A Grassroot Eventers Perspective on the Path Forward

Eventing in Ireland is at a crossroads. With uncertainty surrounding the 2025 calendar and ongoing discussions between Eventing Ireland (EI) and the Event Organisers Group (EOG), many riders are left wondering what the season will look like.

For grassroots competitors, eventing is more than just a sport. It’s the backbone of a community that thrives on shared experiences, personal progress, and a deep love for horses. But right now, there’s an uneasy sense of limbo. Planning for the season feels impossible, and the lack of clarity is leaving many feeling disconnected and unsure of where things stand.

This isn’t about taking sides—it’s about recognising that eventing itself is what matters most. If the sport is to have a strong and sustainable future, there needs to be a way forward that works for everyone.

The Reality for Grassroots Riders

The gaps in the 2025 calendar are already visible. Scarteen, Lisgarvan, and other key fixtures are missing, leaving many riders questioning what’s next. The reasons behind this situation are complex—rising costs, logistical challenges, and differences in approach between organisers and governing bodies—but the impact is straightforward: fewer opportunities to compete.

For grassroots riders, this raises serious concerns:

• Will there be enough events to justify the cost and effort of preparing for the season?
• If fewer venues remain, will travel distances and expenses make competing unfeasible for many?
• If solutions involve increased entry fees, will eventing become inaccessible for the average amateur?

Eventing is already an expensive sport, and for many riders, every competition requires careful budgeting. Transport, training, and keeping a horse fit for competition are significant financial commitments. If opportunities to compete shrink while costs continue to rise, some riders may be forced to reconsider their involvement.

What Needs to Happen Next?

The upcoming Eventing Ireland AGM on March 12th at the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge is an opportunity to move towards solutions. The focus should be on collaboration, clarity, and ensuring a future for eventing that works for everyone—from grassroots to elite riders.

A few key areas that need attention:

1. Rebuilding Communication & Trust
   • The grassroots community needs transparency from both EI and the EOGs. Open and constructive dialogue will be essential to finding a path forward.
2. Financial Clarity
   • Rising costs impact everyone—riders, organisers, and officials. A clearer picture of the financial pressures across the sport can help find solutions that don’t leave amateurs priced out.
3. A Sustainable Event Structure
   • Is there a middle ground that ensures organisers can run viable events while keeping participation accessible? The AGM is the right place to explore this balance.
4. Supporting Volunteers
   • Events rely on volunteers, but attracting them is becoming harder. Could initiatives like reduced entry fees for those who volunteer encourage greater participation?

This Affects Everyone—From Amateurs to Olympians

While the grassroots community will feel the immediate impact, the long-term implications go beyond the amateur level. Ireland’s top eventers are entering a new Olympic cycle with Los Angeles 2028 in their sights. But to compete on the world stage, they need a strong domestic competition structure behind them.

Owners and sponsors will also be watching closely. If running events in Ireland becomes increasingly difficult, will they start to look elsewhere? If the uncertainty continues, could we see more top horses sold abroad or Irish riders losing key partnerships?

These are questions that go beyond any single season. They speak to the future of Irish eventing as a whole.

A Call to Action

If eventing in Ireland is to move forward, it needs to happen together. The AGM isn’t just a meeting—it’s an opportunity for riders to ask questions, share concerns, and help shape the direction of the sport.

At its heart, this isn’t about a dispute—it’s about ensuring the future of eventing in Ireland remains strong, sustainable, and open to all. A solution won’t come from standing on the sidelines—it comes from being part of the conversation.

So, if eventing matters to you, be there. Make your voice heard. Because when eventers stand together, the sport thrives. And that’s what truly counts.