Description

DATE OF QUALIFIER TUESDAY 3RD OCT

ENTRIES CLOSE ONLINE WED 27TH SEPT ON HSI LINK BELOW

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INFORMATION AND PRIZE FUND INFO

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Horse Sport Ireland Horse/Pony Foal Championship 2023

Information Note
Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is pleased to announce the details of the 2023 Sport Horse/Pony Foal
Championship. The Championship for horses and ponies has a prize fund of €26,000. The aim is to identify,
evaluate and reward breeders who have bred a foal that has the potential to be competitive at the highest
international level in the disciplines of showjumping or eventing. The 2023 Horse Sport Ireland Foal
Championships are funded by National Breeding Services with thanks to the Department of Agriculture,
Food, and the Marine.
There will be 4 provincial qualifiers with separate categories and sections for horses and ponies, for
potential showjumping foals and potential eventing foals. The qualifiers will be held in September &
October. The highest scoring Show Jumping type foal, and Eventing type foal from both the horse and pony
categories, as well as the highest scoring traditional foal across the horse categories, will be selected for the
final at each provincial qualifier.

Foal Championship Qualifier Dates for 2023
Wednesday 6th September- Hollypark Stables, Co. Limerick
Wednesday 20th September – Kernan’s EC, Co. Armagh
Tuesday 3rd October – Wexford EC, Co. Wexford
Wednesday 11th October – Tubberbride Stables, Co. Sligo
Foal Championship Final Date 2023
Wednesday 25th October – CoilÓg Equestrian, Co. Kildare
The final will be held on the 25
th of October in CoilÓg Equestrian where Champions will be named in each
category. A prize fund* of €8,970 for horses and €3,870 for ponies will be on offer at the final for qualified
entries.
• Entries must be made online and payment directly to the venue. Payments are processed by the
venue(s) separately to applications.
• Entries will not be accepted on the day of the event.
• Entries will close 5 working days prior to the competition date. This is to facilitate calculating
Pedigree Bonus Points (PBP).
• A start list and start time will be allocated to each competitor by email. Competitors must be
present for their allotted time to compete.
• Foals must be microchipped and have begun the registration process (with any studbook) for the
qualifiers.
• Foals must be passported and named to compete in the final. The process of receiving a
Studbook passport for a foal can take 4 – 6 weeks on correct submission of DNA and relevant
documentation.
*including prizes in kind
Funded by National Breeding Service
Criteria for entry
• For the horse section, foals must be registered in any studbook, they can be entered in the main or
supplementary section but must have a breed listed and should be shown with their dams where
possible.
• For the pony section, foals must be registered in any studbook (as per the above). Pony foals must
be shown with their dams.
• Pony dams will be measured on the day. If a Pony Dam measures as over height at the
competition, the foal will not be able to compete in the pony section. They may compete in the
equivalent horse section.
o The pony height restriction is based on the measurement of the height at the withers which
cannot exceed a maximum of 151.0cm with shoes on the day of competition. Pony height
will be measured by a veterinarian on the day (151.0cm and under).
o 148cm is the height limit for ponies without shoes (148cm and under)
• Where the dam is not present, competitors must present the Dam’s passport. In this case, an
official measurement must be recorded in the Dam’s passport in order for the foal to compete.
o Pony foals who attend without their dams/ dam’s passport will not be permitted to
compete in the pony section1
• Horse and Pony foals can enter up to a maximum of 2 qualifiers, as long as they have not been
placed/won prize money at any previous qualifier.
• Foals must be entered in either the Show jumping Section or the Eventing Section. Foals cannot
compete in both sections.
• The dam’s passport must be available on the day for inspection.
• All competing foals must be a minimum of 6 weeks old.
• For information on how to register your foal please contact the Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO)
please CLICK HERE for all DAFM approved studbooks.
Competitors & Classes
• Foals should present to the vet no later than 15 minutes prior to their allotted start time for the
qualifier.
• Foals must be led to and from the arena, and only turned loose when requested to do so by the
judges.
• The judge’s decision for the qualifiers and the Championship is final, the only exception is where
