Kildare Based HSI Called On To Explain Decision Not To Send Dressage Team To Tokyo.

Monday, 5 July 2021 16:14

By Ciara Plunkett

Equestrian community "in dismay" at the decision.

Kildare based Horse Sport Ireland is being called on to provide a "detailed explanation" of their decision not to send Ireland’s Olympic Dressage team to Tokyo.

One of HSI's mandates is to encourage further participation and development in equestrian sport.

Kildare Fianna Fáil Senator, Fiona O’Loughlin says “Representatives of the local equestrian community have made contact with me, and they are in total dismay at the action of Horse Sport Ireland.

“Many in the equestrian community feel that Horse Sport Ireland need to be held to account for their decision, and I agree that we need a proper explanation.

This is the first Olympic games for which Ireland has qualified a Dressage team.

Senator O'Loughlin says " We need proper oversight of this decision, people have devoted their lives to this sport, and have spent significant sums of their own money to get to a point where we could send an Olympic dressage team to Tokyo"

“I have written to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Minister Catherine Martin TD and my colleague Minister Jack Chambers to ask that a review of the decision be considered. We owe a full and frank explanation to all those involved”