MINISTER for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, T.D, joined Irish Olympian Cian O’Connor and two of Ireland’s performance studbooks at Karlswood on Thursday to launch the 2023 Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) Studbook Series in both show jumping and eventing disciplines.

Minister McConalogue officially opened the series alongside breeding directors from HSI and the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland (WSI), with the competition open to all Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)-approved studbooks for the second year running, and for the first time ever in eventing.

The series, which begins this weekend at Galway EC runs through to September. The series is a platform for young horses as they develop towards elite level with a particular focus on representing Irish Studbooks at the WBFSH World Breeding Championships in eventing and show jumping.

The Department of Agriculture has dedicated a fund of €200,000 to support the series across disciplines, an increase of €15,000 on the show jumping series in 2022, and a welcome re-introduction of the series for young event horses. Breeders’ prizes will be awarded for leading performance in each class and overall league results. A new prize for 2023 includes recognition and support for leading young riders in the form of league prizes.

€15,000 increase

“I am very pleased to be here in Karlswood to help kick off this year’s Studbook Series. The series plays a vital role in supporting and promoting equine breeding success through the industry through young horse competition as they learn their trade,” Minister McConalogue said at the launch.

“My Department is delighted to work alongside Horse Sport Ireland to help develop the sector and industry through initiatives like the Studbook Series and we are also very happy to have increased the prize fund by €15,000 this year in show jumping and open an eventing-specific series to the tune of €65,000. It is great to see Horse Sport Ireland and the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland here, as it is important to publicise the fact that Ireland’s studbooks are working together for the benefit of breeders. I hope it is a huge success again.”

HSI Head of Breeding, Sonja Egan, added: “The 2023 HSI Studbook Series represents another lift in support of the industry by HSI and the Department of Agriculture. This series will help to maintain Ireland as a leader in the production of eventing and show jumping horses. In 2023 the series commands a total fund of €200,000 dedicated to the production of young eventing and show jumping horses.

“We took a lot from last year’s success at Lanaken and have implemented small changes which will contribute to production of show jumping horses.

“That includes the introduction of an open water fence, first as an option and later as a mandatory fence and ground lines in the first three phases in the five-year-old section.

“HSI, WSI and DAFM welcome the return of an eventing specific series to support Irish eventing breeders, owners, and riders. This facilitates these Irish-bred eventers to be produced nationally through a bespoke series which targets Le Lion selection and a future career in eventing.”

WSI’s Breeding Director, Thomas Reed added: “It is very important for WSI to be here at Karlswood and I am grateful to Cian for allowing us to bring a WSI-bred horse to his magnificent facility as we help launch the series alongside HSI.

“This is the second year that the series is open to other studbooks, and it is a crucial development for Irish Warmbloods, one of two breeds of sport horses.”