Irish Horse Board Advises Breeders to Stick to Approved Stallions

At its regular Board meeting, on Friday the 19th May, the Irish Horse Board discussed the issue of breeding horses for the market place and, in particular, the role of the Irish Draught breed.

The discussion took place in the context of recent developments with regard to the outcome of the Irish Draught Genetic Diversity Project. The authors of the project made a number of recommendations and the Horse Board felt it could take them on board to a limited extent. This relates to the limited use of certain S1 Irish Draught stallions and the provision of a small number of progeny with a green passport subject to a thorough inspection process. The Board emphasises that this was being done exclusively in the context of genetic diversity and conservation.

The Board is unwavering in their recommendation to commercial breeders that they should, as a general rule, continue to use Approved stallions of whatever breed they may choose to use. This remains the way to commercial success in breeding. The Board added that it wished to explore the possibility of introducing a limited level of Thoroughbred genes in to the Irish Draught and would with to discuss this with the Irish Draught Horse Society and other interested parties.