Looking back on the news side of the 2017 equestrian year, the word that I think suits the most is ‘expectation’. For our breeding sector, the new Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) CEO and the outcome of the Indecon Report, there is the expectation that there will be forward movement.

Inspections

As to the most memorable news moments from the past 12 months, I would first include the restoration of inspections for mares and stallions. Nobody could have predicted the vociferous reaction created when it was casually announced at the 2015 Horse Board AGM that these seminal events were being scrapped.

At first it was muted; but by the following year’s AGM it had reached a crescendo as breeders felt that a three-card-trick had been played on the breeding sector in terms of funding.

Happily, the message hit home and soon it was announced that the decision was being reviewed and that inspections would again take place in 2017.

Nor were the breeders slow to take vantage. Some 250 mares were presented for assessment at the spring and autumn sessions, while 30 colts were entered for the March inspections at Cavan. All of which was positive.

New CEO

In June, after a detailed series of interviews with a large number of applicants, breeder and competitor Ronan Murphy was appointed the new CEO of HSI. He replaced Damien McDonald who had held the post since its inception back in 2006 and who moved on to a similar position with the IFA.

Murphy said of his selection: “I look forward to working closely with all of our stakeholders to build a sustainable industry and ensure continued success around the world.”

There has been, generally, a very positive reaction to the new appointment.

Indecon report

For a good part of the year there was a good deal of expectation as we awaited the long promised Department of Agriculture-commissioned review of HSI by Indecon.

When it finally arrived in early July, it proved to be perhaps much more detailed and specific than expected.

However, for the most part it too was positively received as it called for greater funding of the sector and an in-depth shake-up of the HSI committee structures.

Team of the year

The Irish Show Jumping team beat off competition from the best teams in Ireland to be crowned 2017 RTÉ Sport Awards “Team Of The Year” during a show broadcast live on RTÉ TV last Saturday. Ireland’s Show jumpers, who won Team Gold at the European Championships in Gothenburg back in August for the first time in 16 years, were among seven teams who were nominated, with the winner decided by public vote.

The All-Ireland winning Galway Hurling and Dublin Football teams and Irish Rowing duo Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll, were among the nominees, however the public decided that our equestrian stars were ‘The Team’ of 2017.

End of year controversy

Not for the first time, Irish Show Jumping was marred by controversy as an otherwise successful year ended.

The resignation of Gerry Mullins as Chairman of the High Performance Committee even overshadowed Ireland’s winning of the RTÉ Team Of the Year Award.

Apparently having to do with budgetary matters, efforts at resolving the controversy were ongoing as we went into the Christmas break. At the same time Bertram Allen was scoring a win in the Christmas Tree Stakes at Olympia Horse Show with his new one Gin Chin van het Lindenhof.

What to expect in 2018

Indecon challenges

Looking toward the year ahead, Indecon will again be the centre of focus as HSI grapples with its many challenges. When The Irish Horse interviewed its CEO Ronan Murphy last October be noted that the report had made some 23 recommendations on governance, structure of relationships with affiliates, breeding and programmes.

He went on to say: “A task force with representatives from HSI, and our funding bodies will be established to oversee the implementation process and will meet shortly.”

Among the more difficult recommendations HSI will have to deal with is that which calls for a reduction of the number of people sitting on the HSI Board of Directors. The report wants a drop from 19 to just nine. Murphy says that the exact number may not be written in stone, but regardless there will still have to be a significant reduction, which is sure to cause much pain.

Chicken and egg situation

Significantly, Murphy also indicates that the much needed increase in funding is predicated on the implementation of the Indecon recommendations. Hence we have a chicken and egg situation that will have to be dealt with.

While many demands and predictions were made about the kind of funding needed to make HSI fully efficient in fulfilling its many programmes, there was some disappointment when the 2018 budget added no more than €500,000 to its existing grant of €2m.

However, there is expectation that with good solid progress on Indecon much more could be forthcoming.

Also, hopefully forthcoming will be the nomination of a new HSI Chairman by the Department of Agticulture in consultation with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. For the first time the selection is being made through a new application method and may still take some time. In the end, one can only hope that a person fully informed in equestrian administration will emerge.