the pedigree of the foal is not subsequently confirmed by DNA.
• Foals must be microchipped and have initiated the registration process for the qualifiers and must
provide their passport for the final. Prize money will only be provided after pedigree confirmed by
DNA and passport details are verified.
• Pedigree Bonus Points (see Appendix. 2) will be allocated up to a maximum of 10 points, applicants
must provide the relevant verified performance links for PBP allocation, only the information which
is provided ahead of the designated deadline can be assessed.
o To have PBP allocation, applicant must have submitted their application 5 working days in
advance of the qualifier (see dates below).
o Please see table 1 below which contains detail of PBP allocation.
1 For embryos or pony dams who have since deceased, the applicant must provide proof of the dam’s official
measurement (FEI/National federation measurement).
*including prizes in kind
Funded by National Breeding Service
o Verified performance links must be provided. This includes Eventing Ireland Records, Show
Jumping Ireland Records, Equipe, and other relevant verified performance databases.
Please note Horsetelex and Hippomundo are not verified performance links and will not
be accounted for in PBP allocation.
• Where the qualifier winner is unable to attend the final, the next highest scoring reserve from any
qualifier will be offered the place in the final.
o Should there be a tie, the foal with the highest athleticism score will progress.
o Should there a be a tie in athleticism the combined athleticism and PBP score will be
awarded the space.
• It is important for the foals to be well prepared for the classes. To practice for the championship, it
is advised that the foal has been handled and familiarised with the headcollar and leading.
• During the events the foals may not have lost all their foal hairs. The judges will only examine the
quality of the foal and do not pay attention to colour or coat.
• During the classes a foal’s health is more important than a ‘show condition’ coat. Clipping the foals
is not permitted.
• These classes are not traditional show foal classes, they are for potential performance animals. Any
evidence of foals having been over-fed or pushed to grow and develop unnaturally, which could be
detrimental for their future bone development and general wellbeing will mean elimination from
the competition.
Prize Money
• Details for prize payment processing must be provided with the application to ensure efficient
processing after each event.
• Prize money will only be paid out where the foal has received a studbook passport AND DNA
parentage has been verified to match the original entry.
• Prize money will be paid to the registered owner of the foal, unless otherwise indicated by the
registered owner.
• Failure to adhere to the above terms and conditions may result in prize money being forfeited.
Prize Money for HORSE SECTIONS
Regional Qualifiers (€2,120 per venue)
Show Jumping Foal Eventing Foal Traditional Foal
1st (Qualifies for Final) €500 €500 €350
2
nd €250 €250 €200
*At each venue an Overall Best Turned Out prize of €70, will be awarded to the best Horse Foal/ Mare/ Handler combination.
Final (€8,970)
Show Jumping Foal Eventing Foal Traditional Foal
1
st €2,000 €2,000 €1,000
2
nd €1,000 €1,000 €500
*In addition, €1,400 will be awarded towards prizes in kind, sashes etc.
*At the final an Overall Best Turned Out prize of €70, will be awarded to the best Horse Foal/ Mare/ Handler combination.
*including prizes in kind
Funded by National Breeding Service
Prize Money for PONY SECTIONS
Regional Qualifiers (€1,170 per venue)
Show Jumping Foal Eventing Foal
1st (Qualifies for Final) €350 €350
2
nd €200 €200
*At each venue an Overall Best Turned Out prize of €70, will be awarded to the best Pony Foal/ Mare/ Handler combination.
Final (€3,870)
Show Jumping Foal Eventing Foal
1
st €1,000 €1,000
2
nd €500 €500
*In addition, €800 towards prizes in kind, sashes etc.
*At the final an Overall Best Turned Out prize of €70, will be awarded to the best Pony Foal/ Mare/ Handler combination.
Foal evaluation and scoring
Foals will be presented to the judges, accompanied by their dams (see relevant section for more
information).
• During the individual presentation the foal is positioned in front of the judges with a halter, in order
to evaluate its posture and conformation.
• The mare and foal will move freely during the foal’s movement evaluation, however only the foal is
scored.
• The foal can then be judged freely on walk, trot and canter as indicated by the judges. When all the
foals are evaluated, the numbers of the winners and reserves will be called out and they will return
