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The Irish Draught HorseHeight Around 15.2hh - 16.2hh for mares, 16hh - 17hh for stallions. Colour Any whole colour. Build Body should be deep throughout the girth, quarters long and sloping. Shoulders should be clean cut and withers well defined. Neck should be set high. Head should be bold, broad across the forehead with eyes set well apart. A slight Roman nose is permitted. Legs should have plenty of dense flat bone, and be short in the cannons. Feet should be strong and sound, with plenty of room at the heel. Movement Smooth and free from the shoulder, straight but not exaggerated, with hocks well flexed. History The Irish Draught was originally created by crossing the Thoroughbred with the farm horse, to produce a medium weight animal, ideally suited to both farm work and general riding. His main duties would include tilling fields and pulling a cart; he could also be relied upon as a safe mount on the hunting field. He had to be economical, surviving on a diet of gorse, boiled turnips and meal during the bleak winter months. During the Irish famine, the Irish Draught was in serious decline, with many horses going for slaughter. The few remaining breeders, in conjuction with the Irish Horse Board, worked hard to create a new stud book and keep the breed alive. The Irish Draught of today is not always as his name would suggest; far from being a heavy draught type, he is strong yet athletic, of meduim build and weight. Well known for their exceptionally strong feet, the Irish Draught has ideal qualities for showjumper breeding; their hooves being well able to withstand the impact of frequent jumping, often on hard ground. The Irish Draught excels in many spheres; from eventing to hunter, cob and working hunter showing, he is considered to be among the best all round riding horses. Their wonderful calm temperaments place Irish Draughts as a popular choice for mounted Police Horses. There are several different Irish Draught Registers. RID - Registered Irish Draught, full bred. AID - Appendix Irish Draught, three quarters bred. SID - Supplementary Irish Draught, half bred. SHR - Sport Horse Register, with proven Irish Draught breeding in the pedigree. Breed Society Irish Draught Horse Society Ireland http://www.irishdraught.ie Irish Draught Horse Society http://www.irishdraughthorsesociety.com Irish Draught Horse Society of North America http://www.irishdraught.com Irish Draught Horse Society of New Zealand http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/irishhorse Did you know? Irish Sports Horse, Mill Pearl, was a team silver medallist with rider Joe Fargis, for the USA team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Mill Pearl was by pure bred Irish Draught Stallion, King of Diamonds. Time line 1976 -The Irish Draught Horse Society (IDHS) Limited was founded 2002 - Irish Draught Horse Society of Canada founded. |
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