THE stark situation frustrating many in the Irish Sport Horse industry was ably voiced this week by a Co Clare stud owner as the sector faces into its fourth week of the six-week Level 5 lockdown that has brought the €815 million industry to almost a complete standstill.

Gina Heaps of Carrowgar Stud in Co Clare, whose home-bred youngstock swept the boards at last year’s Dublin Horse Show, should have been on course for her best year ever in 2020. However, like so many others, it turned out not to be between a year of stops and starts under Covid-19, topped off by the almost blanket shutdown of the Irish Sport Horse industry under the current Level 5 restrictions.

Frustrations

Adding to the real frustration in the industry is the many anomalies that exist under Level 5 with many other sports, including contact sports such as GAA and Rugby, allowed continue. Of the animal-based sports – thoroughbred racing, harness racing and greyhound racing – only the sport horse sector has been shutdown under Level 5. Horse Sport Ireland has and continues to lobby the key Government ministers over the impasse but to no avail so far.

Gina Heaps told The Irish Field on Thursday: “I feel Horse Sport Ireland and the powers that be are not doing enough. We are going past week three now and nothing will change at this stage. A lot of people have brought their horses home. It is frustrating because the horses were getting in a flow – they need the consistency of going out jumping. We have one for sale and we can’t even get videos done.

“The SJI is allowed for the kids but not for adults. Behind closed doors, show jumping was working really well before the lockdown. Show jumping was not a vector for people getting infected and sick. Everyone was very careful. The organisers did everything asked of them and more – masks, social distancing, no spectators – there were no areas where people were mixing. Look at GAA, it is a contact sport and yet, that’s allowed go ahead.

No income

“I’m in my 60s and I have worked for myself my whole life – I have created my own business, we employ people. We expect nothing from anyone. It is very frustrating that our business is shut down, we are not even eligible for the Tourism Ireland grant, we don’t come under any listing for grants. I was going to have my best year ever and now have no income.

“I don’t feel that the powers that be are doing enough. It is not their livelihood – they are sitting at a desk and getting paid – but it’s mine and all the people like me. We need a clear strategy going forward for our industry. We need common sense.

“Co Clare is the heart of breeding and showing and people are scared, petrified that shows will not happen next year. People are buying and selling but they are afraid, their shop window is gone. And I can understand why the ISA (Irish Shows Association) had to cancel shows this year. People are afraid of what next year will bring.

“We need help and clarity, a clear path forward that our industry is not going to be shut down like this again in another lockdown situation,” she added.

Horse Sport Ireland press officer Brian Hennessy said: “As of yet there has been no change to the stance from Government on what sport horse activity can or cannot take place during Level 5 restrictions.

“HSI have remained in constant contact with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Sport Ireland seeking the resumption of some level of activity in the sport horse industry. However, there appears to be a reluctance in Government at the highest level to make any changes before December 1st to the minimal youth activity that has been allowed so far.

“One of the points that has been made by officials during discussions is that sports such as Racing, GAA and Soccer have been allowed to continue in some capacity as they are broadcast on TV and this gives people at home something to watch during the lockdown. Bearing this in mind, HSI is actively exploring the feasibility of having some Grand Prix competitions in Ireland shown on terrestrial TV in the future, both to promote our sports and to further enhance the case for a resumption of activity.

“While there are now just over two weeks to go before the current Level 5 restrictions are due to end, we are all aware that further restrictions, including Level 5 restrictions, cannot be ruled out into 2021. In that event, HSI is hopeful that the issues raised by HSI in recent weeks will be taken on board by Government when deciding which sports can continue during what will be a crucial Olympic year,” concluded Hennessy.