TEAGASC NATIONAL
EQUINE CONFERENCE
OCTOBER 23rd 2007
HERITAGE HOTEL PORTLAOISE
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Conference Programme
Equine Conference:
Moving the Industry Forward
09.30am
10.00am
10.15am
Registration & Coffee
Official Opening of Conference
Mr. Gerry Scully, Head of Rural Development, Teagasc
Professor Gerry Boyle, Director of Teagasc
Session One
Chairman: Lt Col Gerry O’ Gorman, OC Army Equitation School
Speakers
 Future Developments in World Sport Horse Breeding
Dr. Jan Pederson, President of the World Breeding Federation of
Sport Horses
 Performance Related Pedigrees
Mr. Norman Storey, B.Agr.Sc., Equine Specialist Advisor, Teagasc
 Equine Performance Analyses
Mr. Russell Guire, B.Sc. (Equine & Human Sports Science),
Centaur Biomechanics Ltd., England
 Equinaalysis – Utilisation and Benefits within Farriery
Mr. Mark Aikens, DipWCF, Master Farrier, England
Open Forum and Discussion
12.30pm
14.00pm
Lunch
Session Two
Chairman: Mr. Damian McDonald, CEO Horse Sport Ireland
Speakers
 Current Market Demand
Mr. Paul Larkin, Larkin Bros. Int. Ltd, Co. Meath
 Conditioning Training for the Young Horse
Dr. Eric van Breda, Veterinary Sports Physiologist, Maastricht
University, Holland
 Encouraging Young Breeders
Ms. Wendy Conlon, BSc.Eq.Sc., Equine Specialist Adviser,
Teagasc
16.00pm
Open Forum and Discussion
Close of Conference
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CONTENTS
SESSION ONE
Chairman: Lt Col Gerry O’ Gorman
p. 3
Future Developments in World Sport Horse Breeding
p. 5
Dr. Jan Pederson, President of the W.B.F.S.H.
Performance Related Pedigrees
p. 9
Mr. Norman Storey, Equine Specialist Advisor, Teagasc
Equine Performance Analyses
p.11
Mr. Russell Guire, Centaur Biomechanics Ltd.
Maximising Equine Performance Utilising Equinalysis Gait Analysis
System
p. 14
Mr. Mark Aikens, Master Farrier
SESSION TWO
Chairman: Mr. Damian McDonald
p. 19
Current Market Demand
p. 20
Mr. Paul Larkin, Larkin Bros. Int. Ltd
Conditioning Training for the Young Horse
p.23
Dr. Eric van Breda, Maastricht University
Encouraging Young Breeders
p. 25
Ms. Wendy Conlon, Equine Specialist Advisor Teagasc
THE TEAGASC EQUINE ADVISORY TEAM
p. 29
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LT COL GERRY O’ GORMAN
Commanding Officer at the Army Equitation School
Lt Col O’ Gorman joined the Cadet School in 1972 and on commissioning was posted to
the Equitation School. In 1976 he graduated from DIT Bolton Street with a Dip.MIM in
Transport Engineering and served in the transport and Vehicle Maintenance Corps. He
has served overseas with the United Nations both in transport and operational
appointments. While stationed at the Curragh he carried out the duties of Liaison Officer
to the racing authorities at the Curragh Racecourse and Punchestown for both racing and
eventing. He is currently a member of the executive of the Equestrian Federation of
Ireland, a member of the International Affairs Committee and of the board of Horse Sport
Ireland. Lt. Col O’ Gorman was posted to the appointment of Officer Commanding the
Equitation School in June 2004.
The Equitation School itself was founded in 1926 to promote Ireland and the Irish horse.
Since then Equitation School riders have been the backbone of Irish showjumping and
event teams.
Army riders have represented Ireland at Olympic, World and European Championship
level in Showjumping and Three Day Eventing. They have assisted the Irish team to
many Aga Khan Trophy successes at the RDS in Dublin, and other great Nations Cup
successes at prestigious venues such as Aachen, Calgary, Washington and Toronto.
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With wins in many competitions at the World Championships, army riders on Irish bred
horses have indeed been and continue to be a powerful force in advertising and
promoting the sale of Irish horses abroad. Its success in achieving this objective can be
established by reviewing the impressive record of Irish horses competing for other
nations over the years.
As a result of the Schools direct involvement at the highest level of international
competition, its coaches, riders and grooming staff are recognised for their high standard
of horsemanship and skills. On numerous occasions army grooms have won prizes for the
exemplary turn - out and care of their horses.
Through the participation of its riders in various national equestrian bodies, the army
Equitation School aids in the development of riding and general equestrian development
by passing on the invaluable training and experience gained by its competitive riders. The
Equitation School helps young riders through the Minister for Defence’s training bursary.
This is an annual bursary that is awarded to two promising young riders and includes
training and participation at junior level international shows.
It could also be said that the Equitation School has represented a shop window for many
of Ireland’s other assets, particularly in the areas of tourism, trade and marketing, by
putting emphasis on Ireland and things Irish in a public and eminently suitable way.
