"Cash-Cow"controversy continues

Before Christmas we reported on a very lively Irish Horse co-op AGM in Mallow at which it was stated that the co-op had been seen as a “cash cow” for the formation of Horse Sport Ireland back in 2007/2008.

Horse Sport Ireland sent us a lengthy response to this allegation which we printed under the heading “HSI sets the record straight”.

It stated that at its 2008 special general meeting, 75% of co-op members had voted in favour of affiliating to HSI. The statement then went on to list the benefits that have accrued to Irish Horse co-op members through affiliation to HSI as follows: discounts on registration and membership fees; provision of staff free of charge; an annual grant to the IHB; HSI funding a number of classes and events in jumping, eventing and showing like the RDS Young Horse classes. Finally, the statement said that there had been no running down of Irish Horse co-op funds by HSI and that this had been caused by a legal settlement prior to the affiliation to HSI.

Over the Christmas period, we received a detailed response to that HSI statement from former Irish Horse Board member Harold McGahern of Rincoola, Granard, Co Longford and it was printed in last week’s Viewpoint page.

Here is what Mr McGahern has to say: “The un-attributed article titled ‘HSI sets the record straight’ is less than complete in accuracy, detail or verification.

“Much play is made of the 75% mandate of IHB members to affiliate to HSI, but what is airbrushed from this scenario is that what was promised and expected was that Irish Sport Horses would flourish in a holistic, co-operative umbrella body that would support and promote them in domestic and international sport. (cf Dowling Report).

“So, it is time for ISH breeders to review and revise their support for this failed experiment. I confidently predict that if the question was again put to IHB shareholders in 2017 that they would overwhelmingly vote to reject what is a parasitic arrangement.

HSI operates a herd-register rather than a studbook. In June 2012, the board agreed to register any horse that was registered (note not necessarily approved) in any other studbook.

“Now, anything goes. In my view, there is:

1) No quality control.

2) No breed standard.

3) No field officers.

4) No mare inspections.

5) No policy for herd improvement.

6) No geneticist employed, etc.

AFFILIATION

“Meanwhile, IHB members pay HSI €159,131 affiliation fees (2015 accounts), while other affiliates with larger membership pay a micro-fraction of this amount for affiliation. Add to this, the registration fees income (in excess of €1m), which is derived exclusively from ISH breeders. How can you argue that IHB is not a “cash cow” for HSI?

“It is not true to state that “HSI provides staff free of charge to the IHB”.

“HSI sponsorship of RDS classes is now less than half of what it was under the IHB 10 years ago. The ISH Show-Jumping Series pre-dates HSI. With regard to the “running down of shareholders funds”, there is a simple question to be answered: after the legal settlement in 2007, there was a significant residue of shareholders funds remaining. Where are they now and/or what has become of them?

“HSI is the only national federation in Europe that controls a studbook. In 2008, when HSI was established, the ISH studbook ranked eighth in the WBFSH show-jumping rankings, it now languishes in 13th position.

“The IHB Co-Op must reclaim absolute and total responsibility for the ISH studbook and start to recover its reputation before it is totally eroded. HSI has done nothing for Irish Sport Horses since it took over the studbook. The evidence is overwhelming that IHB shareholders have suffered from the HSI experiment.

“Einstein defined stupidity as the repetition of a failed experiment in the expectation of a favourable outcome. Indecon and the Department of Agriculture do not need a clairvoyant to recognise what needs to be done.”