Important Rule Changes for ISH Studbook and ISH Show Jumping Series

Following a meeting last week of Horse Sport Ireland's breeding sub board, a number of significant changes to the rules of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook and the eligibility criteria for the ISH Showjumping League have been announced.

1) Registration

The rule changes mean that it is now possible to register any foal in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook whose parents are registered in a recognised sport horse (World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses) or Thoroughbred studbook. HSI have re iterated that all foals registered with a sire and dam recorded which are eligible for inclusion in the ISH or ID studbook will be eligible for a 'green' passport. The old 'blue book' is no longer being issued.

HSI's Director of Breeding and Programmes, Alison Corbally explained the changes. "The reality is that we still have far too many horses in Ireland being registered without recorded pedigree. These new initiatives are aimed at encouraging all breeders to record the breeding of their foals. With this in mind, I would remind all stallion owners to submit covering certificates from their stallions to ensure their clients can benefit from these changes and register their foals as is required by law before they are six months of age." she said.


2) Inspections

Other changes to the rules include amendments to the eligibility criteria for stallion, mare and gelding studbook inspections. All horses registered in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook (green or old blue passport) are now eligible for studbook inspections and should they meet inspection requirements they will be eligible for Star Ratings.

"We hope that these rule changes will make it easier for breeders and will encourage breeders to bring their stock out for inspection, said Alison Corbally.

3) ISH Studbook series 2013

The eligibility criteria for the ISH Showjumping Series is also going to be opened up in 2013. As of next year all horses registered in the Irish Horse Register with the breed codes ISH, RID or ID, and with sire and dam documented on their passport will be eligible to compete at these prestigious classes. Horse Sport Ireland will also meet with the Irish Shows Association later this year to discuss the 2013 eligibility criteria for the Horse Sport Ireland All Ireland showing series.

Commenting on the changes, Ms. Corbally said "Previously the ISH League was restricted to the progeny of Approved stallions in order to encourage breeders to used Approved stallions. We will continue to strongly promote the use of Approved stallions. Our strategy is to do this will by providing clear objective information to breeders which shows that vetted and Approved stallions are a much more likely to produce a marketable horse. We believe opening up the studbook classes will help to demonstrate this further. The progeny of Approved stallions are proving themselves every week in competition and are achieving the higher prices at sale, the HSI Breeding Sub Board think the time is now right to open up the Showjumping Series to all Irish Sport and Irish Draught Horses.

"The level of information we are now providing to breeders through Capalloir, mare inspections, star ratings, linear profiling, results monitoring, the HSI website and the breeders magazine has now reached a level that breeders have more objective information available to make their breeding decision."

"When selecting stallions mare owners now have access to stallions all over the world. Things are changing quickly and we are focussing our resources on providing verified information. The new registration rules allow breeders to choose from a much larger pool of stallions and their foals can now be registered in the Irish Sport Horse studbook with a 'green book. As Irish Sport Horses, they will be eligible for studbook inspections and competition classes supported by the "Irish Sport Horse studbook", such as qualification to World Young Horse Championships at Lanaken and Le Lion d'Angers, studbook inspections and CapallOir."