Irish Horse Board Signs MOA with China

It is hoped that Ireland’s breeding, training, and equestrian sports expertise can be shared to support China’s "ambitious equine development goals."

A group of people holding a framed document.

(L to R) Alison Corbally (IHB Director General) Dr Nicholas O’Brien (Irish Ambassador to China) Tiernan Gill (Chairman Irish Horse Board), Yue Gaofeng (CHIA Secretary General), Yue Xiaoyon (former Chinese Ambassador to Ireland) and Jimmy Quinn (Cappa Stud).

By: Irish Horse Board | March 10, 2025

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you're listening to an article from horse sport.com. irish horse board signs moa with china by: irish horse board |. the irish horse board (ihb) made history last week with a milestone event in beijing, marking the first official meeting between the ihb and the china horse industry association (chia). the prestigious event, hosted by dr. nicholas o’brien at the irish embassy, brought together key representatives from both ireland and china to celebrate a landmark moment for the global equestrian sport horse industry. the highlight of the event was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (mou) between the ihb and chia, paving the way for enhanced collaboration, trade opportunities, and shared expertise in all facets of the horse industry. this agreement strengthens ireland’s position as a global leader in horse breeding, sport horses, and equestrian sports while contributing to the rapidly developing equine sector in china. the event aligned perfectly with china’s national equine industry development plan (2020-2025), which aims to significantly boost the country’s equestrian and sport horse operations. ireland’s reputation for equestrian excellence is built on a rich heritage of horsemanship, with over 15,000 breeders producing tough and talented horses that consistently perform at the highest level, is well recognized in china. the irish sport horse industry contributes more than €816 million to the irish economy and provides over 14,000 jobs, primarily in rural areas, therefore ireland is uniquely positioned to support china’s ambitious goals. advertisement scroll to continue with content the event also showcased an ambitious cappa stud proposed project in china, spearheaded by jimmy quinn, which is anticipated to include a state-of-the-art equestrian facility, a 5-star hotel, and an irish cultural village. the reception was attended by distinguished guests, including beijing and huzhou government officials and key figures from the equine industries of both nations. the event celebrated equestrian culture, international collaboration, and the promising future of irish-chinese relations in the horse industry. the irish horse board wishes to sincerely thank dr. o’brien and the irish embassy officials for hosting this historic relevant and we look forward to collaborating with them further in the future. tiernan gill, chairman of the irish horse board, said: “this event marked a truly historic occasion for ireland’s equestrian industry. our commitment to equine welfare, sustainable breeding practices, and top-tier performance aligns seamlessly with china’s vision for its developing equestrian sector.”. alison corbally, director general of the irish horse board, added: “the signing of the mou with the china horse industry association will not only open new opportunities for trade and collaboration but also strengthen the bonds of friendship between our nations. ireland’s unparalleled expertise in breeding, training, and equestrian sports positions us perfectly to support china’s ambitious equine development goals. ireland is excited to share our knowledge and experience with china.”. this landmark agreement is expected to create significant opportunities for irish breeders, trainers, and equestrian professionals, while also contributing to the growth and development of china’s equine industry.

The Irish Horse Board (IHB) made history last week with a milestone event in Beijing, marking the first official meeting between the IHB and the China Horse Industry Association (CHIA). The prestigious event, hosted by Dr. Nicholas O’Brien at the Irish Embassy, brought together key representatives from both Ireland and China to celebrate a landmark moment for the global equestrian sport horse industry.

The highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the IHB and CHIA, paving the way for enhanced collaboration, trade opportunities, and shared expertise in all facets of the horse industry. This agreement strengthens Ireland’s position as a global leader in horse breeding, sport horses, and equestrian sports while contributing to the rapidly developing equine sector in China.

The event aligned perfectly with China’s National Equine Industry Development Plan (2020-2025), which aims to significantly boost the country’s equestrian and sport horse operations. Ireland’s reputation for equestrian excellence is built on a rich heritage of horsemanship, with over 15,000 breeders producing tough and talented horses that consistently perform at the highest level, is well recognized in China. The Irish sport horse industry contributes more than €816 million to the Irish economy and provides over 14,000 jobs, primarily in rural areas, therefore Ireland is uniquely positioned to support China’s ambitious goals.

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The event also showcased an ambitious Cappa Stud proposed project in China, spearheaded by Jimmy Quinn, which is anticipated to include a state-of-the-art equestrian facility, a 5-star hotel, and an Irish cultural village.

The reception was attended by distinguished guests, including Beijing and Huzhou government officials and key figures from the equine industries of both nations. The event celebrated equestrian culture, international collaboration, and the promising future of Irish-Chinese relations in the horse industry.

The Irish Horse Board wishes to sincerely thank Dr. O’Brien and the Irish embassy officials for hosting this historic relevant and we look forward to collaborating with them further in the future.

Tiernan Gill, Chairman of the Irish Horse Board, said: “This event marked a truly historic occasion for Ireland’s equestrian industry. Our commitment to equine welfare, sustainable breeding practices, and top-tier performance aligns seamlessly with China’s vision for its developing equestrian sector.”

Alison Corbally, Director General of the Irish Horse Board, added: “The signing of the MOU with the China Horse Industry Association will not only open new opportunities for trade and collaboration but also strengthen the bonds of friendship between our nations. Ireland’s unparalleled expertise in breeding, training, and equestrian sports positions us perfectly to support China’s ambitious equine development goals. Ireland is excited to share our knowledge and experience with China.”

This landmark agreement is expected to create significant opportunities for Irish breeders, trainers, and equestrian professionals, while also contributing to the growth and development of China’s equine industry.