THE ITBA Seminar in the Hotel Minella, Clonmel, next Friday [February 3rd] will open at 3pm with a panel discussion entitled ‘Modern-day bloodstock industry requirements’.

To be chaired by Des Leadon, the talk will feature contributions from the Turf Club’s Lynn Hillyer, Ronan Murphy of Weatherbys Ireland, Carol Nolan from Horse Racing Ireland, the Department of Agriculture’s Hazel Sheridan and breeder Derek Veitch.

ITBA chief executive Shane O’Dwyer says there are very important issues on the agenda and breeders need to inform themselves of significant changes coming down the line.

“There is a perception that working practices in the industry are not what they should be, and we want to address that,” O’Dwyer said.

“Government agencies may be about to focus on the horse business, so let’s put together an employment law information package for industry employers.”

The availability of medicines and vaccines is another hot topic at the moment. O’Dwyer said: “The key to this is having proper communication between breeders, organisations such as the ITBA, the veterinary world and the Department of Agriculture.

“Why are there sometimes shortages of crucial vaccines and why is the process of getting products from the USA so difficult? Do we need a change in EU law?”

The procedures around registering changes in ownership of horses and registering equine premises will also be tackled.

Breeders are sure to be very interested to learn how the Turf Club’s Anti-Doping Task Force Report affects them.

Admission to the seminar is free and registration begins at 2pm.

LYNN HILLYER

Chief Veterinay Officer, Turf Club

Lynn was appointed Chief Veterinary Officer/Head of Anti-Doping for the Turf Club last September, having worked as an equine veterinary surgeon for 20 years, 10 as adviser to the British Horseracing Authority with a particular focus on anti-doping.

Her key responsibilities are to see through recommendations made by the HRI/Turf Club Anti-Doping Task Force, which included breeding sector representatives, and to advance the veterinary and thoroughbred welfare agenda for the Turf Club.

DES LEADON (chairman)

Clinical Consultant, Irish Equine Centre

Des graduated as a veterinary surgeon from Trinity College Dublin in 1975. He came to the Irish Equine Centre in April 1984 from the Rossdale veterinary practice in Newmarket, where he was awarded Fellowship of the RCVS.

Des is a founding vice-president of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine, a past President of BEVA and of WEVA, and is veterinary advisor to the ITBA.

RONAN MURPHY

Weatherbys Ireland

Ronan is a Director of Weatherbys Ltd. and CEO of Weatherbys General Stud Book for both Ireland and the UK. He is also the vice-chairman and member representative for Ireland and Britain at the International Stud Book Committee and co-chairman of the European and Mediterranean Stud Book Liaison Committee.

Ronan is the International Stud Book Committee’s representative on the executive council of the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities and he is also an ex-officio board member of the ITBA.

A graduate of UCD, specialising in Animal Breeding and Genetics, he enjoys a lifelong passion for horse racing and breeding.

CAROL NOLAN

Director of People and Industry Education, Horse Racing Ireland

Carol holds a Masters in Strategic Human Resource Management from DCU and BA in European Studies from Trinity College.

Carol has also trained in the areas of negotiation, employment law, conflict resolution, mediation and executive coaching.

Over the last 13 years Carol has worked across multiple industries including manufacturing, pharmacy, healthcare and retail in the areas of human resources management.

Her role in HRI includes setting the People Strategy for the organisation, ensuring that HRI has the right people in the right roles to support the racing and breeding industry.

Carol was responsible for setting up the Industry Education and Training Department in HRI in 2015 and, with her team, is in year two of the strategy to improve the support offered by HRI to the industry in relation to education and training.

HAZEL SHERIDAN

Department of Agriculture

As Senior Superintending Veterinary Inspector with the Department of Agriculture, Hazel has been responsibility for the Department’s Veterinary Internal Audit, Medicines, Ethics and Training Division.

This division contributes to the protection of public and animal health, as well as Ireland’s ability to trade animals and animal products internationally, through the regulation of the distribution and use of veterinary medicines and monitoring the effectiveness of the Department’s official control system.

DEREK VEITCH

Breeder & Stud Farm Owner

Derek qualified as a veterinary surgeon in London 34 years ago.

He practiced in Northern Ireland and the Republic. At Ringfort Stud in Rhode, Co Offaly, he and his wife Gay have been breeding winners for 20 years.

Principally a vendor of flat foals, Ringfort Stud has, on average, produced 25 winners a year for the past 10 years.