Profile

Origin: Ireland

Colour: Can be any strong whole colour.

Height: 15-17hh

Conformation: They have a neat head on a strong short neck, a powerful body, strong legs and short round feet.

Character: Sensible, willing, docile.

Uses: Hunting, cross-breeding.

Ireland's draught horse dates back to Norman times when imported horses were crossed with smaller native animals. Later crosses included Andalusian, producing a docile and strong all-rounder that was economical to keep and suitable for riding, pulling a trap or working on a small farm.

They also jumped well, a quality which arose from the Irish love of hunting, encouraging the Irish horses to develop their innate talent across-country.

They derived bone, substance, and size from the limestone pastures and rich grass, which result from the mild, damp climate, while Thoroughbred blood (which was introduced to produce the Irish hunter) gave quality, scope, and more speed without detracting from the inherited hunting ability.

Following the famine in 1847 the number of Irish Draughts declined, and efforts were made to improve stock with Clydesdale and Shire crosses, neither of which proved successful.

Ireland recognised its horses as a national asset, encouraging their breeding and sale. A Book for Horses of the Irish Draught Type was introduced in 1917, in which 375 mares and 44 stallions were entered.

In 1976 the Irish Draught Society was formed, followed in 1979 by the Irish Draught Horse Society (GB), which soon became one of the most progressive British horse societies. Its influence on hunter breeding has been remarkable, and it operates a grading system to produce animals suitable for registration.

Today the Irish Draught it is sought after for breeding qualities, and valued for its potential as an event horse when crossed with a Thoroughbred. Greater quality in the Draught mares results in faster event-type horses, with huge scope over fences. The Irish Draught is also renowned as a heavyweight hunter.

Despite their power, they should be free-moving and not ponderous, with the feet of a hunter not a carthorse. They have a graceful carriage of the head and neck, a big kind eye and strong limbs.

They are intelligent, gentle horses with plenty of common sense, making them easy to train, and bold but careful jumpers, with an instinct for hunting.

For more information on the Irish Draught visit www.irishdraughthorsesociety.com or www.irishdraught.ie