New research has been published by Horse Sport Irelands geneticist Dr Jennifer Doyle and Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development Dr Sonja Egan examining the genetic diversity and population structure of Irish horse breeds and sport horse populations. The study, Population Structure and Runs of Homozygosity in Irish Horse Breeds, has been published in the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive and was presented by Dr Doyle at the quadrennial World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production last week.The research analysed genetic data from more than 26,000 horses across 11 breeds and populations, including the Irish Sport Horse (ISH), (ISH) Traditional Irish Horse, Irish Draught, Connemara Pony, Irish Cob, Kerry Bog Pony and Thoroughbred. The study provides valuable insights into breed origins, genetic diversity and the impact of breeding practices over time.Key findings showed clear genetic distinctions among Irelands native breeds, while also demonstrating the influence of continental European warmblood bloodlines within the modern Irish Sport Horse population. The research further highlighted the genetic uniqueness of native Irish breeds and the importance of maintaining genetic diversity to support their long-term sustainability of these populations.Commenting on the publication, Dr Sonja Egan head of Breeding, Innovation and Development said:This research strengthens our understanding of the genetic makeup of Irish horse breeds and provides an important evidence base to support our ongoing breeding and conservation efforts. This work has laid the evidence basis for Horse Sport Ireland to propose a novel rule in the Irish Sport Horse Breeding Programme for which Traditional Irish Horses can be genetically designated, which has been discussed with the Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA). This would permit that animals only containing the genetic components of composite breeds to become genomically designated and allow them to breed TIH. This data set is the largest of its kind to do this work in the Irish sport horse population and ensures that the designation is both accurate and useful to Irish breeders to bolster the population and manage genetic diversity while preserving rare bloodlines.This research highlights Horse Sport Irelands continued investment in genetic research and innovation, directly supporting Priority 2 of HSI Strategy 2030: Excellence in Breeding and High-Performance Sport.Reference: Doyle, J. & Egan, S. (2026), Population Structure and Runs of Homozygosity in Irish Horse Breeds, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive. DOI: 10.31274/wcgalp.23587.The post Horse Sport Ireland Research Highlights Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Irish Horse Breeds appeared first on .