Infighting at Horse Sport Ireland Leaves Pessoa Reconsidering Position

Rodrigo Pessoa is considering whether he can remain Irish show jumping chef d’equipe following revelations of turmoil at Horse Sport Ireland (HSI).

Despite sending the squad to its first team gold medal in 16 years at the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden this past August, HSI’s performance structure has since unravelled. It emerged last week that the high performance committee’s chairman Gerry Mullins resigned in October, citing a “toxic” culture at HSI.

Pessoa thought Mullins’ reinstatement was imminent following weeks of placatory talks. But last Tuesday’s (December 5th) board decision to appoint Edward Doyle as interim replacement for Mullins has now left Pessoa “considering his position.”

In a frank interview with The Irish Field Pessoa said he was “very unhappy” and “surprised” the board did not support Mullins last week.

“Part of why I took this job, when they presented the job, was because the High Performance committee were people I wanted to work with. We got on very well, we worked very well together, and we made things happen,” said Pessoa.

“I put a lot of thought into this. I have to think about my position; it’s a natural feeling. My heart is with this team, but it’s not a secret that I have been approached by others in the fall. I really wish I didn’t have to, but I have to reconsider.”

There was apparently no hint of this latest bombshell when the team was honoured by Ireland sports minister Shane Ross at a reception in Dublin on December 4th.

Ireland’s prolonged run of disappointing championship results included failure to qualify a team for the last three Olympic Games, partially attributed to long-term internal issues at the national federation. So a new era was hailed when the new combined managerial forces of Pessoa (appointed in March), Mullins, Michael Blake as Show Jumping Development Team Manager and Taylor Vard as chef d’equipe helped the riders deliver at the 2017 Europeans.

The new controversy was triggered by Mullins’ proposal to ask riders to complete a questionnaire about future policy.

Mullins also spoke at length to The Irish Field and alleges that someone “orchestrated” this situation. He did not go as far as giving a name, while also stressing he did not blame HSI chairman Jim Beecher. Mullins also added that he had the full support of the High Performance Committee leaving a small list of possible sources for the turmoil, including HSI CEO Ronan Murphy.

Mullins said: “It is a very toxic situation. Something very good is happening in Irish equestrian sport and many teams abroad are trying to copy HSI High Performance. We have a strong group of people. I was forced into making a decision to resign because I felt the possibility of us being able to continue the good work was going to be lessened by unnecessary interference.”