ITBA

The 2022 ITBA Educational Programme begins on May 9 with the Ask The Expert Series. This virtual E-Passport System/Digital Platform Demonstration Workshop will be hosted by Weatherbys' General Manager, Sharon O'Regan from 7-8 p.m. The full May calendar is as follows, with all programmes held from 7-8 p.m. local time: E-Passport System / Digital Platform Demonstration Workshop, May 9, virtual programme from Weatherbys' General Manager, Sharon O'Regan Stud Farm Biosecurity Workshop, May 11, in person at ITBA HQ, Head of Environment & Nutrition Alan Creighton, Irish Equine Centre will speak...

The 2022 Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Educational programme is being finalised following the confirmation that Ireland's Department of Agriculture will pledge to support and co-fund the initiative. The programme will run from May to December. The ITBA will partner with the Irish Equine Centre, HRI's Equuip and Weatherbys, among others, to oversee the programme. In addition, the ITBA will work closely with industry experts as well as industry stakeholders to deliver a wide and diverse programme of topics through the four pillars of its educational programme: Ask The Experts, Summer...

The challenges and opportunities facing the Irish breeding and racing sector took centre stage at the ITBA National Hunt Seminar on Apr. 4. Insights and a balanced debate on the current state of the sector were held between panelists Frank Motherway, Jane Mangan, Kevin Blake, Richard Pugh, Ruby Walsh and MC David Jennings. Other key talking points included breeders premiums/incentives, preparing our stock younger, French-breds and the current race programme. To view the seminar, please click here.

The 2021 Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association National Breeding & Racing Awards will be held on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022. In person for the first time in two years due to the covid pandemic at The Heritage in County Laois, the awards will be live streamed from 10 p.m. local time and are available to view on the ITBA's website.

Together For Racing Ireland (TfR Ireland) hosted a group of 30 fifth year LCA students and teaching staff from its three current partner schools: Curragh Post Primary, Kildare Town Community School and St. Paul's Secondary School at Goffs in Kildare on Thursday, Feb. 10. The objective of the Goffs tour was to give students an insight into the Irish bloodstock industry, its position as a world leader and its many rewarding opportunities. Goffs Bloodstock Manager Mary Kilduff led the tour, while insight was provided from the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association...

A survey, focusing on the range of challenges around health, safety and sustainability that employers and key stakeholders face in the racing industry, was launched by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)'s health and safety division along with the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association (IRTA) and the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA). The bespoke online survey, conducted by Red C Research & Marketing, will be anonymous and take 10 minutes to complete. A link to complete the survey will be sent to all industry employers and is also available through equuip's website and...

The 2022 Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association National Webinar Series was announced on Sunday. Beginning on Friday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the first webinar will update viewers on the ITBA's 2021. Chairman John McEnery, Vice Chairman Cathy Grassick and CEO Shane O'Dwyer will provide an update on the organisation and also outline plans for 2022 and beyond. The second session of Friday's webinar is titled "Changing in Today's Environment" and will cover all aspects of operating in today's climate. The panel will discuss all elements around movement...

The ITBA Educational Programme 2021: Breeding Season Preparation Workshop, was announced on Tuesday. Free to attend, the workshop lasts from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 16. Topics that will be covered are: assisting mares during foaling (Patricia Markey), preparing mares for foaling and postnatal care (Andrea Ryan), the best nutritional plan for pregnant mares during and post foaling and nutritional plans for foals (Lorraine Fradl) and smart approaches to getting mares back in foal plus the importance of selecting the most suitable stallions (Micheal Orlandi). To register, please...

The closing date for the Weatherbys ITBA National Hunt Fillies Bonus Scheme is Sept. 30. Through the support of HRI and Weatherbys, the initiative, now in its eighth year, has passed the €2-million mark in bonuses paid out to winning owners. A €5,000 bonus is attached to every mares-only maiden race in Ireland: bumpers, maiden hurdles and beginners' chases. In 2018, the scheme was extended to include a number of mares only handicap hurdles for fillies that did not win their maiden in addition to supporting the Connolly's Red Mills...

A new virtual workshop titled "A Smart Approach to Yearling Sales Preparation" is slated for Thursday, Aug. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association announced on Friday. All aspects of a good planning programme will be covered in advance of the upcoming yearling sales season. Elements addressed during the free workshop include: farriery, nutrition, transportation and veterinary. The workshop's panelists are breeder/consignor Cathy Grassick of Newtown House Stud, veterinarian Serena Iceton of Troytown Equine Hospital, Connolly RED MILLS equine nutritionist Lorraine Fradl, Master Farrier Martin...

The theme of the ITBA Educational Programme 2021-Summer Series is "ITBA Embraces Farm Safety" Week from July 27-30, 2021. These virtual workshops will reiterate the importance of health and safety on stud farms for the betterment of both staff and thoroughbreds. A full list of workshops is as follows: July 27th: Employment Law for Agriculture Workshop 10:AM - 12:PM. Delivered by Vincent Turley, Human Resource Services July 28th: Stud Farm Safety is no Accident Workshop 10:AM - 12: PM. Delivered by Dr John McNamara, Teagasc Health & Safety Specialist July...

A free online webinar discussing climate change was hosted by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association on June 25. Among the topics discussed were agroforestry, biodiversity, carbon calculation, grassland and pasture management, soil and mineral management, and management adaptations for climate change mitigation-i.e. alternative energy sources. The keynote speaker was Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Department of Agriculture with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity, whose speech was pre-recorded, as she was speaking on the Climate Bill in the Seanad. Another presenter was Professor John Sweeney, former President of...