A NEW board is in place at the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT) and is working on a strategic plan which will be launched this summer as the organisation reaches its 20th anniversary.

It has emerged that the old board, with many of the industry’s best known names, resigned in February. It’s understood that some were due to step down while others wanted to focus exclusively on the welfare of former racehorses.

CEO of the IHWT Sharon Power told The Irish Field that it was “business as usual” at the well-known charity which is based in Woodenbridge, Arklow. “It was very amicable and some of the old board indicated they are willing to help out. The new board is in place under the chairmanship of Barbara Bent (former chair of the ISPCA) and the members are Peter Roberts, Mark Darcy, Mark Tuckett, Rochelle Nelson and Jillian Godsil. We are delighted Jessica Harrington is staying on as our patron. Going forward, we’ll focus on thoroughbred as well as non-thoroughbred horses, sport horses, cobs and ponies.

“We have 36 here of all types. It costs €300,000 to run per year and we are working on a plan to eliminate the mortgage and keep our education programmes going. We received a bequest of €137,000 which will go towards the mortgage. Last year, the wages bill was €147,000 and this year that will be €120,000. We have many new ideas to progress the charity forward,” pledged Power.