TAMS II equine funding raised

MINISTER for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue (FF) commented in the Dail on TAMS II funding in response to questions raised on whether there is any more funding available for equines.

Minister McConalogue said: “There are a wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under TAMS II. Grant aid is currently available for horse stocks under the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme and the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme.

“To date, total expenditure under the seven measures of the TAMS, including transitional expenditure, has reached in excess of €349m with commitments of an additional €126m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those grants.

“Some 49,053 applications have been approved under the scheme. All outstanding approvals issued represent potential outstanding liabilities for the Department and we must have a budget in place to pay these claims. As a result, it is not possible to consider adding additional items such as specific investment items for equine farming to the comprehensive list of investment items already available under TAMS at this time.

“Specific investments have not yet been finalised in relation to the interventions to be included in the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP)(2023-2027), and representations from the equine sector will be given due consideration. The Capital Investment Scheme (CIS), as is the case with all proposals under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), is subject to the formal approval of the European Commission.

Increased prize fund for Stepping Stones final

HORSE Sport Ireland is supporting the Stepping Stones to Success Eventing league with an additional prize fund of €2,500 announced this week for the final which will take place on Tuesday, April 26th next.

Orla Roche of Wexford Equestrian Centre confirmed the increased prize fund yesterday (Friday). “There will be an addition €2,000 prize fund offered in the Childeric Saddles Ireland four- and five-year-old classes (worth €3,000 each) to be divided to the top three Irish-bred horses in each section and a winning breeder’s bonus to the breeder of the highest placed horse of €250 in each class. There is also a €500 prize fund to be divided to the highest placed Irish-bred ponies (1st-3rd) including a €150 to the winning breeder of the highest placed Irish-bred pony in addition to the €1,000 vouchers offered by Equijump Ltd,” said Orla Roche.

The Treo Eile prize fund is €1,500 and a raced thoroughbred bonus of €250 is supported by The Irish Horse Welfare Trust. (Entries are closing.)

McIntosh joins Karlswood Stables

NEW Zealand Olympian Samantha McIntosh has joined Cian O’Connor’s Karlswood Stables as a rider. “The opportunity for the job presented itself and when I weighed up the odds, I thought it was a good chance to progress. It was an easy connection as I know Cian and it probably took just a couple of days backwards and forwards to work out the finer details. I think we are both what the other is looking for in the role,” she told Equestrian Sports New Zealand.

McIntosh (46) rode for Bulgaria at the 2000 Olympic Games and for New Zealand at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, and was based in Europe for much for her career. She arrived this week and brought her 13-year-old gelding James S to Ireland where she will produce seven-, eight- and nine-year-olds for O’Connor.

Hunter Trials at Tatts

THE Louth Hunt is holding its hunter trials at the popular venue of Tattersalls Farm on Sunday next, April 24th.

There will be the usual competitions of open singles, open pairs, novice singles and novice pairs backed up by classes for pre-novice singles and pre-novice pairs while two groups of riders should take note of special prizes.

There will be a prize for the best-placed current Pony Club member/members in each class and the competition should prove an excellent warm-up for the Connolly’s Red Mills/Irish Pony Club one-day events which begin with the Area 7 qualifier at Killossery Lodge on May 21st. There will also be a special prize for the highest-placed thoroughbred horse throughout the day.

For further information, contact Marnie Crerar on 086-3007107, marniecrerar@gmail.com or facebook.com/louthhuntertrials. This event will run under the new insurance scheme NHSPFS.