"The Traditional Irish Sport Horse Could Be Non-Existent Within a Decade"

The future of the traditional Irish Sport Horse (ISH) is under threat from foreign bloodlines, writes Siobhán English on the website Independent.ie.

The traditional Irish Sport Horse faces extinction, a former US Olympian jumper and leading breeder has warned.

In recent years we have seen that more and more Irish breeders are opting to use warmblood stallions to improve their show jumpers, but records show that the eventing fraternity is now also following suit.

As a result, overseas buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to source traditional Irish-breds with 100% Irish Draught/ thoroughbred bloodlines.

In a long letter on the demise of the Irish Sport Horse, after an unsuccessful shopping trip to Ireland last year, former US Olympic rider and well-known event horse producer Phyllis Dawson ...

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