I’m almost loathed to start the column with yet another storm surrounding the state-funded Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), but here we are.

For those who don’t know, HSI is our national governing body for all equestrian sport for Ireland. Following 2023’s board resignations, ministerial interventions, court cases and the on-going passport mess, last week HSI were discussed by an alliance of over 30 industry heavyweights – their failings in representing and unifying the sport horse sector dissected by the gathered many.

Recent constitutional amendments were questioned and allegations of excluding affiliates led to calls for a complete overhaul of the HSI structure at the unprecedented meeting held at the RDS last Wednesday. Among the structural change demands, representatives want HSI to have a board made up of affiliate members answerable ultimately to those leading sport horse affiliate bodies.

Excuse the use of a list here but the weight and breadth of those affiliates in attendance goes some way to making the point of the strength of (ill) feeling among the sport horse sector. Affiliates represented at the meeting included: the Royal Dublin Society, Showjumping Ireland, Eventing Ireland, Dressage Ireland, Irish Horse Board Cooperative Society Ltd, Northern Ireland Horse BAord, Warmblood Studbook of Ireland, Equestrian Competition and Venues Owners Alliance, Association of Irish Riding Clubs, Connemara Pony Breeders Society, Irish Pony Society, Irish Shows Association, Para Equestrian Ireland, and the Army Equitation School.

So, are we at a stand-off? It certainly feels that way at the moment. Here’s the rub though, you don’t have to look far online or listen hard at equestrian centres or shows to hear real grassroots anger setting in

Fully engaged

CEO Denis Duggan told The Irish Field on Friday that no affiliates had been excluded and that this was “a false claim” and that “34 organisations (affiliates and industry stakeholders) are now included within the Advisory Forum structure.” A defiant Duggan went on to say: “The vast majority of affiliates do not share or support this position. Most affiliates have engaged fully with the new Advisory Forum process.”

Duggan continued: “The vast majority of affiliates have fully engaged with the new Advisory Forum process. For their own reasons, six affiliates, which do not represent a majority of organisations or indeed a majority of equestrians, have thus far decided to remain outside the process.”

So, are we at a stand-off? It certainly feels that way at the moment. Here’s the rub though, you don’t have to look far online or listen hard at equestrian centres or shows to hear real grassroots anger setting in. I can’t help feeling that it’s time for the CEO of Horse Sport Ireland to, at the very least, begin to extend a more proactive and willing voice to the people on the ground that HSI serve. We need to hear from HSI that they recognise the effect these continual problems are having. These organisational ruptures trickle down, they affect the equestrians on the ground who are working day in and day out in a sector Ireland can be so proud of. Confidence at all levels is being shaken and it has been shaken long enough.