The Equitation School maintains its goal to this day:
"To promote Ireland and the Irish Horse"
In 2007 this has certainly been achieved, particularly with Comdt. Gerry Flynn’s fantastic
Grand Prix (4 wins when going to print) and Nation Cup successes this year on Mo Chroi
(by Cruising out of a Mister Lord mare).
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Future Developments in World Sport Horse Breeding Dr. Jan Pederson
Besides being chairman of the Danish
Warmblood Association, Dr. Jan Pederson is
also president of the World Breeding
Federation for Sport Horses. Apart from his
work in organisations he is also a business
high school teacher, which he has been doing
for more than 25 years. Jan Pederson has been
a part of the Danish Warmblood Association
from the beginning in 1979 when it was
created from a merge between ‘The Light
Sportsbreeding’ and the Danish Breeding
Association for Sport Horses. In 1994 he
became the chairman of the organisation.
Today it is an up to date and independent
breeding association which resides at the
National Center for Sport Horses at
Vilhelmsborg, Aarhus. The association has its
own junior department, own administration
and a turnover which amounts to tens of
millions of Danish kroner each year.
The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses is an umbrella organisation with 52
breeding associations from 25 countries and general office at Vilhelmsborg in Denmark.
The chief aim of the WBFSH is to integrate breeding and sport by establishing a close
contact to the international riding union, FEI, and at the same time safeguard the
breeders’ interests in the European Union.
Highlights Since 1994
1994
Jan Pederson is elected as chairman in the Danish Warmblood Association
1998
The Youth Department of the DWA called Young is created
1999
The DWA gets its office and its own administration at Vilhelmsborg
1999
Jan Pederson becomes president of the WBFSH
2000
WBFSH introduces World Championships in dressage, jumping and
eventing for young horses
2001
The DWA gets their own breeding advisor, Karina Christiansen who also
becomes secretary in the WBFSH the same year.
2003
The DWA starts a new breeding procedure where the aim is no longer the
all round horse but the breeding is aimed towards either dressage or
jumping
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Jan Pedersen on the Danish Warmblood horse: "The Danish Warmblood horse is unique
as it, without politics and attempts at protectionism, brings all the best genes from
all sport horse associations into one horse."
Danish Warmblood Association (Dansk Varmblod) is Denmark’s largest horse
breeding federation with more than 5000 members. Throughout the year many members’
activities, tests and selections are arranged. Only the best horses are approved for
breeding. In this way progress and quality are guaranteed.
The main office of Dansk Varmblod is situated at the Vilhelmsborg Manor in eastern
Jutland.
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Danish horse breeders are highly trained experts
Danes have been breeding horses for centuries and have always been among the best in
the world. This tradition and know-how continue in the Dansk Varmblod. Danish horse
breeders are very knowledgeable, and Dansk Varmblod constantly provides them with
opportunities to update their knowledge. This also helps to guarantee that the Danish
Warmblood horse maintains its high quality.
From the beginning, the overall objective of Dansk Varmblod has been to breed
successful competition horses. This has been achieved in only a very short time by
mating native Danish mares with stallions from Europes best bloodlines, and as a result
Dansk Varmblod has become one of the leading riding horse breeding associations in the
world. This success has been possible because:
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Horse breeding is one of the traditional activities in Danish agriculture, and
Danish farmers are well-known for their consistently high standards of husbandry
Denmark has one of the most stringent stallion selection procedures in Europe
today
Danish breeders have shown great foresight and initiative in their willingness to
invest in proven bloodlines from neighbouring countries, and have used their
knowledge to combine these bloodlines to create one of the best breeds of riding
horse in the world
Danish breeders have always understood the importance of combining experience
and traditional knowledge with being receptive to new scientific results.
BREEDING POLICY and Breeding Objective of the Dansk Varmblod
The breeding policy is updated continuously. Formerly, the emphasis has been on
conformation and over a period of three or four breeding generations, by using stringent
selection procedures, Dansk Varmblod has been able to develop a strong basis for
breeding high class riding horses. In 2004, a new breeding plan was introduced, focusing
primarily on breeding specialised dressage and show jumping horses with a high degree
of rideability, while at the same time maintaining the modern, noble, and expressive sport
horse type, which is the trade mark of Dansk Varmblod.
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The breeding objective;
A noble, leggy, and supple riding horse with high rideability and good health. It has
capacity in either jumping or dressage to compete at international level.
Achieving the breeding objective
Dansk Varmblod is able to achieve this new breeding objective because they:
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Do not insert a stallion in breeding before he has passed through an approved field
test. This ensures that only stallions with high rideability and extraordinary
competition skills become sires of the future generation
Hold ridden performance tests and saddle gradings, in which the mares are trained
by their owners or at a training centre, and all 4-year old Dansk Varmblod mares,
geldings, stallions can undergo an ability test. It is now also one of the conditions
of winning a medal at the Elite Mare Show that the mare concerned must have
performed well in one of these tests or have already proven herself in competition
Focus on goal-oriented breeding, emphasising either dressage or showjumping
talent
Co-operate closely with Landscentret Heste (the Danish Agricultural Advisory
Centre - Department Horses) who issues pedigree certificates and maintain the
national horse database, containing all Danish breeds. Using the immense amount
of information generated from breed results, riding results from young horse
performance tests and competition results, genetic evaluations and other statistics
are made accessible
Attach great importance to international co-operation and exchange of experience,
this being guaranteed by Dansk Varmblods membership of the WBSFH (World
Breeding Federation for Sport Horses).