to the arena for presentations.
• The results for each qualifier will be announced as soon as possible on the Horse Sport Ireland
website. The judges’ sheet will describe the positive attributes of the foals and provide an
assessment as to whether they think the foal is Eventer type or Showjumper type.
• Competitors will receive their score sheet via email no later than 10 days after the competition.
• For detail on pedigree bonus points please see appendix 2.
Judging Criteria:
There will be two judges for each category of Show jumping and Eventing.
Scoring will be judged out of 110 for eventing horses and showjumping horses and will be based on the
following traits:
Trait Showjumping Section
Qualifier/Final
Eventing Section
Qualifier/Final
Functional conformation 20 25
Walk 10 15
Trot 15 25
Canter 25 15
Overall athleticism and balance 30 20
Pedigree Bonus Points 10 10
TOTAL 110 110
*including prizes in kind
Funded by National Breeding Service
Scoring will be judged out of 100 for ponies and will be based on the
following traits:
Trait Showjumping Section
Qualifier/Final
Eventing Section
Qualifier/Final
Functional conformation 20 25
Walk 10 15
Trot 15 25
Canter 25 15
Overall athleticism and balance 30 20
TOTAL 100 100
APPENDIX 1. DETAILS INCLUDING PAYMENT TO VENUES
Province
Championship
Venue Date Closing Date
Munster Hollypark Stables,
Co. Limerick
Wednesday
6
th
September
Monday 28th August
Ulster Kernans
Equestrian, Co.
Armagh
Wednesday
20th
September
Monday 11th September
Leinster Wexford
Equestrian, Co.
Wexford
Tuesday 3rd
October
Friday 22nd September
Connaught Tubberbride
Equestrian, Co.
Sligo
Wednesday
11th October
Wednesday 4th October
FINAL CoilÓg
Equestrian, Co.
Kildare
Wednesday
25
th October
N/A
*including prizes in kind
Funded by National Breeding Service
APPENDIX 2. Pedigree Bonus Points Breakdown
Show jumping
Showjumping pedigree bonus points will be allocated based on dam line and sire show jumping
performance.
• The applicant is required to submit verified show jumping performance links or the dam line and
sire, where relevant.
o Verified performance links must be provided. This includes Eventing Ireland Records, Show
Jumping Ireland Records, Equipe, and other relevant verified performance databases.
Please note Horsetelex and Hippomundo are not verified performance links and will not
be accounted for in PBP allocation.
• Two double clears are required at the below ratings to receive the full PBP allocation in the relevant
category.
• Where a mare has 2 progeny that meet the performance requirement, the relevant PBPs will be
applied (eg, mare has 2 progeny with 2 DC at 1.30m each, the foal will get 3 PBP).
• Where there is one double clear, half of the point allocation will be provided.
• Performance will only be relevant to the discipline for the category in which the foal is entered (for
a foal entering in SJ category only SJ performance will be counted for).
Please see example below:
Foal Dam Grand Dam Great Grand Dam Sire PBP Allocation
– 2 DC at 3* 1 DC at 2* 2 DC at 4* Sire DC 4* –
Points 3 .5 1 .5 5
Show Jumping
(star ratings) Dam
Grand
dam
Great
Grandam
Approved
Sire
Max
points
1* (1.10m) 1 0.5 1.5
2* (1.20m) 2 1 3
3* (1.30m) 3 1.5 0.5 5
4* (1.45m) 4 2 1 0.5 7.5
5* (1.50m+) 5 2.5 1.5 1 10
*including prizes in kind
Funded by National Breeding Service
Eventing
Eventing pedigree bonus points will be allocated based on dam line and sire eventing performance.
• The applicant is required to submit verified eventing performance links or the dam line and sire,
where relevant.
o Verified performance links must be provided. This includes Eventing Ireland Records, Show
Jumping Ireland Records, Equipe, and other relevant verified performance databases.
Please note Horsetelex and Hippomundo are not verified performance links and will not
be accounted for in PBP allocation.
• One MER in either short or long format are required at the below short or long form ratings to
receive the full PBP allocation in the relevant category.
• Where a mare has 2 progeny that meet the performance requirement, the relevant PBPs will be
applied (eg, mare has 2 progeny with 2 MERs at 3* each, the foal will have 3 PBPs).
• Performance will only be relevant to the discipline for the category in which the foal is entered (for
a foal entering in EV category only EV performance will be counted for).
See example of PBP allocation below:
Foal Dam Grand Dam Great Grand Dam Sire PBP Allocation
– MER 3* MER 2* MER 4* MER 4* –
Points 3 1 1 .5 5.5
Eventing (MERs) Dam
Grand
dam
Great
Grandam
Approved
Sire
Max
points
1* 1 0.5 1.5
2* 2 1 3
3* 3 1.5 0.5 5
4* 4 2 1 0.5 7.5
5* 5 2.5 1.5 1 10
Horse Sport Ireland reserve the right to change or alter the terms and conditions of the Foal Championship at