Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has been approved by my Department to maintain studbooks for the Irish Sport Horse and Irish Draught breeds. Breeding programmes are operated by HSI according to Breeding Objectives for both these breeds.

The Irish Sport Horse Studbook Breeding Objective is to produce a performance horse that is sound, athletic with good paces and suitable temperament and capable of winning at the highest international level in FEI disciplines.

The Irish Draught Horse Studbook Breeding Objective is to breed Irish Draught Horses with conformation, movement and temperament that conform to the breed standard, which will make good quality, sound and versatile horses .

Irish Sport Horse and Irish Draught Horse Studbook inspections have been carried out annually with the purpose of identifying quality stallion and mares that adhere to the studbook breeding objectives.

An inspection has consisted of veterinary aspects and linear profiling. Linear profiling is used to assess conformation, movement and athleticism. A series of veterinary traits are assessed by a veterinary surgeon. A number of composite scores are used to classify the stallions and mares.

However HSI have informed me that this inspection process is currently under review.

Inspections have been held at regional centres throughout the country in spring and autumn and conducted by teams of inspectors appointed by Horse Sport Ireland. HSI have advised that the total cost of inspections for stallions and mares for 2014 is €200,000 approximately. This includes cost for inspector training, employment costs and overheads allocated, this figure is net figure inclusive of inspection income.