Advertorial: Ireland's unparalleled expertise in China

The Irish Horse Board (IHB) has taken significant strides in expanding its global presence while simultaneously bolstering support for local breeders and producers. In a landmark event last week, the IHB made history with its first official meeting with the China Horse Industry Association (CHIA) in Beijing, marking a new chapter in Irish-Chinese equestrian relations.

The prestigious event, hosted by Dr Nicholas O’Brien at the Irish Embassy, culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the IHB and CHIA. This agreement paves the way for enhanced collaboration, trade opportunities, and shared expertise in all facets of the horse industry.

Development goals

Tiernan Gill, chairman of the Irish Horse Board, stated: “Having consolidated our position in established markets like Britain and America, we are now focusing on emerging markets. This MOU with CHIA aligns perfectly with China’s National Equine Industry Development Plan (2020-2025) and presents huge potential for Ireland to contribute to China’s equestrian development.”

The event showcased Ireland’s unparalleled expertise in breeding, training, and equestrian sports, positioning the country to support China’s ambitious equine development goals. With the Irish sport horse industry contributing over €816m to the Irish economy and providing more than 14,000 jobs, primarily in rural areas, this collaboration opens up significant opportunities for Irish breeders, trainers, and equestrian professionals.

Alison Corbally, director general of the Irish Horse Board, added: “We’re excited about the prospects this agreement brings. Plans are already in place for forthcoming events to grow this relationship, which will benefit both nations’ equestrian sectors.”

In addition to its international endeavours, the IHB is committed to supporting local breeders and producers. The board is pleased to announce a series of marketing training events scheduled throughout Ireland in April.

These events aim to provide breeders and producers with invaluable skills from leading industry professionals, focusing on effective horse marketing techniques.

The training sessions will cover essential topics such as:

These events offer an ideal opportunity for those looking to sell their horses privately during the year to upskill in a friendly, informal atmosphere close to home.

The IHB encourages all interested parties to take advantage of this unique opportunity to enhance their marketing capabilities.

The Irish sport horse industry’s strength is evident in its consistent performance on the global stage. Irish-bred horses have dominated the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) rankings in eventing, winning 24 out of the past 29 years. Young Irish horses have also consistently won medals at the prestigious FEI World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken for the past seven years.

As the IHB continues to promote Irish horses and on the global stage, these local training events underscore its commitment to supporting the grassroots of the industry.

By empowering breeders and producers with modern marketing skills, the IHB aims to enhance the competitiveness of Irish sport horses in both domestic and international markets.

For more information on the marketing training events and to apply, interested parties are encouraged to email Nadia Rea at nrea@ihb.ie. Dates and locations are provided in the accompanying advertisement.

The Irish Horse Board remains dedicated to raising the profile of Irish horses globally while providing crucial support to the local industry, ensuring a bright future for Irish equestrianism both at home and abroad. Be part of Ireland’s thriving sport horse industry. By joining the Irish Horse Board Co-operative Society, you’ll gain:

How to become a member

Together, we’re stronger. Scan the QR code to become a member and help drive the success of Irish sport horses worldwide.