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Arena party FETAC award recipients, clockwise from left: John McGearty, Conor Higgins, Patrick Hester, Sarah Camon, and Iris Brazil.

The Young Breeders Programme, a joint initiative between Teagasc and Horse Sport Ireland, has produced its first qualified Irish arena party, which is responsible for guiding horses during the loose movement element of Horse Sport Ireland Stallion inspections.

Horse Sport Ireland CEO Damian McDonald presented the participants with their Fetac certificates this week.

Through the programme, those aged 19 yo 25 years who had actively attended young breeder training were offered further training to be part of an arena party for loose movement and loose jumping of horses under the tuition of Declan McArdle, Teagasc Equine Specialist Advisor.

Horse Sport Ireland CEO Damian McDonald Congratulated the young breeders on achieving their FETAC (Further Education and Training Awards Council) awards.

"Guiding horses during loose movement tests is a real skill and it is great step forward to have qualified people in Ireland to carryout this work. I want to thank Teagasc and Declan McArdle for their work on this programme," he said.

Patrick Hester is now qualified as an arena party leader, while Conor Higgins, Iris Brazil, Regina Daniels, Sarah Camon, Eileen Murphy and John McGearty are qualified as arena party members. They were presented with a Fetac minor award.

This group of young people were provided with two days of intensive training, followed by on the job training at the HSI mare inspections in 2011. They participated in up to four days each at the mare inspections, which was also paid employment. The process culminated in an examination day, the outcome of which is now a quorum for a fully trained arena party available in Ireland for the first time.

These young people will now be permitted to gain further experience at the upcoming 2012 stallion and mare inspections. They must commit to a refresher training day annually to remain on the panel. The skills they have gained are applicable not only as arena party at inspections and competitions but also in training horses for themselves or others.

Recruiting for this year's new batch of trainees is under way, with training commencing next month.

Arena party FETAC recipients, L-R: Conor Higgins, from Ballinahaglish, Ballina, Co. Mayo, Sarah Camon, from Belmont, Co. Offaly, Iris Brazil, from Ballinabrackey, Co. Meath, Patrick Hester, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, and John McGearty, from Kells, Co. Meath, who received their Level 5 Fetac awards. They are pictured with Declan McArdle, Teagasc Equine Specialist Advisor, who will act as Team Leader, preparing for the Horse Sport Ireland Stallion inspections in Cavan next week.