A LEGAL challenge has automatically tied the hands of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) from announcing the successful studbook tender awards for the Irish sport horse sector.

The tender process is now automatically suspended pending the outcome of this legal case, which could rumble on for months or even longer.

Horse Sport Ireland filed Judicial Review proceedings to the DAFM’s decision to award the tender for the provision of ‘Marketing Services’ for the sport horse sector to the Irish Horse Board.

The legal move automatically suspends the tender process which was in its final hours of a 14-day evaluation period before Ministers Charlie McConalogue (FF) and Martin Heydon (FG) could formally announce the awards for each tender competition.

There was no comment from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to queries on the tenders by time of going to press yesterday afternoon (Friday).

Yesterday (Friday), Horse Sport Ireland issued a statement to The Irish Field in which they clearly stated their course of action.

“Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) confirms that judicial review proceedings have been commenced to challenge the decision of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding the provision of marketing services for the sport horse sector in Ireland.

“Regrettably, Horse Sport Ireland has been left with no alternative to initiate this action given the concerns arising in respect of the evaluation process run by the Department. As this matter is now before the courts, HSI can make no further comment.”

Chairman of the Irish Horse Board, Tiernan Gill \ Laurence Dunne Jumpinaction.net

Irish Horse Board statement

A statement released yesterday (Friday) by the Irish Horse Board to The Irish Field stated: “The Irish Horse Board are delighted that the Government has re-established funding to the body, which will enable us to provide National and International Marketing services to the sport horse sector through contract from DAFM.

“The Irish Horse Board provided all breeding services to the industry from 1994 to 2007 and the board and members are excited to once again provide representation, a clear focus and fresh direction to marketing Irish Horses on behalf of all Irish breeders, producers and owners.

“We look forward working with all relevant stakeholders in the coming years,” said the Irish Horse Board chairman Tiernan Gill.

Tenders

For their part, Horse Sport Ireland were successful in retaining the tenders for the studbooks and National Breeding Services. The Studbook services were divided into three lots as per the tenders, first advertised by the DAFM back in January 2022, namely the Irish Sport Horse and the Irish Sport Pony; the Irish Draught, the Irish Cob and the Irish Part-bred Cob.

What happens now is that Horse Sport Ireland automatically continues with the operation of the studbooks and all related services pending the outcome of their judicial review proceedings – the cost of which will likely be funded out of HSI’s commercial income such as studbook fees.

It’s understood that the judicial review is likely to be briefly mentioned in the court lists at some point before the end of October but it could be some time before the process truly gets under way.