THE Indecon Review identified what it termed as “significant problems” in the existing Horse Sport Ireland equine registration, breeding, information and performance results database structures.

Acknowledging that access to performance data was “not always easy”, Indecon nevertheless pointed to the original concept which was “one web portal and database based in HSI” where members of affiliates could log on to register themselves and their horses/ponies to compete in each affiliate.

“The membership money and details would then transfer electronically from the HSI database to the affiliates but to date, this has not happened,” reported Indecon.

Stakeholders, it said, would prefer to enter their data details once and not repeatedly across many affiliates.

Indecon noted that the same horse could be registered with CapallOir, Eventing, SJI and Dresssage and pointed out that there was currently no way to see how an animal performed across all disciplines at once, i.e. to see all the horse’s results on one page.

An integrated outcome would, it said, be a “huge improvement for potential buyers and sellers” and should be addressed.

Also highlighted for attention was the lack of integration of international data, preventing a comprehensive picture for the sector.

“A more centralised and integrated approach would add value for users of the databases and would assist the development of the industry,” said the Review.

To this end, Indecon reommended that a database task force group, with an independent chair and membership of HSI and its affiliates, should be formed within six months to work on the centralised database.

FUNDING

When it came to funding, the Indecon consultants said: “The Irish Sport Horse sector has, in Indecon’s view, significant potential and if expanded, would result in a direct and indirect contribution to economic development particularly in rural areas.”

It said that “additional resources are needed” for HSI if the potential of the sector is to be realised and it called on HSI to identify key areas needing extra funding.

Over 60 individuals and groups made submissions to Indecon in the public consultation phase of its Review but the independent economic consultants said that many of these made generalised calls for greater funding for the sector.

The Indecon Review revealed that close to two-thirds of HSI’s income comes from public funded supports.

Indecon’s breakdown of the figures show that HSI expects to record an overall expenditure of €5.87m in 2016 with overall staffing of 31.5 full-time equivalent persons.

BREEDING DEPARTMENT

Indecon Review identified Horse Sport Ireland’s Breeding Department as the “the single largest area of expenditure and staffing”, accounting for a projected €2.5m or 42.1% projected total expenditure and 16.5 staff during 2016.

Next highest on the Indecon list was the operation of the High Performance Programmes which accounted for €1.2m.

The operational costs of running HSI as the National Governing Body for equestrian sport represent €0.98m or 16.6% of total expenditure, rising to €1.05m or 17.9% of the costs of “interface with Government” are included, activities delivered by 7.5 staff members.

Indecon also noted what it termed the “very low levels” spent on anti-doping, as well as the online database and “relatively low levels of funding to the equestrian coaching programme.”