Joe Hernon

MEP Hilde Vautmans and MEP Benoit Cassart visited Coolmore with Des Leadon MA MVB MSC and Joe Hernon, chairman of the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) on June 9. Vautmans is the chairperson of the Horse Group in the EU Parliament and Cassart, also a member, is in charge of the Animal Transport dossier. Leadon and Hernon highlighted the problems facing the Irish industry if new transport rules are not modified to include Irish animals alongside the high health animals in the racing and sporting disciplines. Said Hernon...

A meeting of the Members of European Parliament (MEP) Horse Group was held in Brussels on March 5 and arranged by the European Horse Network (EHN). The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) was well-represented at the meeting by chairman Joe Hernon and Veterinary Advisory Committee chairman Des Leadon. There were also a number of MEPs and members of the EHN on hand. Nina Carberry hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Much of the discussion was on the future of the equine sector as well as negotiations...

Coolmore are to continue its sponsorship of the first German Classic of the year, the G2 Coolmore City of Troy German 2,000 Guineas, which will be run at Cologne on Sunday May 18. "German breeders have been terrific supporters of Coolmore over the years and we have been long-time race sponsors in the country. We are thrilled to be sponsoring the Group 2 Coolmore City Of Troy German 2000 Guineas again." said Coolmore's Joe Hernon. City of Troy, whose name will be carried on this year's race, was rated European...

Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has obtained permission to import the Arvac vaccine ahead of the 2025 breeding season, the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) announced on Monday. The manufacturing failure of the Artervac vaccine in 2023 had left Europe's elite stallions vulnerable to an outbreak of EVA, a notifiable disease which can cause infertility, as well as pregnancy loss in mares. The EFTBA and its members, including Ireland, France and Germany, had lobbied the EU for permission to import the alternative vaccine, Arvac,...

The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) held its 2024 AGM in Chantilly, France over the weekend of the G1 Prix de Diane Longines, which celebrated the 175th running of the prestigious race and was hosted by the Fédération des Eleveurs du Galop (French TBA). Over the weekend of the AGM, the French TBA, together with France Galop, hosted a series of visits for delegates which included the training gallops and the training yards of Gavin Hernon and Henri-François Devin, as well as Château de Chantilly and the Musée...

As part of its newly enacted Animal Health Law, the EU Commission will not apply restrictions on traveling foals under 30 days old through the UK and continental Europe. The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations worked with the likes of Louis Romanet, Dr. Paul Gadot and Brian Kavanagh to form a task force to lobby for the removal of the restrictions, in which Dr. Des Leadon was also instrumental. EFTBA chairman Joe Hernon paid tribute to the work of the task force led by Goran Akerstrom, FEI Veterinary Director,...