THE value of hearts and minds sitting around the proverbial table, united together in forwarding a common cause, can – and does – move mountains. There’s ample evidence for same the world over in almost every sphere of life.

Can we say the same about the Irish equine sector – sport horse and thoroughbred? Is there any future plan(s) coming down the track that will unite the entire equine industry more for its collective common good and all stakeholders, equine and human, in it? There’s endless scope for both sectors to work more closely together on the key issues – equine welfare, veterinary issues, disease vigiliance, maintaining the public licence for equines in sport, access to schemes funding, co-operation on relevant legislation, etc.

Both sectors share enormous common ground, speaking with a common voice – at Government level or educating the wider public about the contribution of the Irish equine industry to our economy in terms of jobs, tax-take to say nothing of our industry’s rich role in cultural and social fabric terms – would be a win for all. None of us can take anything for granted in today’s rapidly changing world.

At home Treo Eile is doing valuable work fostering new careers for former racehorses in the equestrian sphere while internationally, the FEI is shortly hosting a major session in South Africa aimed at promoting equine welfare and protecting the all-important social licence for equine sports in the minds of the wider public. I know of one wonderful ambassador for the Irish horse who wrote to the FEI asking them to consider including the racing and bloodstock industry in their upcoming session. It’s this kind of big-picture thinking that is needed.

Mounting legal costs

Confirmation of legal costs incurred at Horse Sport Ireland make for alarming reading with more to come – what will the legal costs be next year if HSI presses on with their judicial review into the DAFM decision to award a tender to the Irish Horse Board? Asides from a brief mention in the court lists, very little may happen on the judicial review before Christmas – the only guarantee is that the legal costs will rack up.