Further work to do says Cathy

Sadly this year due to my own recent surgeries on a leg injury and the current difficulties with international travel I have had to be content with watching from home. Despite excellent TV coverage it is just not the same as enjoying the atmosphere and experience of being there, there was no after-racing picnics in our garden instead of the car parks.

There were many incredible performances through the week from such amazing colts as Palace Pier, Perfect Power and Poetic Flare and fantastic fillies on show such as Love, Quick Suzy and Alcohol Free.

This year the usual international aspect to the meeting was somewhat lacking and clearly COVID has had a part to play in this as it has prevented both people and horses from travelling freely from across the globe to the hallowed Turf of Royal Ascot.

COVID aside, there has been a definite change to the number of horses competing in foreign jurisdictions across Europe post-Brexit and it is not just travelling into UK that has become more complicated.

It is now as difficult to travel from the UK into Europe as it is to travel from Europe into the UK.

This can be seen in decreased numbers of horses, particularly travelling from the UK to France.

There needs to be a continued concerted and co-ordinated effort made by the bodies governing racing in the UK and the EU. They have been struggling to resolve these issues since the start of the year, but the respective governments and Departments of

Agriculture need to work on the industry’s behalf to tackle the many difficulties currently faced when transporting horses.

These are not just monetary or administrative issues, although the costs and paperwork for transporting horses has increased exponentially, there are also serious welfare issues at stake.

Shippers are currently experiencing challenges with export documentation, in addition to there being significant increase in delays at ports on arrival. Anyone shipping a horse must also be prepared to see an increase in fees as a result of the increased documentation required and time taken to process.

The issue of VAT has also become a difficult one to handle as now the UK’s VAT system is separate to Europe this has created increased problems regarding the movement of horses between countries.

This particularly effects breeding mares who are travelling between countries to be covered.

Work needs to be done to try and arrange a reciprocal agreement allowing horses to enter and exit the EU and UK for a number of months, without large sums of money needing to be lodged with respective governments.

This damages breeders’ cash flow and holds up large amounts of money for long months unnecessarily.

As an industry we need to ensure that we can continue to thrive and that the diversity of the thoroughbred breed can continue.

We also need to be able to compete against each other freely to maintain the high standard of athletic talent within the whole breed. It should be remembered that British and Irish thoroughbreds are recorded in a combined stud book.

Her tragic loss has affected the whole equestrian community in Ireland and further afield.

Tiggy was only 15 years old, but had already won European eventing medals and was an accomplished rider in every discipline.

She was also such a wonderful person, who left her mark on all who knew her.

My deepest sympathies to her devastated family and to the many friends both young and old who knew her.

Horse Sport Ireland have a designated support person to assist anyone affected, and is encouraging them or their parents to come forward to seek support.