THE immediate future of the Irish Sport Horse industry is on a cliff edge after crucial negotiations stalled yesterday afternoon (Friday) between Horse Sport Ireland and key Government Departments in a bid to pave the way for a partial structured reopening of the suspended €816 million Irish equestrian industry.

Horse Sport Ireland’s Acting CEO Joe Reynolds said: “We have been unsuccessful in our latest attempt to get any movement. We believe that the officials in the various Departments are hearing our case clearly but we cannot get it through the higher levels. We now really need Minister Charlie McConalogue to make a decision to help the 14,000-plus employed in the sector.