THERE is no way to describe what has happened in Horse Sport Ireland other than to call it a catastrophe.

This is not the time for observers and commentators to be appropriating blame, at least not until we know the full story. I sense that there is more to come on what has been happening, and it is only right that we wait for the facts to emerge, rather than to listen to a myriad of versions of what has occurred.

What can be said for sure is that the recent happenings have seriously damaged the image of the sport’s governing body, and this has to be restored as a matter of great urgency. If not, making the case for increased funding for the sector, let alone holding on to what it has, will be very difficult.

Other sports have had to endure periods of no funding until they got their house in order. We can only hope that a similar hard line is not taken with the equestrian sector. On the plus side, the new board appointments reflect the importance Minister Charlie McConalogue places on the body, and to sorting out the difficulties it finds itself in.

Michael Dowling, the new chairman, is very well-regarded and he knows a great deal about the sector. He is certainly a man to turn to when there is a difficulty, and he represents both a safe pair of hands and someone who can cut to the chase. Professor Niamh Brennan is a renowned academic, but also a no-nonsense person and someone who can see through any obfuscation.

They are joined by Zoe Kavanagh, CEO of the National Dairy Council, and Dr Kevin Smyth, former CFO at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The status of the appointees, and the speed at which he has acted, clearly shows how seriously the Minister is taking this situation.

There needs to be a period now when the new board can get together with the management of HSI and start to get matters in order. No doubt many want to have their say, and I would urge individuals and bodies now to conduct their dialogue directly with the new board when appropriate.

There has, quite understandably, been much public comment, and there will continue to be. This has drawn a sometimes unhelpful spotlight on the governing body and the goings-on, much of it likely to be uninformed or ill-informed. For now, we should trust in the new board to act both swiftly and judiciously in sorting out this mess.