IT is understood that sport horse activity will return from December 1st after a six-week break and will be given operational parity with horse racing going forward. A cabinet meeting yesterday (Friday) was due to ratify that decision.

Alongside equestrian sports, it is expected that golf, tennis, shooting and other outdoor sports will resume from Tuesday. Taoiseach Michael Martin was due to address the nation on Friday evening, after this paper had gone to press, and while the exact details were yet to trickle through to governing bodies, The Irish Field understands that sport horse activity will go back to what it was under Level 3, with competitions operating for professional and elite athletes, strictly behind closed doors.

HSI called for operational parity with the thoroughbred and greyhound racing sectors in relation to the Statutory Instruments on the Covid-19 restrictions last month when activities were suspended and it is believed that parity will be ratified by the Cabinet.

Horse Sport Ireland acting CEO Joe Reynolds said: “We are expecting a major announcement this afternoon (Friday). We have been working on this question of parity with horse racing and hope the announcement will bring us closer to that position. We would like to stress we are not trying to take anything away from racing or point-to-points and we feel we can operate side by side with them.”

Big Christmas show

Meanwhile, Horse Sport Ireland hopes to hold a major show that will attract home some European and British-based Irish show jumpers the weekend before Christmas, which they hope will be broadcast live on television at a prime time slot.

It would be seen as a major coop for the national governing body to get show jumping back on the national airwaves and prove its importance as a sport that can entertain an audience at home. The show, which will take big investment from HSI, will be Christmas-themed.

UK restrictions

In the UK, the Government announced details of the revised three-tier alert system for England on Thursday. In positive news, equestrian activity can largely continue within number and setting restrictions based on the area’s tier level. Current lockdown restrictions remain in place until December 2nd.

BEF Chief Executive Iain Graham commented: “There’s light at the end of the tunnel but we must all continue to play our part across the United Kingdom. So, be it in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, please enjoy your horses, carry out your work and open your businesses and centres of learning but please do it safely so we can avoid any further lockdowns in any areas.”