Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has published its 2026 Irish Cob Studbook Report, a comprehensive overview of the status, trends and genetic sustainability of the Irish Cob (IRC) and Irish Part-Bred Cob (IRCPB) populations in Ireland. The report forms part of HSIs ongoing commitment to excellence in Breeding and High-Performance Sport under the HSI strategic plan and supports breeders with practical information to inform breeding decisions.The Irish Cob is recognised worldwide for its strength, versatility, excellent temperament and distinctive appearance. As operator of the Irish Cob Studbook, Horse Sport Ireland continues to work closely with breeders to safeguard the breeds future through studbook management, inspections, genetic monitoring and continuous improvement of associated studbook breeding programme.The report highlights strong growth in engagement with the breeding programme, with participation in Irish Cob and Irish Part-Bred Cob inspections increasing by 150% since 2022. The inspection system provides breeders with veterinary assessment, SNP genotyping, validated trait recording and transparent publication of results, supporting informed breeding decisions while ensuring animals meet the Irish Cob breed standard.The report also provides valuable insight into stallion usage, population trends and inbreeding levels within the breed. While DNA verified pedigree recording remains a challenge due to the historical development of the breed, data shows continued improvements in pedigree completeness over time, allowing for more accurate monitoring of population diversity and supporting the long-term sustainability of the breed.A further area of focus within the report is the updated classification system introduced in 2024. Following consultation with breeders, Horse Sport Ireland simplified the classification structure for both the Irish Cob and Irish Part-Bred Cob studbooks to improve clarity and make the system more accessible for breeders and owners presenting animals for inspection.Commenting on the publication of the report, Dr Sonja Egan, Head of Breeding, Innovation and Development at Horse Sport Ireland, said:The Irish Cob is one of Irelands distinct native breeds and plays an important role both nationally and internationally. There is considerable marketability of the Irish Cob breed worldwide, denoted by its huge popularity across daughter studbooks both in and outside of Europe. It is encouraging to see the continued growth in breeder engagement with the studbook and inspection system. This year Horse Sport Ireland introduced the digital publication of the first ever Irish Cob Stallion book, this supports the promotion of these Irish Cob stallions but also serves to provide breeders with individual scored traits to support their own stallion selections.The findings within this report demonstrate the value of robust breeding programme implementation, accurate pedigree recording and the application of modern genomic technologies in supporting the long-term sustainability of the breed.The success of any breeding programme depends on breeder and owner participation, and we are grateful to the Irish Cob breeders who continue to breed, promote and actively engage with the studbook. Together, we can continue to preserve and promote this iconic Irish breed for future generations.The 2026 Irish Cob Studbook Report was authored by Dr Jennifer Doyle, Jasmine Kennedy and Dr Sonja Egan and is available to download by clicking the below cover or from the Horse Sport Ireland website.The post Horse Sport Ireland Publishes 2026 Irish Cob Studbook Report appeared first on .