BREEDERS accounted for 33% (€271m) of all expenditure which totalled €816 million in the sport horse industry last year. The Contribution of the Sport Horse Industry to the Irish Economy 2017 report highlighted the importance of the breeding sector, in particular its importance in providing significant employment throughout the island.

Over 60% of the 14,830 active sport horse breeders, are located in the west and south-western counties, where significant employment is so important to the maintenance of rural communities.