IFA to Sponsor Breeders Prize for Grand Prix at RDS Dublin Horse Show

IFA Horse Project Team chair Conor O’Leary has announced that IFA will sponsor a breeder’s prize for the top placed Irish-bred horse in the Grand Prix at the RDS Dublin Horse Show, Ireland’s sole Five Star event.

The 2024 Dublin Horse Show opens at the RDS tomorrow.

“Breeders are the lifeblood of every equestrian discipline, and they need support and encouragement like never before. Sport horse breeders are in every parish in the country, and it is only fair that they receive some of the recognition,” he said.

“The breeder is a glaring omission from the distribution model for prize funds in sport horse competitions. There is almost no financial recognition in prize fund allocation for them. IFA is campaigning for a proportion of all prize funds in racing and sport horse events to be directed to the breeders,” he said.

This prize aims to raise the profile of Irish breeders and give something back for their invaluable efforts. Without breeders, we would not have top-quality horses produced in Ireland that are showcased all over the world.

The prize will see €1,000 awarded to the breeder of the highest placed Irish-bred horse, provided that horse places in the top ten of Sunday’s Grand Prix and has its sire/dam/breeder officially recorded. The prize will be presented to the winning breeder the week after the RDS Dublin Horse Show.

This prize will hopefully set a precedent that breeders in the sport horse industry are financially recognised for their achievements.