It would be easier to chart the movement of a snail than predict the results of Brexit. This is particularly true in regard to the movement of horses between EU countries and the UK.

For many months now, a special six-member task force for Brexit set up by the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) has been wrestling with this conundrum. Very recently it submitted a comprehensive proposal to those currently grappling with the possibility of hammering out a trade deal between the EU and the UK – Michel Barnier and Lord Frost.

Irish input

Happily, with three of its six members originating from here, Ireland is strongly represented on the IHSC taskforce. It Includes Des Leaden of the Irish Equine Centre (IEC), who is now chair of the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders veterinary committee; Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) CEO Brian Kavanagh, who is chair of the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation and Horse Sport Ireland’s (HSI) former CEO Ronan Murphy who is a European Equestrian Federation committee member.

Proposal

The proposal put before the Brexit negotiators aims to secure the future of the European equine industry through safe and expedited horse movement between EU member states and the UK.

President of both the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and the IHSC, Ingmar De Vas notes that with or without a trade agreement emerging from the current negotiations, the goal for the international horse world is to arrive at a situation “that will allow for a continuation of the historical expedited movement of horses for breeding, sale and competition between EU member states and Britain [sic]”.

He goes on to note that currently the equine industry is one of the most important breeding and production sectors in Europe, stating that the sector: “Has greater economic impact and employment than a number of other European agricultural sectors, with a net worth at €52bn per annum providing for 210,000 direct and more than 500,000 indirect jobs.”

If a trade agreement does somehow miraculously happen in the days ahead the taskforce’s proposal is for zero tariffs on mares, stallions and geldings crossing back and forth between the EU and UK. To facilitate this it is recommending a new digital passport that would provide full traceability and sanitary guarantees on a 24/7 basis.

In case of a non-agreement the taskforce is requesting that the EU facilitate secure movement of horses between neighbouring states under its animal health laws.

Without an agreement, the economic hit for the industry could be in the region of €17bn and a potential loss of 250,000 jobs. The message to both the EU and the UK is that truly the horse matters.