Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has today published the 2026 Traditional Irish Horse (TIH) Report, providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the genetics, population structure and breeding trends within this important herd and the foundation bloodlines of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook.Prepared by geneticist Dr. Jennifer Doyle, the report reinforces the importance of the TIH designation, originating in 2017, in preserving the core Irish bloodlines which incorporate Thoroughbred, Irish Draught, Connemara Pony and traditionally bred Irish Sport Horses. The report highlights the international presence of the Traditional Irish Horse, with almost 120 TIH FEI horses registered across disciplines to date in 2026, demonstrating the continued global demand for these horses.This report supports the delivery of Horse Sport Irelands Strategic Plan, Priority Two: Optimise genetics, genomic insight and performance data to strengthen breeding excellence, highlighting continued progress in the application of genomic and data-driven tools to support sustainable breeding and selection decisions.Horse Sport Ireland will recommend a genomic-based TIH designation route within the studbook to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine based on peer reviewed research soon to be presented at the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. This would enable horses that meet the genetic profile of a TIH to be included while maintaining the integrity of these traditional bloodlines. The intention is that this development will support population growth, improve data accuracy, and ensure that breeding decisions are informed by both pedigree and genomic insights.Breeders are encouraged to begin the foal registration process within the first month of birth to support accurate population monitoring, legislation compliance and maximise the value of these data-driven tools.Key findings53% of 2025 TIH foals out of ISH [TIH] damsIrish Draught stallions remain the dominant sire group for TIH horsesThe average Thoroughbred percentage of active TIH sires is 56%Low inbreeding levels of 0.47% which supports population genetic diversity667 TIH foals with a 2025 date of birth, these figures continue to grow due to late registrationsDr. Jennifer Doyle, Geneticist at Horse Sport Ireland, commented:This report highlights the continued strength of the Traditional Irish Horse population, underpinned by its crossbred structure and strong foundations in Irish bloodlines. The consistently low levels of inbreeding, combined with improving pedigree completeness, demonstrate the effectiveness of current breeding practices in maintaining genetic diversity. While recent foal registration numbers show some decline, this is influenced by late registrations, and the overall trends point to a resilient population. The sustained use of Irish Draught stallions and the balanced Thoroughbred contribution reflect the enduring value of traditional breeding systems in producing versatile, quality horses.Dr. Sonja Egan, Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development at Horse Sport Ireland, said:The Traditional Irish Horse represents a vital component of Irelands equine culture, and safeguarding its genetic identity is central to our breeding strategy. The findings of this report reinforce the importance of maintaining diversity within this population while supporting breeders in producing horses that meet both national and international market and sporting demands. Horse Sport Irelands work in advancing genomic tools, including SNP-based parentage verification and genetic profiling, is a significant milestone for the sector. These developments have enabled continuous roll out of genomic services for breeders, and we hope this will follow with the introduction of a genomic-based TIH designation. Importantly, these tools allow us to protect the uniqueness of the TIH while providing flexibility within how modern studbooks operate, ensuring that valuable bloodlines are preserved and that the breed can continue to evolve in a sustainable and evidence-based way.The post Horse Sport Ireland Publishes 2026 Traditional Irish Horse Report appeared first on .