KILDARE County Council is inviting bookings for its Equine Summit 2026 event entitled Pathways and Possibilities: Careers in the Irish Equine Sector.

The event will take place on Thursday, March 5th, at the Curragh Racecourse and runs from 8am to 5pm. It will feature a series of expert panels discussing how the equine sector sustains thousands of jobs, supports communities and contributes to Ireland’s reputation on the world stage.

The day will be launched with a ‘Young Equine Innovator’s Guide to a Career in the Equine Industry’ session hosted by Nina Carberry MEP, Jacqui McNabb (head of Enterprise and Economic Development at KCC) and Orla Casey.

Panel one will look at the topic Ireland’s Equine Industry: Opportunities and Outlook - understanding of the structure, scale, and future direction of the Irish equine industry.

Panellists will include Prof. William Hynes, managing director of KPMG Future Analytics, Ireland, Joe Osborne, who helped establish the Godolphin Flying Start programme, Denis Duggan, CEO of Horse Sport Ireland, Carol Nolan, director of People and Industry Education at Horse Racing Ireland and Joey Cullen, marketing director at Goffs.

Panel two will look at the topic ‘The Team Behind a Champion - exploring diverse careers in the Irish Equine Sector’ where panellists will discuss the variety of professional paths available in the equine industry, share personal stories and successful career journeys and offer practical guidance and expert advice on entering and thriving in the field.

Panellists include trainer Ross O’Sullivan, jockey Shane Foley, equine vet Dr Marcus Swail, Nicole Groyer of Connolly’s Red Mills and David O’Callaghan of Yeomanstown Stud.

Panel three will cover the topic ‘Innovation and the Future of Equine Careers’, exploring how innovation is reshaping everything from animal welfare to data-driven performance analysis.

Speakers for this session will include Pierce Dargan, former CEO and founder of Equine MediRecord, Wendy Conlon, equine specialist with Teagasc, Annemarie O’Brien, CEO and founder of Equimetrics, Dr Kevin Corley, director and founder of Veterinary Advances, and Dr Emmeline Hill, professor of Equine Genomics at University College Dublin and co-founder of Equinome.

Panellists here will offer insightful perspectives from pioneering leaders at the forefront of equine innovation, revealing how emerging technologies and forward-thinking approaches are shaping the future of the sector.

They will also demonstrate career pathways for those eager to make their mark in fields such as equine genomics, veterinary advancements, smart data analytics, sustainable nutrition, and digital record management.

Panel four will cover ‘Equine Tourism: Showcasing Ireland to the World’ with panellists including Laura Magee, CEO of Horse Country, Shauna Harrington of Kildangan Stud, Evan Arkwright, racing and sponsorship manager at the Curragh Racecourse, John Osborne, director of equine welfare and bloodstock at Horse Racing Ireland, Aideen Morrin, co-founder of Stories Ireland DMC, and Dr Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir, a leading academic in rural tourism and equestrian studies, with expertise in equestrian tourism, rural innovation and small business development.

Attendance is free of charge but must be booked in advance. Scan the QR code on this page to register.

For group bookings of more than 10, email localenterprise@kildarecoco.ie