Dansk Varmblod is recognized officially by EU and the Danish Agricultural
Ministry
Dansk Varmblod also approves the use of a very limited number of absolutely
high class foreign stallions within its breeding plan.
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Performance Related Pedigrees
Norman Storey, B.Agr.Sc
Teagasc Equine Specialist Adviser
In the thoroughbred world performance and breeding are very closely linked. All one has
to do is look at the information given for each entry is the sales catalogue to realise the
link. The race card outlining the runners in each race also provided relevant information
on performance and breeding. The performance and placings in previous races is
available. Stallions ranking are available based on the performance in terms of prize
winnings of progeny on the race track. While they may not be statistical they do relate
breeding to performance Stallion cards and stallion advertisements are regularly up-dated
with recent performance results.
Our thoroughbreds are bred for one purpose and one purpose
only and that is racing. The breeding objective is clear. The
best race horses retire to stud and become the breeding stock
for the next generation. Their selection is based on their
performance on the track. Their success at stud is based on
the performance of their progeny on the track. The price paid
for young potential horses is based on the performance of
their sire and dam and other siblings and relatives. Reports of
performances on the track identify the importance of breeding
as well as the actual performance itself.
In the European sport horse industry the World Breeding
Federation of Sport Horses provides update information and rankings of stallions on their
own and on their progenies’ performance in competition. Our Dutch, German and French
breeder competitors have a huge amount of information available to them in terms of
breeding values. These are most useful for breeders when selecting stallions for breeding.
If our sport horse breeding industry is to continue to develop we must strive to create a
stronger link between breeding and sport. Information must feed back in a structured and
coherent manner and more importantly in a way that breeders can understand.
We need to constantly remind ourselves of our breeding objective and to highlight results
that achieve that objective. We have made great improvements and with the creation of a
new organisation – Horse Sport Ireland – where we are all working together we can
breed, train and produce horses that live up to our brand image of ‘Irish Horses’.
Breeders need information about offspring and other relatives of breeding animals and
their genetic value to breeders. The fact that breeders do not often raise and train the
horses they have bred, makes it difficult for them to follow the results of their efforts.
They are depending on others to collect and supply information.
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In fact breeders have developed a system of criteria of their own based on the external
conformation of the animal, as this is the only aspect they can control and that can be
easily measured and recorded.
It is for this reason that a system of external evaluation of horses has developed over the
years. Used, traditionally, in selection for breeding shows, these criteria continue to play
a major role in the selection of competition horses. As the exchange of information
between breeders and owners has increased so the dependence on this system has
decreased. The exchange began years ago for the racing industry and is beginning to
catch up in the performance industry.
Shows, based on conformation and movement, are often criticised for their great
subjectivity, and in particular that beauty is given a greater
priority than other, perhaps more useful traits. Attempts have
been made to try and make the criteria more objective and to
make them relate more directly to specific aptitudes such as
jumping. The goal is to evaluate the actual talents of the
animals more accurately. When the status and identification
of the animals are clearly defined, good management of
competitions makes it possible for breeders to receive
feedback about their horses. Use of this information then
affects subsequent selection decisions.
Evaluating genetic values in horses is not fundamentally different from evaluating them
in other domestic species. The Irish Horse Board has recently announced the publication
of the ‘Genetic Evaluation Results for Approved Stallions 2007’. Estimated Breeding
Values (EBVs) for stallions are included. These are predictions of the genetic advantage
that a horse will pass on to its offspring for a particular trait. EBV are calculated using
information from a stallions own performance in SJAI competitions and from its relatives
including parents and progeny.
From the breeder’s point of view the bottom line is that foals by stallions with EBVs for
show jumping ability above 120 achieve, on average €1,100 more at auction than foal by
stallions with EBVs below 100. Foals out of high EBV mares achieve, on average,
€2,000 more than foals out of low EBV mares.
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Equine Performance Analysis
Mr. Russel Guire B.Sc. Hons Equine & Human Sports Science
Equine Sports Performance – Biomechanics
Show jumping is Russell’s primary interest and he has successfully competed in many
international competitions including those at Hickstead, the home of British Show
Jumping. He has also spent time working for leading show jumpers such as Tim
Stockdale and Di Lampard. Like all horse owners, Russell soon realised that a horses
career could easily be jeopardised by injury. In a bid to gain a greater understanding of
the principals involved in sports performance Russell embarked upon and completed a
degree in Equine and Human Sports Science.
