The Irish Western Society tasks it self with promoting and improving the standard of western equitation in Ireland.

The society welcomes anybody with any breed of horse who would like to learn more about the art of Western Riding as a discipline as well as those who do not yet have horses but would like to learn more about Western Riding and training techniques. We aim to present Western Riding as an accessible and exciting option to new and current riders of different dispositions.

Through Promotion, Education, and Communication we hope to build and establish a growing base of individuals with a serious interest in Western Riding. Then with a multitude of media, we aim to service the community with an informative publication, which will encourage market growth, while also dispensing industry news and critical information.

Over the last ten years, Western Riding has gained serious backing worldwide. With the loss of its ‘Cowboy’ image, many established equestrians have taken Western very seriously across Europe and the rest of the world. This change prompted the development of the correct infrastructure needed to support countries such as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom to name but a few, who now compete at world level. Western Riding has thus grown exponentially world wide to the point where Reining as been accepted as an Olympic Sport, as well has having a strong presents at the World Equestrian Games, this vote of confidence in Western equitation and it’s competitive sports have seen large scale investment into horses, individuals and business alike.

With a view to encompass and foster the industry as a whole, our stance is non-specific to any single discipline or breed; it is much more about the bigger picture. Western equitation has benefits for Irish business and equestrians of any equestrian discipline. These factors, if nurtured, will produce tangible benefits for the market and current specific breed societies, fostering the community for the overall benefit of the industry.

Like dressage, jumping, and racing, Western equitation, and its derivative sports have become a very serious industry throughout not only the United States. Across Europe, individuals and businesses alike have been investing money into the sport and infrastructure, the effect has been growth within the local economy surrounding this infrastructure, much in the same way other equestrian sports have contributed to local and national economic growth.

In turn, such investment will allow Ireland to establish it’s self as a major competitor within Western equitation and its competitive sports. While Western equation covers the aspects of horsemanship, it is also important to note that this is a serious business opportunity. As a result it will be imperative to foster a multifaceted approached, developing the knowledge and understand to open up the market to everyone and procure the backing needed to sustain the industries development and growth.

Goals

The task we face is not only a serious one, but also a difficult one. There are different angles that will need to be tackled if we are to procure serious interest and growth within the market. Thus, we have devised a three-point plan. Each point covers one of the key areas in which we feel stimulation is most required to inject the right attitude and understanding into this future market.

Presentation

Presentation is paramount to obtaining backing from the public, Irish equestrians, as well as established equestrian business, and investors. For the industry to develop it will take dedication and persistence from society publications and members on the ground to inform equestrians and non-equestrians alike about why Western Riding is such an amazing form of equitation which can not only offer new challenges for previously experienced riders, but also offer something totally different to new and novice riders.
Right now, there are very few people out there beating the drum for Western Riding and horsemanship within Ireland. It is time to coordinate an effort, which brings informative and factual information to the table in a well presented and easy to understand manner.

Education

Western Riding is really a completely new format when compared to English for example. The transition between the two will require a network of partnerships with local riding clubs who are enthused by Western. By teaching, the required skills will allow members to, once having reached a level of competency; expand their own regional member bases.

Western Riding has huge potential to provide equestrians with a new challenge. Aside from the different principles need for Western, there are many more possibilities coming from Western type horsemanship, which can have benefits for all types of equitation.

Only through education can we hope to deliver this knowledge to members and individuals who want to progress in the art of Western Riding. We also think if very important for people to understand other basics of horsemanship and horse care, to people new to horses in general this is critical.

Communication

This final aspect, designed to allow information and news to flow free between industry and members. By bringing together a network of people across the country, it will become the distributing factor for all of the society’s goals.

Members

Any society is only as strong as its member base, in our case this member base, we hope will be behind the development and growth of Western Riding within Ireland. With this in mind, it is imperative to offer our members a means of communication and information from which our members can become adept in the art of Western Riding, with all its derivative aspects.

An annual membership fee will give the society an expanding ability based upon its member base, and thus revenues gained to invest into the very infrastructure needed to establish and maintain growth within the industry. It will become increasingly important for the society to provide the means to educate members in all the required aspects of Western horsemanship. We aim to do this via a network of affiliated riding schools, clinics, demonstrations and lectures.

Social community development and networking will also be of importance. In conjunction with other events, it will be important to foster social happenings bring together members and non-members, to include business also.

Journal

We hope to in the near future provide a comprehensive monthly digital publication. This digitally distributed journal will not only provide value for money, it will also bring members access to trainers and western equestrians from the United States, as well as general articles to encompass the field of Western Equitation. This along with public articles for publication via the website should provide a solid foundation for our readers to build on.

An example of this is a questions and answers section for members. Trainers from the States will be able to answer any kind of question sent into to the publication. A feature we believe, along with others that will prove very important for Irish equestrians new to Western.

Articles will also allow the in-depth discussion of a wide variety of subjects within the field. We feel it is important that key issues from tack, medical treatment and general western horsemanship. To advanced aspects of showmanship and breeding are covered. As to many in Ireland, the idea and execution of Western equation will be a new concept, out digital publication must be at the forefront of educating members about all aspects.

The website and the publication will also become a shop window for local events, stallions standing at stud, and a section dedicated to advertising horse sales. The content type will allow for future development and even a move to paper print once it was finically viable. A wide verity options on the table and the larger the member base, the more the society will be able to obtain benefits for our members.

Events

With networking, alongside industrial and community development the expansion of Western equation within Ireland will lead to the expanding requirement for exposure, competition, and clinics. The society will aim to be at the forefront of establishing such events for members and any individuals or groups interested in learning more.

Already we are working to establish a network of facilities to reach out to the local equestrian communities and provide the means to begin training people in the ways of Western equation who may not be in a position to own or have access to paint or quarter horses.

With increased interest and uptake, this network of facilities will we hope allow the organisation of local, and then regional shows, alongside demonstrations and clinics for our members from Western equestrians from the United States.

Final Words

We are going to be working hard to lay the foundations for the future, already there is a hunger in the air for the assimilation of Western equation into Ireland’s equestrian establishment. As this grows the development of infrastructure and business will prosper around it. We believe Ireland can become a European leader in the arts of Western Riding, something that will have tangible benefits for horsemanship as well as local and national economies. With your enthusiasm and help, it will become a reality.