One Man and His Horse

Over the past number of weeks, I have seen numerous examples that show exactly how unfair the broader equine sector has been treated. As an industry itself, the horse people of Ireland have not just created one of the highest employing sectors in the country it has also generated huge profit for the Irish economy. Where am I going with this? Let me explain.

Dispersed through the industry there is racing, show jumping, hunting and breeding. All of the above have been hit somewhat with a serious back hand of inconsistent and unfair reasoning to stop certain aspects for Covid 19.

With racing as an example from an outsiders perspective, they have been least effected through this with all due respect. Racing is going on behind closed doors and trainers and stable staff remain in employment. But when you read between the lines, it reads a different story.

Racing was the first sport to come back behind closed doors, in fairness to HRI they did a top job. RTE had racing aired each Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For the first time in months, the Irish people had something they could look at on television. Not only was it huge enjoyment but it gave us all light in a very dark tunnel. Our lives were changed by the four legged creatures.

But where are we now? As more and more sports come back, racing has been brushed to the side by RTE sport. Now we are lucky to see a race grace Irish television once a month. Even on the national news, the sports section rarely mention racing. They would rather highlight division four football that nobody cares about outside of said counties instead of top class racing.

It is a giant middle finger to the racing community if ever I seen it. Our neighbours are years ahead of us. They not only have weekly racing coverage for six hours or so a week, but they even have a morning show to discuss the days racing ahead. It is an absolute joy to watch.

Answer me this, what is stopping Ireland doing this when statistically we are the best in the world by a considerable distance? One man and his horse kicked to the kerb again.

Moving swiftly on, and for me it seems the show jumping sector is hit hardest of all. It was much slower to come out of Covid, and almost immediately shut down again. I will hold my hands up in saying I know more about racing than show jumping, that’s almost a given. But what honestly is the difference? It’s one man and his horse!

I am sure show jumping trainers could organise it that the bare minimum persons from the yard goes to said show. I am sure the riders could organise their tacks to be sanitised, the same as racing. And I am sure SJI could organise the same system as HRI for racing to ensure that these shows go ahead.

Instead they have come to another standstill. With level five restrictions show jumping trainers and equestrian centres have been hit with limitations to what they can and cant do. I’m sure when they look at their racing friends go every day around the country they feel they drew the short straw. When you read on you will see exactly what I mean.

In terms of hunting and breeding they have been hit with their own restrictions too. With hunting this time of year is the start of some very busy months in normal times, but they have been halted like the show jumpers.

The breeders see sales put back to a later date, meaning the chance of turning a profit from foals, yearlings or two year olds is much more difficult. Most buyers want to see the horses in the flesh before they buy, and rightly so. You would much rather walk into a butchers to buy a good quality leg of lamb instead of ordering it online and not know what the actual quality of the meat is. These small changes make a huge impact on everyday life as a horse-person.

You all are probably wondering where I am going with this. But it is really quiet simple, the horse people of Ireland have been left on the long finger by Irish society for far too long now.

When you look at the other sports to have since come back, it is clear as day what the Irish society views are for one man and his horse. GAA, an amateur organisation consisting of hurling and football played at a parish and inter-county level. If it was kept to a parish level, I would not mind as much. But the GAA are allowed to go straight into inter-county level and travel to some counties in particular that are high on the Covid risk-list.

While all this is happening, one man and his horse cannot travel to their local show to jump a fence in complete isolation to everyone else. Apparently one man and his horse is more dangerous than thirty men or women from separate counties in close proximity, some of which play in Covid hot-spots.

Since soccer has come back there has been numerous teams who have travelled in and out of the country to kick a ball of leather around for ninety minutes. All the while, One man and his horse cannot go out to their local hunt to jump a few ditches. But apparently it is safer for twenty two footballers to travel in and out of the country to some Covid hot-spots.

And finally since rugby has come back thirty men from different countries can tackle each other for eighty minutes, be on top of each other in rucks and face to face in scrums. Apparently it is safe to do so but an owner cannot travel to a racecourse in Clonmel, Thurles, Galway or Leopardstown, to name but a few to see their horse race. This same owner pays the trainer €1,000-€2,000 on average a month per horse. One man and his horse kicked to the kerb once again.

I understand the situation we are in, and how serious it can be. But with everything else going on why should one man and his horse sit back and watch the world move back to normality, while the horse world are stuck in the dark ages. If sports like soccer and GAA can work behind closed doors, show jumping can too. If crowds could be let back into stadiums previously, owners should be allowed to see their horses race. And if a division four relegation match can get recognition on National news, racing should get the recognition from Irish people they deserve.

I may be wrong in saying this, but how can anyone honestly say that the above mentioned equine activities (most of which are practised on their own on the back of their own horse) can be more deadly than the likes of Soccer, GAA and Rugby? All of which are full contact sports. You can social distance during equine activities. You cannot in a contact sport. Ladies and gents, the equine community of Ireland is as far away from where it needs to be as I have ever seen it. For a country that’s known to be the best in the world we really have made a dogs dinner out of the situation.

One man and his horse have been dealt another unnecessary blow. And are a long way from normality yet.