Russell has since founded Centaur Biomechanics which is a company designed to
complement current equine sports techniques as a means to improve performance of both
horse and rider. Centaur Biomechanics, as its name suggests, focuses on the mechanics
involved in locomotion and the effect that weaknesses can have on gait.
Biomechanics is one of the youngest branches of equine physiology to be investigated.
Pioneered by Muybridge who was the first person to show that the trot had a moment of
suspension by using video footage, which is a fact that is well known today. Since then
the equine gait has been studied in depth as a means to facilitate understanding and
complement other equine sports medicine techniques. Modern day demands
unfortunately expose the horse to a greater risk of injury. With the use of gait analysis
asymmetries or weakness that may be apparent can be identified at an early stage.
Preventive methods can then be employed to support such weaknesses, preventing injury
and maintaining both well being and performance
In previous years this form of analysis has been confined to the laboratory, however with
the development of specialist equipment and technology,
the use of gait analysis is becoming widely used by many
practitioners within the Equine industry.
Currently the services of Centaur Biomechanics are being
utilised by all sectors within the industry, including the
British Equestrian Federations, World Class Development
Programme. For more information please look at
www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk.
Sport science and sports medicine are well established area within human medicine.
Professional athletes in many disciplines apply a multitude of sports enhancing
techniques to attain a higher level of performance and move ahead of their competitors.
In addition, an ever-increasing array of technologies and treatments are available to aid
diagnosis, accelerate rehabilitation and ultimately enhance performance.
A similar trend is emerging with equine sport. individual sports organisations are looking
for ways to improve competitiveness and professional bodies such as the British Equine
Veterinary Association (BEVA) are actively promoting the application of Evidence
Based Veterinary Medicine (EBVM).
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Equianalysis is focused on bringing established human and equine sports products to the
wider equine industry to aid diagnosis, promote health and enhance performance. Further
focus will be on products and services that are non-invasive (and therefore easy-to-use
and can be applied ‘’in the field’’) and support EBVM.
Currently the assessment of equine locomotion and lameness is carried out visually and
cannot be reliably or consistently quantified. Equine practitioners often disagree on the
extent of lameness. In addition the assessment cannot easily be communicated and has
very little or no historic value. The objective measurement of lameness and changes in
locomotion are the missing pieces of critical information needed to make key decisions
related to equine health and performance.
For the last two years Equianalysis has been developing a video based equine gait
analysis system in partnership with leading human biomechanics specialists. The system
has been developed to address the need for lameness diagnosis, treatment monitoring and
performance enhancement. It is currently being utilised within the elite sport of dressage
as a method of objectively analysing equine gaits as a performance enhancing technique.
The application of the system is not limited to dressage, providing similar benefits for
performance horses in general.
Centaur Biomechanics, in association with
Equinalysis, offers a unique service to the BEF
and the World Class Development Programme.
The profiling of equines for individual
conformation and locomotion using gait analysis
is a pre-requisite to a greater understanding of
the biomechanical joint and limb range of
motions. As a direct result accurate individual
biomechanical data can be extracted at any time
allowing for a more informed decision making
process especially when looking at poor
performance and subtle lameness issues that can exist. This process also allows for the
pro active monitoring of any effects that may result from changes made by veterinary,
farriery and/or physiotherapy intervention.
Base line measurements can also be taken allowing for a more accurate mapping process
throughout any stage of development and training. With the creation of the Equine
Pathway programme alongside current Start/Potential and Elite programmes Centaur
Biomechanics, in association with Equinalysis, plays an important part in the monitoring
process looking not only at individual joint and limb loading but also forming an
awareness of potential problems that continue to exist within the
competition/performance sector.
Alongside equine gait analysis, Centaur Biomechanics provides performance analysis for
the rider, working closely with both rider and trainer in targeting specific areas of
analysis in order to facilitate the learning and understanding of the rider. Methods such as
instant visual feedback, where the rider can see their performance projected onto a screen
within the arena, this provides a benefit visually and also allows the trainer and rider to
actively discuss the individual’s performance. Rider analysis allows the rider to bench
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mark their performance, to which they can refer back to at a later date and note any
changes in both their riding and the horse’s way of going.
Equine gait analysis and rider analysis is becoming an invaluable tool in both
performance and training, especially when looking forward to the 2012 London
Olympics.
For more information please look at www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk.
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Maximising Equine Performance Utilising Equinalysis Gait Analysis
System
Mark Aikens DipWCF
Mark Aikens DipWCF qualified as a farrier in the United Kingdom after
completing a four year apprenticeship in 1993. Mark has been fortunate to have worked
with Haydn Price, farrier to the British Dressage Team and has also worked in the United
States on many occasions with Steve Teichman, farrier to the US Event Team.
Mark has always focused upon innovation, education and professional
development whilst establishing his successful business within the UK. The majority of
clients have performance horses mainly utilised within the equine disciplines of dressage,
show jumping and endurance.
Mark believes in taking a proactive approach to shoeing rather than reactive,
realising that a foot imbalance will result in impaired performance and lameness. He has
been utilising Equinalysis Gait Analysis within his business for the last three years.
