Federation of Irish Sport Featured Member: Horse Sport Ireland
Background/History: Horse Sport Ireland was established by the Government in 2008 to bring the sport, breeding and leisure aspects of the sport horse sector together.
Number of Membership Organisations: Horse Sport Ireland currently has 23 affiliated organisations.
Number of Participants in Horse Sport in Ireland: A study by UCD identified that almost 50,000 took part in sport horse related activities in Ireland each week. The sector is Worth of €700 million to the Irish economy and supports over 12,000 full time jobs. Some 29,000 people depend on the sector for some part of their income.
2012 Highlights: Cian O’Connor winning Bronze at the Olympic Games. The Paralympic Team winning team bronze and Helen Kearney winning two individual medals. In addition the Showjumping Team won the Aga Khan trophy at the Dublin Horse Show and we won 7 underage European Championship medals.
2013 Highlights (so far):
A New Chairman Professor Patrick Wall was appointed by Minister Varadkar in Februray. So far Ireland has won 4 underage European medals in underage eventing and Showjumping. The senior showjumping team won the Nations cup in Spruce Meadows in Canada. A High performnace Training facility will be formally opened at the National Sports campus in Abbotstown shortly.
What are the key events for HSI in 2013/2014?
The Dublin Horse Show and the Tattersalls International Horse Trials are the two major international events each year.
How can people get involved in Horse Sport?
People can participate at their local riding school or their local Pony Club. Horse Sport Ireland also ran a Schools programme in 2013. Full details of how to get involved can be found on the HSI website www.horsesportireland.ie
Social Media Channel Links:
Team Ireland Equestrian on Facebook has over 15,000 fans, while our TeamIRLeq on twitter has over 5,000 followers. In 2013 Horse Sport Ireland was nominated fro an equestrian social media award across Ireland and the UK.
Any interesting facts or statistics for inclusion in our Fact File
- Sector worth €700 million to the Irish economy
- Equestrian is the only sport where men and women compete against each other on an equal basis.
- Equestrian is the only sport in which Ireland won medals and the London Olympics and Paralympics