Irish miniature horses to get own stud book
Miniature ponies are to get their own stud book in Ireland from February, following the recognition of the Miniature Horse and Pony Society of Ireland by the Irish department of agriculture.
Until now Irish horses had to be affiliated to foreign societies if they were to be registered as miniatures.
Chairman of the society Joan Hawkins said from January they will be able to issue passports to the 4,000 miniature ponies estimated to live in Ireland.
The first fully registered Irish miniature foals will be born from 2010.
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A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.