Equinalysis enables Mark to eliminate any subjectivity encountered previously when
optimising a horse’s performance through shoeing.
How does it work?
Markers are placed on specific joint
surfaces and measurements are taken between
these. The actual number and placement of
markers may vary but for a primary screening
forty markers are used. The tail is bandaged up
to avoid markers on the hind limbs being
obscured.
Two cameras are used to capture the
necessary footage, one for lateral views and the
other to capture anterior and posterior views.
The horse is filmed at walk and at trot. To
enable accurate data being collated screenings
are primarily performed on a hard surface such
as concrete, optionally screenings may be
performed on a variety of surfaces and with or
without a rider.
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Edited video clips allow us to view the horses’ dynamics in slow motion or frame
by frame. This allows us to view the precise moment of footfall and an assessment can be
made on how the hoof lands, how the limb above it loads as it rotates over the hoof and
the extension, flexion and displacement of joints.
Cameras operate at 50-1500 frames per second compared to the human eye which
registers images at the equivalent of 12 frames per second.
Currently the assessment of equine locomotion and lameness is carried out
visually and cannot be reliably or consistently quantified, equine practitioners often
disagree on the extent of lameness. In addition the assessment cannot be easily
communicated between practitioners and has very little or no historic value.
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Markers placed prior to screening allow the desired video file to be calibrated.
Calibration allows accurate kinematic measurements of distance, angles, velocity and
acceleration to be established
Data collated from an Equinalysis screening such as length of stride/step,
carpal/tarsal flexion and hock displacement provides objective and quantifiable data of
your horses dynamic movement. This data provides the evidence to ensure optimum
equine dynamics can be achieved. This information can allow us to de-stress a particular
joint and ensure that as well as the shoe protecting the foot it also provides a foundation
for the whole limb. The fitting of a shoe should take into account the ’loading’ of each
limb, loading is directly related to the effectiveness of joints and can affect tendon and
ligament health.
This data and images are stored on a cd-rom which accompanies a portfolio
specific to each individual horse. This portfolio may be accessed and reviewed
historically by a vet, farrier, physiotherapist or trainer.
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BENEFITS
THE HORSE
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Maximise performance
Sustain level of soundness
Injury prevention
Non invasive assessment
Monitor rehabilitation
Improve equine dynamics
HORSE OWNERS / RIDERS / TRAINERS
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Achieve long term success
Improve purchase decisions
Enable an objective basis to optimise performance
Increased understanding in equine biometrics
Evaluate performance
Assess individual joint function
Identify areas of improvement
Decrease risk of injury and box rest
Provide baseline reference of your horses dynamics
Monitor recovery time and response to stress
Perceive weaknesses
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VETERINARY SURGEONS / PHYSIOTHERAPISTS / EQUINE PRACTIONERS
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Aid assessment of pre-purchase examinations
Process of referencing and recording historical data
Objective basis on which to optimize performance
Improve communication with other practitioners
Quantify the effects of treatment
Facilitate a horses return to pre-injury performance
Analyse the deficiencies in limb movement
Improvement in the perception of practice
Assist identification and diagnosis of sub clinical lameness
Identify asymmetry of gait
Avoid litigation
FARRIERS
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Assess dynamic foot balance
Improve function in performance
Quantify the consequence of change
Define appropriate shoeing protocols
Determine specific methodology from which to work
Promote a model of understanding
Comparison of measurements pre and post shoeing
Distress specific joints
A number of photographs and video clips are utilised to demonstrate the benefits of
gait analysis for different situations, particularly pre and post shoeing to define what is
achievable by a farrier having a more informed point of view when shoeing the
performance horse. Equinalysis is designed to be used by practitioners quite literally “in
the field” and away from a clinical laboratory setting.
Further information may be found at www.equinalysis.com and www.angliaequine.com
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Damian McDonald
John O'Donoghue, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, following consultation
with his colleague Mary Coughlan, T.D., Minister for Agriculture and Food, has
implemented the establishment of a new Agency - Horse Sport Ireland - which will be
responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and promotion
of an internationally competitive Irish sport horse industry (breeding, sport and leisure
sides). He has designated Joe Walsh, T.D., as the Chairman of the new Agency.
Horse Sport Ireland has been established following the acceptance by both Ministers of
proposals contained in a report prepared by Mr. Michael Dowling, former Secretary
General of the Department of Agriculture and Food, which recommended new
governance structures for horse sport in Ireland. Mr. Dowling consulted extensively with
the main sectoral interests, including the Equestrian Federation of Ireland, the Irish Horse
Board, the Irish Sports Council and the Departments of Arts,
Sport and Tourism and Agriculture and Food in the course of
his work and there is widespread support across the sector for
these structures.
€1.75m has been allocated to Horse Sport Ireland to ensure that
it can embark on its ambitious development programme.
Damian McDonald has been appointed as the Chief Executive
of this new, important body.
