Irish Draught Horses, Irish Sport Horses

Golden Beaker~IHR

Artic Storm

Corbally Princess

Clover Hil~ RID http://www.idshs.com.au/stallions/other/

Ohilly Beauty~ISH

Tara

Ohilly Lass

Coille Mor Hill~ RID *

One Wing

The Phoenix

Lapwing

Lawrencetown Lassy~RID

Not Recorded

Unknown

Bell Laughton~RID

Laughton

Unnamed mare by Inishowen

Ginger Dick~RID

Laughton Lass~RID

Battle Burn

Unknown

Biggeramore Girl~RID

Lahinch~RID

Laughton

Illane Imp

Gortinee Rose~RID

Gortinee Girl~RID

Unknown

* Coille Mor Hill won the International Heiniken Open and the Volvo Open in 2000. He is considered by the Irish Draught Registry as the Top Ranked Breed Horse.

Skies R Blue Stables

The Irish Draught is almost light and fast enough to be classified as a warm-blood. The aim of breeders was to produce a multi-purpose animal and it is certainly one of the most versatile of all the cold-bloods. The Irish farmers wanted an animal that could pull their plows, transport their goods and families in carriages and take them hunting. The Irish Draught has been doing this for centuries, although its' size, conformation and type have changed according to the demands of the time. The original Irish horses were ponies. Some early outside blood was Spanish or Arabian, but the first confirmed history of the Irish Draught was the use of Thoroughbred sires on the native Irish mares in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The Irish Draught flourished until the agricultural recession of 1879 led to a marked decline in their numbers. When the situation improved for farmers, there was a great shortage of horses. Clydesdales and Shires were imported from Britain, but this led to coarser animals and the increase in feather on the legs. This century, the Irish government has become increasingly aware of the importance of these horses and has taken steps to promote breeding. In 1907, registration plans were made for mares and inspections were started. During World War I, the Irish Draught made an important contribution. To insure their continuing production, an Irish Draught Stud Book was started in 1917. Since World War I, there has been a declining demand for work horses. However, the Irish Draught was found to be an excellent cross with the Thoroughbred in the production of hunters and competition horses. Ireland became an exporter of partbred Irish Draughts or Irish Sport Horses but the foundation purebred stock began to disappear. The formation of the Irish Horse Board in the 1970's marked a major attempt to halt this decline, and today there is an effective Irish Draught Society preserving the breed. The Irish Draught has an intelligent head with a straight face. The neck is short, thick and usually slightly crested. The body is long, and the hindquarters slope sharply but are very powerful. The limbs are strong with good flat bone and very little feather. The forelegs tend to be straignt and the feet are large and round. The Irish Draught is an active horse and its powerful hindquarters make this handsome breed a good jumper.

Irish Draught Horses, Irish Sport Horses, Hunter Jumpers, Show Jumpers, Eventing Horses

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