What are Irish Draught horses good for?

Are Irish Draughts good for You?

However, like many of the horses native to the British Isles, Irish Draughts are ‘good-doers’ and thrive on rough grazing. If fed too rich a diet, they are prone to laminitis and other obesity-related health issues.

What is a draught horse pedigree?

Irish Draught Horse pedigrees had been recorded since at least the start of the 20th century, when the government introduced registration for stallions and mares in 1907 and 1911 respectively, subject to inspections of the animals, and offering subsidies towards this.

Do Irish draughts have health problems?

The breed is largely free of health problems, even though inbreeding is a concern due to the popularity of a limited number of bloodlines. However, like many of the horses native to the British Isles, Irish Draughts are ‘good-doers’ and thrive on rough grazing.

What is the Irish Draught Horse Society (GB)?

The Irish Draught Horse Society (GB) was formed in 1979 by a group of enthusiasts wishing to register their Irish Draught bred horses in Great Britain. The Society has grown enormously since then and is dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of the Irish Draught breed.

What makes Irish Draughts so special?

Irish Draughts have achieved top marks as hunters, event horses, jumpers, and dressage mounts in international competition, and crossing them with Thoroughbreds has produced performance horses with exceptional strength, soundness, and temperament.

What percentage of a horse’s pedigree is Irish Draught?

For horses with a minimum of two generations of documented or otherwise proven breeding (e.g. through DNA), of which a minimum of 25% must be Irish Draught (RID/ Class 1/Class 2) The non-Irish Draught portion of the pedigree may be any other breed.

What is the Irish Draught Register?

The register as a whole provides a place for the registration of all part-bred stock with documented Irish Draught ancestry, combined with any other breed or breeds. It is divided into three categories. A covering certificate from an official Passport Issuing Organisation is essential.

Is there crossbreeding in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook?

In recent generations, there has been an infusion of continental warmblood breeds, and there is now a considerable amount of crossbreeding with these breeds in the Irish sport horse studbook. Traditional Irish Sport Horses (registerered as ISH (TIH)), which do not have any foreign ancestors recorded in their back pedigree, continue to be bred.

What breeds make up the Irish sport horse breed?

The foundation Irish sport horse breeds are the Irish draught horse and the thoroughbred, with influence also from the Connemara Pony. In recent generations, there has been an infusion of continental warmblood breeds, and there is now a considerable amount of crossbreeding with these breeds in the Irish sport horse studbook.

What is the Irish Draught Horse Association?

This site is intended to be a valuable resource for members, breeders and enthusiasts. We aim to cover a wide range of topics relating to the Irish Draught Horse and our association, which endeavours to promote and protect our national breed.

What are the rules for competing Irish Draught stallions?

The same rules apply to competing Irish Draught stallions that must be registered or overstamped by the IDHS (GB). Competing Irish Draught Sport Horse Stallions must be registered with the IDHS (GB).

What do Irish Draught Horses eat?

The Irish Draught is a large breed with equally large nutritional requirements, including plenty of grains, grass, and legumes. Added fat is often recommended to assist with the maintenance of their muscular build, though a balance is essential since excess body weight could lead to stress on a draught horse’s bones and joints.

What makes the Irish Draught one of the best sport horses?

When the intelligent and tough Irish Draught was crossbred with the thoroughbreds and warmbloods from Europe, it resulted in a animal that displayed several qualities such as strength, endurance, speed, athleticism, and temperament; an important criteria that have led to the creation of one of the best sport horse breeds in the world.

What is the Irish studbook?

For generations Irish horses have dominated the eventing circuit and the Studbook has been the leading eventing Studbook in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) Studbook rankings every year since the conception of the rankings in 1994 with the exception of 2010 when they finished in 2nd and in 2011 when they took 3rd place.

How do you choose an Irish Draught broodmare?

Each mare is bred to either an Irish Draught or a Thoroughbred stallion with proven jumping ability and soundness. When choosing an Irish Draught broodmare one looks for good conformation and movement.

What is the Irish Horse Register?

The Irish Horse Register only contains horses registered in the Irish Horse Register (IHR) The animal may be unnamed in the IHR or have been renamed The animal may have been born into a studbook other than the Irish Sport Horse or Irish Draught horse studbook and has not yet been endorsed.

How many sections are there in the Irish Draught Horse Studbook?

Sections of the Irish Draught Studbook There are two sections in the Irish Draught Horse Studbook, (i) the Main Section and (ii) the Supplementary Section.

How many grandparents does an Irish Draught Horse have?

Have three grandparents classified as Class 1 in the Irish Draught Horse Studbook and one grand parent classified in the Main Section of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook as a Thoroughbred, Connemara Pony or Irish Sport Horse with recorded pedigree of Thoroughbred/Irish Draught/ Connemara Pony

Why are the Irish Draught so popular?

The supernatural ability of the Irish Draught to jump massive heights, along with excellent stamina, are some of the important attributes that make them a permanent fixture in horse shows and equestrian events across the world.

Are there any Irish Draught Stallions in the UK?

Inspected and approved Irish Draught and Irish Draught Sport Horse stallions standing in Great Britain and Ireland. Also a list of stallions with semen available in Great Britain © 2021 IDHS (GB) Registered Charity No. 1080522.