Board of Horse Sport Ireland
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Mr Joe Walsh TD, Chairman
Mr Larry O'Neill, ILDRA, CDA, PEI
Ms Joan Keogh, Dressage Ireland
Mr Brian Mangan, Eventing Ireland
Mr Gerry Leahy, Eventing Ireland
Ms Patricia Furlong, Showjumping
Association of Ireland (SJAI)
Mr Brian Gormley, SJAI
Mr Tommy Dixon, SJAI
Mr Eamon Rice, SJAI
Ms Alice Mernagh, Irish Pony
Club/Irish Pony Society
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Lt Col Gerry O'Gorman, Army
Equitation School
Ms Helen Mangan, Association of Irish
Riding Clubs/Association of Irish
Riding Establishments
Ms Bernie Brennan, RDS
Mr John Jude Doyle (breeding)
Mr Paul Duffy (breeding)
Mr Michael Duignan (breeding)
Mr William Kennedy (breeding)
Mr Harold McGahern (breeding)
Mr Hugh Mc Cusker, Northern Ireland
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Current Market Demand
Mr. Paul Larkin
Paul Larkin has been involved in ponies and horses all his life. He partook in show
jumping, hunting and pony racing as a child. He took out his amateur jockeys licence at
16 years of age, was joint point to point champion for Northern Ireland in 1985.
Paul and his brother Val went to America in 1986 where they set up Larkin Brothers
International Horse Breaking. During their time in America they handled more than 9,000
horses and held a number of contracts for some of the most impressive breeding
operations in California.
The brother’s established Larkin Bros. International Ltd. In October 1997. by 1999 they
had sold over 1 million euros worth of Irish sports horses to the USA. In 2002 they
opened up the European market being the first to sell export Irish horses to Latvia.
Paul and Val Larkin own the fantastic jumping mare Ado Annie, who won 6 World Cup
Qualifiers and jumped in 3 World Cup finals and European Championships. The mare is
by Errigal Flight. Paul and Val still have the dam who is still breeding at 23. Paul’s
international bloodstock firm has sold 24 horses to the USA by Errigal flight on the
strength of Ado Anni’s performance.
The Larkin brothers have a full brother to Ado Annie who they hope to stand as a stallion
next year. They also have another full brother which is a foal and two full sisters to Ado
Annie. Despite the current fashion of European warmbloods the Larkin’s are determined
to retain fillies from these tough Irish Draught performance pedigrees, insisting that they
pass durability, athleticism and a good brain onto their progeny. Breeders, producers and
competitors are realising now the importance of keeping the old Irish bloodlines.
Ado Annie as a three year old with Paul
Ado Annie at the European Championships
at San Patrignano
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The market requires well bred, well handled, correct quality horses. Horse should be
conformationally correct and have a good step.
Handling the young horse
One of the most important things for Paul when buying or selling horses is the level of
handling they have received. When buying foals it can be very hard to see them move
correctly on account of lack of handling. This can easily be resolved by a little time and
effort from the breeder/seller of the animal.
Criteria to be met include the following:
 Easy to catch
 Leading correctly in hand
 Quiet to pick up all four limbs
Regardless of selling the foal or not this is vital in the later development and training of
the horse.
Breeding information
Every horse by law now requires a passport. Have your foals marked at an early age and
have a passport available for the purchaser to view. Buyers demand passports.
Pedigree is of great importance and knowledge of relatives that are competing
successfully either nationally or internationally is of great benefit when selling. The
breeder/seller should be up to date on the pedigree of the horse and be familiar with it
when asked by a prospective purchaser
Breed Quality
Assessment of mare and stallion conformation and movement is critical. A quality sport
horse has many roads to divert to if it is not good enough to make the top. Avenues which
can be availed of include
Show Jumping
Eventing
Amateur jumping
Hunting
Riding (leisure)
Showing
Dressage
Riding school
The influence of proven foreign bloodlines on the Irish mare seem to Paul to be ideal for
show jumping or eventing. At present the quality Irish sport horse with temperament and
ability is the most marketable horse in the world, unfortunately these are few and far
between. For the many who are not able to make the top there is always a good demand
for the Irish horse internationally for the amateur and leisure markets.
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Promoting your stock
Is selling at home still an option?
Yes, once it is marketed correctly.
Marketing involves:
 Horse well handled
 Pedigree available
 Photographs- good quality
 Video clip of horse (can be sent to the potential customer, or be available
to e-mail)
 Advertising (national press, word of mouth, websites, competitions –
showing young stock)
 Contacting Buyers and sellers through guide
In Paul’s opinion we need to be more selective in our breeding policies as at present he is
finding it harder and harder to find the quality Irish sport horse who is well handled and
schooled, capable of meeting current market demands. Mare and stallion selection along
with proper handling is critical for the future success of the industry.
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Conditioning Training for Young Horses
Dr. Eric van Breda
The major aims of training include, among others,
delaying the onset of fatigue, maintenance or increase in
performance, improvement of skills, minimizing the
incidence of injuries and maintaining the horse’s
willingness for exercise and, perhaps, most importantly,
guarantee the welfare of each individual horse during
“each training step” the horse takes. A long-term athletic
approach should, regardless of the equestrian discipline, form the basis of all equine
training.
