Horse Sport Ireland announces Affiliate Participation Grant recipients
Minister McConalogue joined successful applicants at the Sport Ireland Campus
Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has allocated €75,170 to 15 sporting affiliates under the Participation Grant.
This funding will be used by HSI affiliates to target increased participation in equestrian sports across various disciplines.
Since 2020, Horse Sport Ireland has distributed €426,170 to affiliates through the Participation Grant.
Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport with special responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, joined HSI CEO Denis Duggan, Sport Ireland CEO Dr Úna May, and HSI Chief Operations Officer Avalon Everett for the funding announcement.
Representatives from the Irish Pony Club were also present at the event, which took place at the Sport Ireland Campus in Blanchardstown. Among them was Lucy Jo McMahon of the Ward Union Pony Club in County Meath, with her Connemara pony, Ballinlough Addonis.
“Support for grassroots participation is key for the development and safeguarding of all sports including equestrian sports,” said Minister McConalogue.
“This is why I am delighted to be in the Sport Ireland Campus for the announcement of Horse Sport Ireland’s Participation Grant.
“Equestrian sport across various disciplines is active right across the country and this scheme will see increased participation, youth development and targeted training,” said Minister McConalogue.
Horse Sport Ireland CEO, Denis Duggan said, “€426,170 has been given to HSI affiliates for the last six years across all the sport horse disciplines for targeted projects to help grow their sport by increasing uptake at a local level.
“Participation at the community level is the cornerstone of the sport horse sector. Without this grassroots engagement and youth development, the sport cannot grow.”
“Over the past number of years, affiliates have implemented really positive programmes using this funding, which have genuinely benefited their specific disciplines and led to improvements in coaching development, female participation initiatives, horse judge training, and much more.
Speaking in the Sport Ireland Campus, Dr Úna May, Sport Ireland CEO, said: “By investing in grassroots and youth sport, we empower generations to embrace the transformative power of physical activity for life.
“Participation programmes, such as this one delivered by Horse Sport Ireland, can do immense work in helping the sport grow. Sport Ireland already provides direct funding to support HSI’s High Performance Programmes, and we’re pleased to see young riders starting out on their journey getting a leg up into the saddle thanks to this Participation Grant.”
| HSI Participation Grant Summary 2025 | |
| HSI Affiliate | |
| Association of Irish Riding Clubs (AIRC) | €4,700.00 |
| Association of Irish Riding Establishments (AIRE) | €3,800.00 |
| Dressage Ireland | €5,765.00 |
| Eventing Ireland | €3,300.00 |
| Polo Ireland | €6,500.00 |
| Irish Polocrosse Association | €3,200.00 |
| Irish Pony Club (IPC) | €4,900.00 |
| Irish Pony Society (IPS) | €6,600.00 |
| Irish Quarter Horse Association (IQHA) | €6,600.00 |
| Irish Shows Association (ISA) | €4,500.00 |
| Mounted Games Association of Ireland (MGAI) | €2,800.00 |
| Northern Irish Horse Board (NIHB) | €5,600.00 |
| Para Equestrian Ireland (PEI) | €7,050.00 |
| RDA Ireland | €4,700.00 |
| TREC Ireland | €5,155.00 |
| Total | €75,170 |
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