2022 – it’s hard to believe that it is over 20 years since ringing in the new millennium and perhaps even more significantly, the world has just marked its second Covid Christmas.

Omicron continues to shower us all with its unwanted influence and this Christmas has been collectively much quieter than last year’s. Keeping separate to keep safe has rightfully been the central safety message from Government in order to save lives and prevent a crisis in our hospitals nationwide.

We have long advocated in these pages for stronger engagement and closer ties between all sides of the diverse Irish equine sector, both sport horse and thoroughbred. As we move into 2022, the entire Irish equine industry could benefit from speaking with a united voice on key issues such as insurance cover, equine welfare, protecting jobs and maximising growth potential. We are all stronger together.

When it comes to lobbying and underlining the good story that the indigenous Irish equine industry has to tell - employing almost 50,000 people full-time and contributing almost €2 billion to our National Exchequer per year - closer engagement with politicians of all hues, along with the senior civil servants and officials in the relevant government departments, can only pay dividends.

We wish new CEO of Horse Sport Ireland, Denis Duggan, every success as he takes up his new role next week.

Happy New Year

Across all departments of The Irish Field – editorial, advertising, production and subscriptions/circulation, we wish all our loyal readers and advertisers a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. Many thanks for all your support in 2021 and we look forward to what will be an action-packed 2022!