It is generally accepted that at least 10 years of athletic training are required for a talented
athlete to reach elite levels. The average age of the horses that competed at the 2004
Athens Olympics was, irrespective of the discipline, 12 years. Taking into account the
average age at which horses are normally started to be trained, being approx. 4 years of
age, it can easily be calculated that the horses competing at the Olympics do not meet the
10 year-rule criteria. In addition, in the light of the 10 year rule, one might wonder why
international competitions for young horses (4 and 5 years of age) are being held.
The 10 year rule follows a simple sports physiological law called “the law of reduced
profit” (In daily practice this law can be translated in: “the further you come, the harder it
gets”. This simply means that at the start of an athletic career of the horse a small amount
of training already leads to major increases in performance but that later in the career
more and more intensified and different training is needed to increase performance just a
little bit. An important aspect that is often overlooked it that that each individual horse is
predisposed with an individual genetic ceiling at a certain performance level. This simply
means that not every horse is able to reach International level, despite enormous training
efforts.
Finally, the belief that one can identify a potential Olympic equine winner at foal is, at
present, fiction. Although some believe performance is “in the genes” there is scientific
evidence that only 30% of the genes involved in athletic performance can be passed on to
the next generation. Thus, more than 70% of the physiological needs to become a world
class athlete come from proper nurturing, education, training, and nutrition.
The primary goal of sports training is to enhance performance outcomes. It is generally
assumed that in order to extend performance capacity to the upper limit a high volume of
intensive training is necessary. Consequently, those horses are often balancing on a small
edge between the optimal amount of training to enhance performance, and overtraining
which may lead to injuries and health problems. Indeed, one of the most difficult parts of
the training process is to find the correct balance between training and recovery. The
increasing physical demands require a gradual athletic career approach. To date, a model
that suits these physiological demands is the long-term athletic development model
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(LTAD). This model has been proposed for human athletes in particular, but I have found
that the model can successfully be used with the equine athlete as well, although some
modifications are necessary. I would call the model the long-term equine athletic
development model.
The first question that had to be addressed was: Do equestrian sports disciplines belong
to the early or to the late specialisation sports? Human early specialisation sports are
gymnastics and table tennis whereas human late specialisation sports are athletics and
cycling. The major difference is the timing of sport specific training. We all know that
you will never be able to reach Olympic level in gymnastics when you start gymnastics at
the age of 16 whereas there are still many Olympic cyclists that started their career at the
age of 16. From the discussions with many national federations, international trainers and
coaches it can be concluded that all equestrian sports disciplines belong to the class of
late specialisation sports. Although at first there has been some doubt regarding dressage
as late specialisation sport. Most specialists now conclude that even dressage horses
should not start with early sports specific drills/exercises and thus belong to the late
specialisation sports.
In late specialisation sports, thus in equestrian sports disciplines, five (5) important
phases can be identified e.g.: 1) the imprinting phase, 2) FUNdamental phase, 2) the
training-to-train phase, 3) the training-to-compete phase and 4) the training-to-win phase.
For simplicity the retirement phase (phase 5) will not be discussed since it has not been
backed up by any scientific knowledge, yet.
The imprinting and FUNdamental phase are characterised by laying the foundation for
the sport motoric properties (strength, endurance, suppleness, speed coordination and
mental/behavioural) that form the basis for the athletic career later in life. These phases
run from year 1 until around the age of 4. Learning to accept being part of the human
society and having FUN and a playful environment are essential for the welfare of the
athlete to-be. Scientifically, it has been shown that foals that are exercised regularly have
stronger bones and tendons in comparison to stabled foals.
The age at which the first training is commenced is not depended on the time the foal is
weaned. Even in the presence of the mare training can begin. Running with the mare
already leads to coordination and strength training. After weaning foals can be trained 2-3
times a week on a closed gallop track for a maximum of 20 minutes. Don’t force the foals
but make it fun and pleasure. Of coarse the foals should not be stabled during the nontraining days but should be turned out.
Altogether, introducing such a long-term model requires a multi-disciplinary approach to
training. Breeders, stables that nurture young horses, sports stables and Olympic stables
should work more closely together. Also the collaboration between veterinarians, riders,
trainers, nutritionists and sports physiologists would be beneficial for “building” an
Olympic level horse not only to increase performance but, above all, to maintain the
welfare of the most athletic species of our globe.
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Encouraging Young Breeders
Wendy Conlon BSc. Eq. Sc.
Teagasc Equine Specialist Advisor
The original idea for young breeders competitions was born in Germany, more
particularly in the Hanoverian Studbook. Some twenty years ago a man called Dr.
Ludwig Christman wanted to involve the youth more intensively in breeding matters. His
idea was warmly welcomed and soon young breeders associations were founded in all
regions of the German studbooks. 9 years ago the regional contests resulted in a national
young breeders competition in Germany.
