ITBA issues guidance to breeders as Ireland enters covid-19 lockdown

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association has issued guidance to owners of horses after the Irish government announced similar lockdown measures to the UK on Friday to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

There had been some uncertainty among breeders in Ireland as to what effect the requirement to stay at home would have on horse transportation, with reports of one breeder taking a mare to be covered at another stud having been told to return home by Gardaí.

But the ITBA has confirmed horses can be transported with certain provisos, and its advice is as follows:

While breeding practices can continue, in order to comply with the latest government response to covid-19, we would like you to note and adhere to the following:

• 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 mare's 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.

A template for an employers’ letter, which should be made available all employees, is available on the ITBA website. This needs to printed on headed note paper of the employer stud farm and signed by the owner or manager of that stud farm.

The ITBA has stressed that it will continue to be available to breeders during the coronavirus crisis and can be contacted on 045 877543 or sodwyer@itba.ie.

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