Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) are delighted to launch a mare upgrade scheme for breeders of performance sport horses. The aim of this initiative is to incentivise Irish breeders to invest in performance damlines abroad as either filly foals, active performance mares or retired performance mares that may/or may or may not be already in foal. The scheme will finance the veterinary screening and transport back to Ireland of qualifying purchased high genetic merit mares/fillies. A Horse Sport Ireland Breeding Scheme Advisor will be available to assist breeders through this process. This initiative is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.
The HSI scheme is open to Irish breeders aiming to register foals in a WBFSH/DAFM approved studbook and who intend to purchase a mare or filly meeting specific damline performance and other requirements. Breeders will have the opportunity to apply to participate in the mare upgrade scheme by completing an online application. Following receipt of a valid application which is subsequently approved, HSI will cover the cost of the veterinary screening and transport back to Ireland up to a maximum of €2,000 per horse (in accordance with scheme criteria).
Ponies are also eligible to receive funding under the scheme but must also meet the performance criteria and be registered in a WBFSH/DAFM Approved Pony Studbook.
This scheme has three objectives:
1. Increase the numbers of performance dam lines in the active broodmare herd in Ireland;
2. Incentivise the veterinary screening of mares and fillies imported into Ireland for breeding purposes;
3. Establish pathways and a knowledge base to encourage further importations of suitable mares into the active broodmare herd in Ireland.
Horse Sport Ireland will provide the results of this scheme, where relevant, to the studbook of origin of the equine in question
Drawdown of funding is subject to the completion of scheme feedback
Filly/mare's must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- Be registered/endorsed in a DAFM/WBFSH approved studbook.;
- Meet the required veterinary criteria;
- Provide verified results demonstrating the performance criteria outlined below: and/or
- The foal/filly/Mare must have a genetic evaluation in the top 10 percentile of their studbook of origin;
- 1st Dam (or sister), 2nd Dam and/or 3rd Dam of the young horse for show jumping must have either jumped double clear at 1.45m or have bred at least 1 progeny that have jumped double clear at 1.45m. 1.50m performance damlines will be given preference.
- For eventing, the criteria is performance at CCI4*-S with preference given for CCI4*-L.
- For dressage, the criteria is performance at CDI3* with preference given for CDI4*.
- Sires must have competed successfully at 1.50m and be Approved/Preliminary Approved or Recognised/Preliminary Recognised classification in a WBFSH/DAFM-Approved studbook.
- All fillies and mares must successfully undergo a standard 5 stage pre-purchase vetting.
- Two-year-old fillies and mares must also complete the HSI Mare X-ray Screening Protocol.
Appendices for Horse Sport Ireland Mare Upgrade Scheme 2022
Appendix 1: Performance requirements
Foal/Fillies/Mares must meet both of the following performance criteria:
- Be registered/endorsed in a DAFM/WBFSH approved studbook.;
- Meet the required veterinary criteria;
- Provide verified results demonstrating the performance criteria outlined below:
- The foal/filly/Mare must have a genetic evaluation in the top 10 percentile of their studbook of origin; and/or
- 1st Dam (or sister), 2nd Dam and/or 3rd Dam of the young horse must have either jumped double clear at 1.45m or have bred at least 1 progeny that have jumped double clear at 1.45m. 1.50m performance damlines will be given preference.
- Sires must have competed successfully at 1.50m and be Approved/Preliminary Approved or Recognised/Preliminary Recognised classification in a WBFSH/DAFM-Approved studbook.
Appendix 2: Checklist for payment
- The form is digitally signed
- A copy of the filly or mare’s passports is supplied
- A zootechnical certification for the filly or mare is supplied
- A veterinary certificate for mares demonstrating successful completion of a five-stage pre-purchase vetting.
- If the application is for a two-year old or older filly or mare, a digital copy of the X-rays and interpretation has been sent to HSI.
- Supporting documentation showing proof that the filly or mare meets requirements outlined in Appendix 1 is supplied.
- IBAN (International Bank Account Number -a combination of letters and numbers that usually include your bank account number and sort code - this can be found on your bank statement or using banking online)
Please note that the closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00pm 30th September 2022. Applications will be deemed to be invalid if they are incomplete.