MINISTER for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, has confirmed he will address the audience at the upcoming Gain Equine Nutrition and Alltech Equine Summit on November 9th next.

The summit, organised in association with Grant Thornton and The Irish Field, will bring both the thoroughbred and sport horse sectors together with a central theme of ‘Striving for global excellence’.

The Equine Summit aims to reinforce the importance of the equine industry to the overall Irish economy from an employment, export, marketing and education point of view.

The opening session, titled ‘How can we evolve, compete and lead the global equine industry – can we collaborate to overcome the challenges?’ will be chaired by The Irish Field’s Leo Powell and feature a panel of Brian Kavanagh, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland; Ronan Murphy, CEO of Horse Sport Ireland; Teagasc chairman De Noel Cawley and Meta Osborne, senior steward of The Turf Club.

The sport horse breakaway session will discuss ‘How can the Irish sport horse sector position itself in a changing market?’, and will be chaired by journalist Suzanne Campbell. The panel includes Lucinda Creighton, CEO Vulcan Consulting; international show jumper Cameron Hanley; Johann Knapp, Director KWPN Dutch Stud Book and British event rider Oliver Townend.

The thoroughbred breakout session will be chaired by Lorna Fowler, thoroughbred breeder and trainer at Rahinstown Stud. It will discuss ‘What does success look like for thoroughbred breeders: an international viewpoint.’ Participants in this session include Jim Bolger, racehorse trainer and breeder; Joe Foley of Ballyhane Stud; Richard Aston, Goldford Stud UK and Grove Stud’s Brendan Holland.

“The importance of both the thoroughbred and sport horse sectors to Ireland’s economy is very significant. Together they are worth some €2.5 billion and provide huge direct and secondary employment throughout the island,” said Leo Powell.

“This makes it a vital component of both the agricultural and agri-related sectors and this summit will highlight that importance to wider audience.”

The Equine Summit will kick off in the Keadeen Hotel in Naas, Co Kildare, at 3pm on Thursday, November 9th with a welcome address from Glanbia Group chairman Henry Corbally, followed by a keynote address from founder and president of Alltech, Dr Pearse Lyons. All are welcome to attend.

Industry statistics will be presented by Sasha Kerins of Grant Thornton, before the central plenary discussion commences.

Dinner will be served following Minister Creed’s address and the breakout sessions will commence at 6.30pm.

Tickets for the event cost €55 (including dinner, booking fee and VAT) and are now available to purchase online.

Web: eventbrite.ie (search for Equine Summit)

EQUINE SUMMIT AGENDA

Thursday, November 9th 2017

14:15 – Registration opens

15:00 – Welcome Address: Henry Corbally, Chairman Glanbia Ireland and Glanbia plc

15:10 – Keynote Address: Dr. Pearse Lyons, Founder and President, Alltech

15:40 – Presentation of Industry Statistics: Sasha Kerins, Partner, Head of Agri Food, Grant Thornton

16:00 – Plenary Discussion:

How can we evolve, compete and lead the global equine industry – Can we collaborate to overcome the challenges?

  • Brian Kavanagh, CEO, Horse Racing Ireland
  • Ronan Murphy, CEO, Horse Sport Ireland
  • Dr. Noel Cawley, Chairman, Teagasc
  • Meta Osborne, Senior Steward, The Turf Club
  • Leo Powell, Editor, The Irish Field (Chair)
  • 17:10 – Minister’s Address

    Michael Creed, Minister for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

    17:30 – Dinner

    18:30 – Breakout Sessions

    Option 1: Sporthorse Breakout Session

    How can the Irish Sporthorse sector position itself in a changing market?

  • Lucinda Creighton, Vulcan Consulting
  • Cameron Hanley, International Showjumper
  • Johann Knapp, Director KWPN Dutch Stud Book
  • Suzanne Campbell, Broadcaster and Journalist, (Chair)
  • Option 2: Thoroughbred Breakout Session

    What does success look like for thoroughbred breeders, an international view point.

  • Jim Bolger, Racehorse Trainer and Breeder
  • Joe Foley, Ballyhane Stud
  • Richard Aston, Goldford Stud, UK
  • Brendan Holland, Grove Stud
  • Lorna Fowler, Thoroughbred Trainer and Breeder (Chair)