WE all know political candidates love - and need - to get their message across to as many possible voters as possible. With Election 2020 in full swing across constituencies nationwide, it represents a golden opportunity for the Irish equestrian community to get across a strong message of our own.

Now is the time to nationally highlight the need for a fair and equitable share from the public coffers for the country’s €816 million sport horse industry, which provides over 14,500 full-time jobs and has 56,000 active participants - a sizeable population cohort whose opinions and views must be taken into account.