Irish Cob Inspection
The inspections for 2023 will take place at two venues:
- *CLOSED* Greenogue Equestrian Centre, Dublin - 14th March (entries close 7th March)
- Ballybrack Equestrian Centre, Cork - 3rd April (entries close 27th March)
Please note that animals MUST have a passport in order to present for inspection in 2023
Check In
All owners must report to a HSI representative upon arrival at the centre along with the horses passport in order to check in.
The entry numbers provided by HSI must be used at all times during the inspection.
Entrants must ensure they reach the inspection site in plenty of time in order to check in their animal(s).
Please note animals that have not been checked in cannot be presented at the inspection
Presentation
All animals are expected to be presented at show standard and must be sufficiently trained and fit to take part in all aspects of the inspection. The animal should be in good condition, be well groomed and have well maintained hooves.
Stallions must be presented in a correctly fitted bridle.
Handlers are required to dress neatly. Suitable, protective footwear must be worn in order to present the animal correctly. In the case where an owner has more than one horse on the premises, sufficient handlers must be on site to cater for each animal. All handlers must be dressed appropriately.
Irish Cob Inspection Process
Irish Cob animals must be a minimum of 2 years of age to be presented for inspection.
The inspection panel consists of two inspectors.
The inspection will take place over one day and will include the following elements:
1. Veterinary Examination
2. Conformation and Breed Type Assessment
3. Gait Assessment
1. Veterinary Examination
On arrival to the veterinary examination the identification of the animal will be checked by comparing the animal’s markings to the markings on its passport. The animal will also be scanned to confirm its microchip number.
At the inspection animals will undergo a veterinary examination by Veterinary Surgeons appointed by Horse Sport Ireland. The examination will consist of the following:
Preliminary examination:
This includes height & bone measurement of all animals. The Preliminary Examination involves overall visual and palpable observations of the animal presented. The heart and lungs are examined at rest.
Horse Sport Ireland will take DNA samples from all animals presented for inspection. This DNA sample will be stored by the Approved Laboratory (Weatherbys Scientific) and will be used to verify the parentage of future progeny registered in the Irish Cob Studbook.
The measurements taken at the veterinary examination will be considered to be the official measurements of the animal for classification and studbook purposes.
Horse Sport Ireland reserve the right to take a blood sample from animals presented for inspection in order to test the presence of disease (e.g. CEM, EVA, EIA) and prohibited substances.
2. Conformation & Breed Type Assessment
Handlers must present animals to the inspectors in the arena for their conformation and breed type assessment. Animals must be able to stand correctly and quietly in order for the inspectors to make their assessment. No boots or leg wraps of any description are permitted at this stage of inspection.
Animals will be assessed on their ‘breed type’ (i.e. how closely they adhere to the breed standard outlines in the Irish Cob Studbook Rules.
3. Gait Assessment in the Arena
When requested the handler will move the animal in walk and then in trot.
The handler must always lead from the left side of the horse. Overuse of the whip is not permitted; the animal should be trained to show correctly.
Horse Sport Ireland reserves the right to terminate any inspection for health and safety reasons.
Classification Following Irish Cob Studbook Inspections
Animals that qualify for classification in the Main Elite Class following inspection will have their passports updated to reflect their classification in the Main Elite Class. Animals that do not qualify for classification in the Main Elite Class following inspection will retain their original classification in the Irish Cob Studbook.
Males that meet the inspection requirements for the Supplementary Elite Class will have their passports updated to reflect their classification in the Supplementary Elite Class.
Animals that do not qualify for classification in the Main Elite Class or the Supplementary Elite Class following inspection will retain their original classification in the Irish Cob Studbook.
Animals that are inspected under the Irish Cob Studbook Cross Breeding Programme that meet the inspection requirements will be classified in the Main Basic Register. Animals that do not meet the inspection requirements for the Cross Breeding Programmes will not be classified in the Irish Cob Studbook.
Appeals Procedure
The owners of animals that do not meet the inspection requirements will be given the opportunity to re-present the animal again at the next available inspection date.
Owners of animals that do not meet the clinical veterinary requirements may appeal the findings of the veterinary examination. The conditions of the appeal are as follows:
The owner of the horse must apply to HSI to have the horse re-examined within one month of the original examination;
The owner shall arrange at their own expense to have the animal examined by the School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Hospital, or by a veterinary practice nominated by HSI.
The re-examination shall only be carried out in respect of the condition for which the animal originally failed the clinical veterinary examination and the decision of the School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin Hospital or by a veterinary practice nominated by HSI, in respect of each examination shall be final.