IRELAND has long been recognised as one of the world’s foremost producers of high-quality thoroughbreds. With a deep-rooted breeding tradition and a globally-respected bloodstock industry, it seems natural to ask whether more could be done to support the very people who produce these horses - the breeders. One proposal that surfaces from time to time is the introduction of a breeders’ premium on sales: a system where a small percentage of the sale price is returned to the breeder. But would this be a help or a hindrance?

Encouraging reinvestment