A new protocol for safe mare movement during the breeding season was announced by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association on Sunday. Despite Irish racing being halted on Mar. 24 due to the COVID-19 outbreak and Ireland beginning its own lockdown, breeding practices are allowed to continue. The ITBA statement is as follows:
- When transporting your mare to stud/boarding farm breeders should make sure they have one official form of picture identification with them and if an employee, have a letter from your employer indicating that you are an essential employee.
- Ensure you have the mares passport and any documentation provided by the stud farm.
- You should make direct contact with the stud farm prior to departure, familiarise yourself with their protocols and ask for confirmation of your covering time to be sent to your phone. In the unlikely event you are stopped by the authorities, inform them that you are carrying out a permitted farming activity.
- There should be no unauthorised stops on route from your farm to the stud farm.
- Click here for a template for an employers' letter, which should be made available all employees. This needs to be printed on headed note paper of the employer stud farm and signed by the owner/manager of that stud farm
All paperwork must be in order before leaving for the stud farm. For more information, please go to www.itba.ie.
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