Horse sport sector puts its best foot forward

I am proud to be part of the sport horse sector because of the way it has stepped up to the mark in response to the current terrible COVID-19 crisis,” says Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) CEO Ronan Murphy. “I know that people within the sector have made huge sacrifices in an effort to comply with the new government regulations and it is admirable.”

As to the operation of his own office, he notes that ever since the Taoiseach’s St Patrick’s Day address, the full staff of 40 have been working remotely on laptops and will continue in that mode for the foreseeable future.

Breeding sector

I also spoke with HSI director of breeding Alison Corbally and in no uncertain terms she said that all of their normal competitions usually run over the next few months have been cancelled. This includes the popular Stud Book Series plus events for mares and foals.

From my own point of view, there can be no doubt that the pandemic will have a huge disruptive effect on this year’s breeding season. Vets are confined to serving just essential emergencies. However, scanning of mares for coverings by AI is included in what is permitted by the “care of animals” exemptions under the latest COVID-19 directives. This new scientific process of AI should certainly be an advantage for the sport horse sector during the present crisis since it obviates the need to travel mares.

Alison Corbally is philosophical about the long-term outcome of coronavirus.

“While everything has slowed down, maybe it affords us all the time to evaluate our mares, our breeding stock and the way we have been producing our young horses” she says.

A rider’s view

Also taking a philosophical view of the current situation is Ireland’s one and only World Show Jumping Champion, Dermott Lennon of Banbridge.

“It really has two angles to it. It can be a positive in giving us a good chance of working with our horses at home. But at the same time it can be very detrimental for people doing liveries.

“Owners do not know how much their horses will get to do this year due to the cancellation of shows and may be a bit sceptical about liveries. But looking on the bright side it gives us plenty of time for home work, it allows the young ones to mature well and for the older ones to get a rest and be in top shape when competition does start again.”

Dermott’s words of wisdom, no doubt, applies to hundreds of sport horse yards north and south of the border right now as they pause, contribute where they can and prepare for better times to come.