Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has just launched a new online facility for breeders to check if the covering certificate for their mare has been returned to HSI.

This facility is available on HSI’s website at a href="http://www.horsesportireland.ie/passports/covering-certificate-check/" target="_blank">www.horsesportireland.ie/passports/covering-certificate-check and is also available on CapallOir.

The breeder simply types their mares name in the search area and if a covering cert has been received for a 2013 covering, the details of this covering will be displayed.

The details returned in the search include the covering date supplied by the stallion owner, the date the covering certificate was received by HSI and the date the foal marking kit was issued from HSI’s office.

Alison Corbally, head of breeding and programmes, told The Irish Horse: “This new online tool will enable all mare owners to check on a 24-hour basis whether HSI has received the cert for their particular mare.

“If the covering is not listed under their mares name, then it has not been received by HSI. Once it has been received in the office, the details will appear on the website in real time.”

Not listed

Breeders who have covered their mares in 2013 and cannot find their mare’s name listed on the website, should contact the stallion owner directly. At the recent stallion owners’ open meeting, those present said that often the covering cert cannot be returned to HSI due to the mare owners not supplying the mare details, such as her registration number.

Often there is a simple explanation which can be dealt with quickly.

Aside from providing the registration details to the stallion owners at the time of covering, mare owners must also ensure that all mares covered in 2013 have been named and are in the correct ownership before the details of the covering can be displayed online.

Currently, 287 mare owners have received letters from HSI asking them to update their mare’s details before foal marking charts can be issued.

To download a change of ownership form, please see: www.horsesportireland.ie/passports/transfer-ownership

Foal sales

It is also important for mare owners who intend to sell their foal this autumn to return the foal marking chart as soon as possible to ensure that they have received their foals’ passports in time for the sales.

HSI reminded all breeders in last week’s Irish Farmers Journal that fully valid applications are required by today, 31 July 2014. This is to allow time for Weatherby’s to confirm parentage by DNA testing, which can take up to six weeks in this busy period. Breeders are advised to send their details in immediately and HSI will endeavour to have the passport returned in time for the sale.