April. The matter will be kept under review,” a Department of Agriculture spokesperson told The Irish Field.

Sport horse stakeholders fear the stoppages may lead to further loss of revenue in the €816 million industry. With other animal exporting continuing, Deirdre Seale of Laois-based Seale Transport commented: “Horses are still in the farm and a very important part of the industry here.

“I understand that it is a crisis, but we [transporters] can easily comply. We have our standard operating procedures. If I didn’t feel we could do it safely, I wouldn’t put our drivers at risk.”

Daily contact

A Horse Sport Ireland spokesperson said they are “in daily contact with Department as the matter evolves and have issued regular updates on our website.

“Horse Sport Ireland understands the effect that these measures are having on the sector and on our stakeholders including horse exporters and transporters. However, the Department of Agriculture have determined that these measures are unfortunate necessities in the fight to protect our communities and to save lives,” the HSI spokesperson continued.

“As with all other sectors, HSI wish to see an end to the crisis and for the sector to resume as quickly as possible, inclusive of the export of Irish horses. We are also reviewing current horse export protocols and working closely with all stakeholders to ensure that robust operating procedures can be put in place to facilitate a timely resumption of these important economic activities once the current restrictions are lifted, while also ensuring that our National effort to minimize the risks associated with the spread of Covid-19 are sustained and that the health and safety of all employees and the public is at all times prioritised.”

Malahide-based sport horse agent Barry O’Connor said: “The wheels of the economy will definitely slow down, but we don’t want them to come to a halt. The most important thing when you are doing anything outside the front door, is asking how safe it is. This virus is going to stop at some stage, but then we have to concentrate on getting the wheels turning again. Going from a standing start is difficult.”

In relation to his business of selling horses, O’Connor added: “Personally I am finding everything is on pause, everyone wants to know when the exit it. And it will depend on priorities people have when it gets back up and running what kind of effects it will have had on trade.”

Mares to stud

Meanwhile, it is business as usual on breeding studs around the country, with extra safety measures in place. Breeding comes under the ‘care of animals’, one of the exemptions to the Taoiseach’s strict stay-at-home measures.

“The current advice is that you can move animals as part of the business of farming, which is an essential service. There is no restriction on the distance, however one should reflect on whether such movement is actually essential at a particular point in time,” was the official response from the Department this week.

Wicklow veterinary surgeon Larry Dunne told The Irish Field: “The breeding is going on. It is back a bit obviously but it’s business as usual for us. We are taking all the precautions; wearing masks, we take the mares and there is no contact with the owners.” If you go out to a sick horse, it is the same measures, he said. “It is quite simple, if you take the precautions, you can expect to stay free from the virus.”

The Veterinary Council of Ireland released guidelines this week, recommending vets confine their services to emergency treatments in the interest of animal welfare and services required in the support of the food production.

Horse Sport Ireland has issued the following advice to breeders:

  • Check with the stud that it is accepting mares. Familiarise yourself with their protocols and ask for confirmation of your covering time to be sent to your phone.
  • In the event you are stopped by the authorities, inform them that you are carrying out a permitted farming activity.
  • When transporting your mare to a foaling farm, breeders should make sure they have one official form of picture identification. Ensure you have the mare’s passport and any documentation provided by the stud farm.
  • There should be no unauthorised stops on route from your farm to the stud farm.
  • Continue to ensure that you take all additional precautions to prevent spread of the virus through tack and equipment by taking all precautions.