Cover Stories
The Versatile Irish Draught
by Liz McFarland
January 31, 2005

The Irish what? The Irish Draught, pronounced ‘draft’ but not looking like one! That’s the only hurdle to get over when discussing this exciting horse breed. The Irish Draught is ever increasing in popularity and with good reason, a horse with a natural and powerful jump and a willing, intelligent and compatible temperament, it is an outstanding choice for riders of all ages and experience levels. Think you’ve never seen one? Well, perhaps not! A Registered Irish Draught (RID) is considered endangered with worldwide numbers estimated to be between 2,000 to 2,500 horses. However, if you follow Show Jumping and Eventing or have had an opportunity to see the British or Irish Mounted Police, you have more than likely seen the wonderful cross between the Irish Draught and Thoroughbred, the Irish Draught Sport Horse (IDSH). For a horse breed with such small numbers, the competitive proficiency is amazing and includes International Show Jumpers: Carling King, Clover Leaf, Coolcorron Cool Diamond, Cruising, Flo Jo and Special Envoy and Olympic and International Eventers: Custom Made, Sailing, Supreme Rock and Giltedge.

In the early part of the 20th century, the Irish farmer needed a more versatile horse than the heavy draft. A horse was needed that could work the land throughout the week, go fox-hunting all day Saturday, jumping anything he faced, and then be ready to cart the family to church in style on Sunday morning. It was from this need that the Irish Draught developed. These horses and the Connemara are the only horses native to Ireland. Over a century of selection has produced this quality warm blood breed that is so very sound, sensible and good boned. The Irish Draught is neither as massive nor as heavily feathered as its name might imply and has movement that is smooth and free, without exaggeration, and not heavy nor ponderous. Standing between 15.3hh and 16.3hh, the Draught has an exceptionally strong and sound constitution, great stamina and an uncanny jumping ability. The horse can be any strong whole color and grays are frequently seen. The even temperament, durability and power of the Irish Draught, crossed with the speed and athleticism of the Thoroughbred, creates a potent mix well suited to the demands of today’s competition. This cross, once known as the Irish Hunter, is referred to as the Irish Draught Sport Horse in North America and the Irish Sport Horse in Europe. Recently the introduction of crosses with other bloodlines, such as top quality Warm bloods and Quarter Horses, has also shown great promise. These crosses are also referred to as Irish Draught Sport Horses.

In 1976 the Irish Draught Horse Society was established in Ireland to encourage and assist breeders in the preservation and improvement of the breed. The Irish Horse Board and the Northern Ireland Horse Board maintain the studbook on behalf of the Society. All horses must be inspected to be able to be entered into the studbook. Branch societies, of which there are currently 17 worldwide including North America, Canada and Great Britain, maintain registries, with horses inspected by an Irish Society judge/inspector. Along with Registered Irish Draughts, the Irish Draught Sport Horse is recognized in North America through the Irish Draught Horse Society of North America (IDHS-NA and IDHS-Can). The North American Society recognizes an Irish Draught Sport Horse as a crossbred horse with a portion of Registered Irish Draught blood. However, the Irish Sport Horse is recognized by the Irish Horse Board, as a horse of ANY breeding, which MAY OR MAY NOT have Irish Draught blood in its pedigree, although quite a few of the top Irish Sport Horses do possess some Irish Draught blood. Whether the cross is known as an Irish Draught Sport Horse, an Irish Sport Horse or even as an Irish Hunter, if there is Irish Draught blood running in those veins, you have one great horse!

One great horse I have a close association with is the Registered Irish Draught stallion, Happy Ending. Happy Ending is a 1988, 16.2hh, dark bay who was imported from England in 1996 by Penmerryl Stud in Virginia. While in England he was NaStA performance tested (equivalent to the German 100 Day Test) and received Grade One Elite, the only RID Stallion yet to receive this distinction. He also successfully competed in BHS show jumping while in England and was a Champion “A” Circuit Jumper in Virginia. He was the IDHS-NA Supreme Performance Champion and Supreme Show Champion in 1999. A number of his stock have been recognized with Championships at the annual breed show as well.

About the time Happy Ending was imported to Virginia, my husband Mike and I had decided that the Irish Draught was a horse we wanted to get to know. Mike, who ranches, was interested in a horse who had good feet, good bone, and could “hold up to an all day circle”. I was interested in returning to riding English and perhaps doing a little jumping after a very long hiatus. We began our Irish Draught Sport Horse program through artificial insemination, by crossing carefully selected AQHA mares (closer to the thoroughbred end of the breed) with Happy Ending and several other imported Irish Draught stallions. These breedings, along with the purchase of Happy Ending, resulted in Indian Creek Ranch, Registered Irish Draughts and Irish Draught Sport Horses. All of our AQHA crossbreds have passed inspection by the Irish judges although the cross seemed to mystify them until the horses performed. Such was the case this past October when one of our early crosses, Indian Creek Diamond, won the IDHS-NA Grand Performance Championship in Lexington, Virginia.

While these horses have excelled in the show ring, back at the ranch they are ridden and working cows and making the loop. In many ways we think we are right back to where the Irish intended this horse to be - a horse of versatility, even temperament and good bone.
For more information on the Registered Irish Draught or the Irish Draught Sport Horse visit the Irish Draught Horse Society-NA website at www.irishdraught.com. If you are interested in seeing an IDSH in the Northwest there are several successfully competing in regional jumping and eventing venues including the Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, MT. You can usually see an IDSH or two at the Masters Tournament at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada. For breeding, there are several Registered Irish Draught stallions located in the Northwest including Dandelion Farms ‘Huntington Proud Tim’. There are also a number of IDSH stallions in the area. The Northwest Chapter of the Irish Draught Society has a complete listing of breeders.

Liz McFarland works and enjoys raising horses with her husband, Mike Wigen, in Eastern Montana. She can be contacted at Indiancreek@rangeweb.net