EFTBA Hosts MEP's In Ireland

On Tuesday the 9th of June, 2026 MEP Hilde Vautmans and fellow MEP Benoit Cassart took time out from their busy schedule in Cork to visit Coolmore with Des Leadon MA MVB MSC AND Joe Hernon Chairman of the EFTBA.

This trip was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the high standards that exist in our thoroughbred breeding industry.

Hilde Vautmans is the chairperson of the Horse Group in the EU Parliament and Benoit Cassart also a member, but he is in charge of the Animal Transport dossier.

This was a great opportunity for Des and I to highlight the problems facing our industry if the new transport rules are not modified to include our animals in a derogation as the high health animals in our racing and sporting disciplines are.

We presented a fact sheet and discussed the issues and presented solutions that were well understood and accepted.

Hilde was then shown a standard horsebox used for international travel. She had a tour of Coolmore Stud and inspected the stallions.

We showcased the Irish Breeding Industry to people who are horse people and have a big influence.

I would like to thank Nina Carbery MEP who initiated the visit.

Kind regards,


Joe Hernon
EFTBA Chairman