Welcome to Browse Classes

Equestrian Committee 2025. Cecily Purcell, Chair Equestrian, Joan Widger, Chair Showjumping, Clare Wilkinson, John C Byrne, Jane Farrell, Eddie O Gorman, William Burke, Rebecca Dromey, Patricia Lalor, Trevor English, John Farrell, Bill Lalor, John O Dwyer, Trish O Donnell, Victor Quinlan, Michele Craik White, Pat Cunningham. 

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS HORSES AND OTHER EQUINES 

Premises Registration 
As from 1 May 2012, any premises (which includes shows, fairs and markets) where horses or other equines are gathered must be registered with the Department.  Owners/persons in charge of such gatherings are required to submit a completed application form for registration and to keep records of movements on/off their premises. 

Records must be retained for at least 3 years as they may be required by the Department for the purposes of tracing disease. Records required are

The name and address of the owner/person in charge of the premises from which the equine came

The premises registration number from which the equine came and 

Passport number/UELN number of the animal

It is important therefore that Show organisers should contact their local Regional Veterinary Office in advance so that consideration can be given to compliance with the requirements outlined above. 

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/form/19428-application-for-registration-of-an-equine-premises-under-the-control -on-places-where-horses-are-kept-regulations-2014/

Equine Identification
All Equines (which include horses, ponies and donkeys) must be identified in accordance with EU and national legislation. 

It is an offence to be in possession of an equine that is not properly identified.  

Equine passports must be issued by approved Passport Issuing Organisations [PIOs] not later than 12 months from the date of birth of the animal and, in any event before the equine leaves the establishment of birth for a period exceeding 30 days, except in limited circumstances.  The passport is valid for the lifetime of the animal.  A list of the PIOs approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is set out in Appendix 5.

Microchip - all equines issued with a passport after 1st July 2009 must have a corresponding microchip implanted by a veterinarian, the details of which are recorded in the passport and in the central equine database, thereby creating a link between the passport and the animal. 

In respect of each equine in their care, a keeper must ensure that

the equine is registered with an approved PIO; 

 the animal’s passport is issued in accordance with EU and national legislation;

they are in compliance with the provisions of the legislation whereby the passport issued in respect of the equine must accompany the animal whenever it is moved to events such as shows, sales and to slaughter plants, etc.    

Further information is available from Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, - at Livestock Breeding, Production and Trade Division, Farnham St, Cavan (Phone +353 49 4368200) in respect of studbook equines and from Animal Identification and Movement Division, Backweston Administration Building, Stacumny Lane, Celbridge, Co Kildare, W23 X3PH (Phone +353 1 5058881) in respect of equines that do not qualify for entry into a studbook. 

HSI SHOWING SERIES REGULATIONS HSI/DAFM funding will only be provided for animals registered in a studbook with a breed code recorded. This can include main section studbook equines OR supplementary section studbook equines. Animals with breed code ‘UNK’, whether breeding is recorded or not, will not be eligible for funding under this initiative.                             

DISCIPLINE
The Irish Shows Association expects and will insist upon appropriate behaviour from all Exhibitors and others participating in any of the activities at our Member Shows and will not tolerate inappropriate behaviour.
Inappropriate behaviour shall include but not be limited to the following:

Profanity, coarse or vulgar language or gestures towards judges, exhibitors or other Show officials

Harassment or bullying, including using words or actions that threaten, intimidate or undermine judges or other officials before, during or following Member Show activities

Failure to follow rules and/or obey instructions

Abusing any animal

Disciplinary Procedures: Complaints of misconduct against an Exhibitor or other participant at a Member Show shall be investigated and adjudicated upon by a subcommittee appointed by the Irish Shows Association. The said subcommittee shall consist of 5 (max.) board members and the sitting president of the Irish Shows Association and shall be known as the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee shall seek to ensure the existence of consistent, effective, fair and transparent complaint procedures and shall act in accordance with natural and constitutional justice. 

Procedure: A complaint of misconduct/inappropriate behaviour against an Exhibitor or other participant in a Member Show shall be made in writing and delivered to the Secretary of the relevant Member Show within 72 hours.

A copy of the complaint shall be sent by the Secretary of the Member Show to the National Secretary of the ISA. A copy of the complaint will be sent by the National Secretary to the person or persons against whom the complaint is made. A person or persons against whom a written complaint is made shall have a period of 14 working days from the date of receipt of the claim to reply to the said complaint; such reply shall be made in writing.

Both parties shall state whether an oral hearing of the complaint is sought. The Disciplinary Committee shall be entitled to hold an oral hearing in regard to the complaint whether or not sought. The Disciplinary Committee shall decide in each case whether to hold such an oral hearing in respect of the complaint, or any part thereof and there shall be no appeal from such decision of the Disciplinary Committee. For the purposes of dealing with a complaint, any three members of the disciplinary committee will constitute the complaint committee.

The Disciplinary Committee shall, at any time, seek further information from either party. In the event of either party refusing or failing to provide such further information within the time specified by the Disciplinary Committee, the Committee shall be entitled to make a decision on the complaint and/or to hold an oral hearing of the complaint in the absence of a copy of such further information being received by the Disciplinary Committee from either party.

The Disciplinary Committee shall be entitled to reject a complaint where, in the opinion of the Committee, it finds there is no basis for it.

Sanctions: In the event of a first incident of inappropriate/unacceptable behaviour being deemed to be proved against the offender, the Disciplinary Committee shall issue a written warning to the offender. In the event of any subsequent incident, the Disciplinary Committee shall be entitled to impose sanctions on the offender, including a prohibition on such offender participating in any of the events/activities at any Member Show of the ISA, provided always that in the event of a first incident of inappropriate/unacceptable behaviour being deemed by the Disciplinary Committee to constitute gross misbehaviour, the Disciplinary Committee shall be entitled to impose such sanctions on the offender as it deems appropriate, including the prohibition on such offender from participating in any of the events/activities of any Member Show of the ISA.
The decision of the Disciplinary Committee shall be final.

SAFETY.  FOLLOW OUR STEWARDS' DIRECTIONS AT ALL TIMES. Our Safety Officers 2025 are Paddy O Donnell 087-2681882 Michael Mulcahy 086-1025732 Joan Widger 087-2913533 John C Byrne 087-8241535                                                                                                                                                                    

Horse-riding is a dangerous sport. While mounted, all competitors and ride judges are required, for their own safety, to wear appropriate head gear that complies with up-to-date safety standards and is securely fastened.