The idea of an international young breeders competition came about to bring young
breeders together across breeding associations, countries and languages. Competition is
part of the action, but above all the aim is to get together, make new friends and create
new contacts. This overall aim already seems to be fulfilled. Many contacts have been
made and the young breeders have begun to use their new network of friends.
In 2001 the Hanoverian studbook was again the first to organise a highly qualitative but
also amusing international young breeders competition. The competition took place on
the occasion of the European Dressage Championships in Verden. Belgium, Denmark,
The Netherlands, Poland, and 12 German breed associations participated. In 2003 the
Belgian Warmblood Studbook took the responsibility to organise the second edition of
this competition, under the recognition of the World Breeding Federation for Sport
Horses. In Minderhaut, Belgium, the first non-European team joined the competition. The
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participation of the Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association team emphasised
the worldwide interest of young breeders in horse breeding.
In 2005, an Irish contingent travelled to the competition in Vilhelmsborg, Denmark for
the first time to fly the flag for the Irish Horse Board. The group that travelled were
pulled together by young breeder and enthusiast Patrick Hester from Co. Roscommon
and were assisted by the IHB and Teagasc on that occasion.
On the basis of that experience it was decided that a structure should be put in place to
assist with training for the event in 2007 and for diplomatically choosing the team to
travel. Teagasc and the IHB worked closely together to organise a selection competition
and training for the finalists. Superb assistance was received from Gurteen College, and
trainers Philip Scott, Tiernan Gill, and Tom Slattery.
The competition itself is comprised of 5 disciplines: theory, judging and ranking of
mares, showing in hand on the triangle, judging horses in loose jumping and judging the
gaits of loose horses.
Within the theory section each participant answers 20 questions on the areas of breeding,
keeping, feeding, health and sport. The format is multiple choice.
The overall purpose of the in-hand discipline is to present the horse in a way that makes
the horse look and act in the best possible way both standing still and moving. The
handler must behave discreetly in order to let the attention be concentrated on the horse.
This aspect of the competition is conducted on the triangle:
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50 m.
Out
In
40 m.
40 m.
Judges
Different methods are used to show the horse on the triangle. Basically the judges want
the handler to present the mare at her best. In the walk as well as the trot the mare should
be given the opportunity to show her movements as freely as possible. In the corners of
the triangle the handler is to reduce speed without the mare losing rhythm. In the standing
position the mare should look as advantageous as possible and be presented in the open
position towards the judges. The judges also want a harmonious overall impression of the
presentation.
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Judging and ranking of three mares: Three mares are judged and ranked by the
competitors. Beforehand a fourth mare is judged by the judges to give the participants an
idea of the score level. Scores are given for type and conformation, head and neck,
shoulders and withers, topline and quarters, front legs, hind legs, walk, trot, canter,
general impression. The correctness of the movement s dealt with under the scores of
front legs and hind legs. The swing carriage, elasticity of the movement are judged under
the scores of walk, trot, and canter.
Judging of gaits of horses loose in the arena: Three mares are judges loose in the arena by
the competitors. Beforehand a fourth mare is judged by the judges to give the participants
an idea of the score level. Scores are given for walk, trot, canter and athleticism.
Judging horses in loose jumping. Three mares are judged again in loose jumping. A
fourth mare is judged beforehand to give an idea of the score level. Scores are given for
technique, and potential. Importance is attached to the courage of the horse as well.
Technique is defined as the horse’s ability to judge the oncoming jump including the
distance and its use of legs and back. The horse must jump rationally and with
suppleness, understanding how to adjust the distances as well as pulling up its legs and
rounding its back over the jump.
Unfortunately in 2007 the WBFSH competition was cancelled but an invitation was
received to attend and compete at the German finals in Dillenburg in July, which was
duly taken up. Fifteen studbooks took part in the competition, including the Danish
Warmblood Studbook and ourselves. The ISH team managed to pick up a number of
impressive placings throughout the competition. They gained valuable experience and
availed of the opportunity to meet with young breeders from the other studbooks.
Following the competition the young breeder team visited stud farms competition and
sales yards including that of two time Olympic gold medalist Lars Nieberg.
A WBFSH competition is to be held in 2008 for which preparations are already
underway. Plans are afoot to offer training days for all young people interested on a
regional basis with additional specialised training for the chosen team.
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Gerry Scully, Wendy Conlon, Declan McArdle, Ruth Fennell, Norman Storey
Teagasc provide an equine advisory service. The rural development programme manager
is Mr. Gerry Scully and the equine team is comprised of Mr. Norman Storey, Ms. Wendy
Conlon, Mr. Declan McArdle and Ms. Ruth Fennell.
Our aim is to promote equine production and to improve the skills of producers and help
add value to the product.
We provide advice on many diverse areas including husbandry, nutrition, grassland
management, facility development, financial supports, amongst others. Adult training
courses in horse breeding, management, and young horse training are provided at
intervals throughout the country.
We are only too delighted to help in any way we can. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
087 2222513
087 9879083
087 683187
087 9602537
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