WORTH almost €1 billion to Ireland’s economy and supporting 14,000 full-time jobs, the Irish sport horse industry certainly deserves its fair share of Budget 2020 when it is delivered next Tuesday, but the reality is that the sector is not holdings its collective breath in anticipation of any substantial increase in public funding.

We would all love and welcome same if it comes to pass but past disappointments in this area are still all too real – despite our vibrant sector being one of the few indigenous industries that can be relied upon to provide jobs across both urban and rural areas nationwide. We have over 120,000 horses and ponies in the country and almost 15,000 breeders.