TUESDAY marked an important event for the Irish Sport Horse industry with the official launch of Horse Sport Ireland’s Strategic Plan 2019-2024 on the eve of the opening of this week’s Stena Line Dublin Horse Show.

The Irish sport industry contributes nearly €1 billion to the Irish economy and supports 14,000 full-time jobs. Worth twice that of the Irish sheep sector, and comparable to Ireland’s world renowned thoroughbred industry, the sport horse sector has attracted little in the way of significant funding recognition from successive governments.

Since 2008, there have been 13 reports on the sector but a clear vision had not been agreed on until now. In the last two years, Horse Sport Ireland has undergone very significant structural changes and the foundations are now in place to help realise the untapped potential of the industry.

Welcoming all to the launch, chair of Horse Sport Ireland Joe Reynolds underlined the importance of the strategy document, which sets out Horse Sport Ireland’s clear vision and strategic focus areas for the next five years.

The plan outlines HSI’s mission, which is to lead the equestrian sector and enable it to fulfill its potential. The vision for the future is to have the best riders and horses in the world.

Fulfilling potential

Speaking at the launch, HSI CEO Ronan Murphy said: “In parallel with the five strategic focus areas set out in the plan, we have set out a number of key initiatives to deliver under each of these areas and now the task and focus moves to developing the detailed operational business plans to deliver our objectives and enable the Irish Sport Horse sector to fulfill its potential.

“Over the last two years, we have worked hard to establish robust foundations and to restructure Horse Sport Ireland to enable us to lead the equestrian sector.

“The launch of our five-year strategic plan is a significant milestone on this journey and articulates a common vision for the Irish Sport Horse sector – to have the best riders and horses in the world.

“We are looking forward to working closely with all our stakeholders to deliver this vision and to develop a world class and sustainable sport horse industry throughout Ireland.

“A plan, which is not resourced, is simply a piece of paper, so our immediate focus is on our Budget 2020 application to Government as we seek an initial investment to enable our sector to realise its potential,” Murphy commented.

Funding

Putting the finances of HSI on a “more sustainable, self-determined basis with less reliance on exchequer funding as a proportion of the total funding model’’ is among the key Overall Goals outlined in the strategy document.

To this end, the plan briefly outlines maximising sponsorship opportunities’ and the development of additional revenue streams as well as the creation of an innovation hub to develop and commercialise ideas through partnerships. Other potential revenue streams were included such as developing philanthropic investment as well leveraging new technologies to deliver service solutions (eg. microchips, database, genomics testing etc).

United front

Attending The Irish Field Breeders’ Breakfast 24 hours later, HSI board member Lucinda Creighton said: “It [HSI’s strategic plan] is high in aspiration and now it’s up to us to deliver over five years but we need to do it in tandem with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, they need to get behind it and really show an understanding and appreciation for the industry.

“I think he [Minister Creed] is well disposed to the industry, but in a Department like his, there are competing interests and there are loud voices and we need to elevate ours as an industry and communicate how important the economic contribution is.

“The Economic Forum, which Barry O’Connor initiated and has now come within the fold of HSI, is a really important step because it shows the whole industry is coming together. we don’t have different voices going to talk to officials, everyone is coming together now and I think that is really important for coherence.

“That is what the IFA have done over many many decades, that’s what other industry groups do very effectively and it is really important that we keep that coherence and build on it. I think the HSI Strategic Plan is the umbrella for that, the blueprint. So I am optimistic [of the possibility of future extra funding].”