| The Irish Draught horse is the national horse of Ireland | | | | rarity of the breed. The following is a direct quote from |
| The name Irish Draught may be misleading since the | | | | "Report to The Irish Draught Horse Society, Ireland" |
| breed is a lighter, more free-moving animal than the | | | | prepared at the Animal Genomics Laboratory, School |
| traditional image of the heavy draft horse. The Irish | | | | of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, |
| Draught is neither as massive nor as heavily feathered | | | | College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, |
| as its name implies. | | | | Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; by Angela McGahern, Patrick |
| The breed has been in existence for at least a | | | | Brophy, David MacHugh & Emmeline Hill and |
| century or more and originated from the Irish Hobby | | | | released in February, 2006. |
| Horse which was a small ambling horse that was | | | | "The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the |
| similar to the primitive Garrano and Sorraia horses of | | | | United Nations classifies the Irish Draught (ID) horse as |
| Northern Spain and Portugal. Clydesdale, Thoroughbred | | | | an endangered breed due to the declining population |
| and half-bred sires were used on the local Draught | | | | size. Falling purebred numbers, combined with a serious |
| mares in the 1800's and early 1900's. Native | | | | threat of genetic erosion, suggest that the ID population |
| Connemara Pony was also added to form the breed | | | | is in urgent need of conservation. Genetic diversity is |
| known as the Irish Draught today. | | | | an important component in the consideration of |
| Traditionally, the Irish Draught Horse was the farm | | | | conservation strategies and measures of genetic |
| horse in Ireland and so it had to be versatile enough for | | | | diversity are becoming widely used in breed |
| use as a hunter or ridden or cart pulling and plowing. It | | | | management systems. The Irish Draught Horse |
| had to be docile, strong and economical to keep. The | | | | Society must now identify and preserve its rare |
| traditional winter feed for the Irish Draught Horse was | | | | bloodlines and explore the genetic resources available |
| young gorse put through a chaff-cutter, boiled turnips, | | | | to preserve the broadest possible genetic base." |
| and bran or meal of some sort that could be spared | | | | In terms of physical characteristics, the Irish Draught |
| from the cattle. | | | | Horse stands between 15.1 and 16.3 hands. Any solid |
| But even for all its usefulness, it has nearly gone | | | | color is acceptable, including grays, but white above the |
| extinct on several occasions. During times of poverty | | | | knees or hocks is not desirable. The horse has a |
| and famine in Irish history, many breeders gave up | | | | graceful head and a large kind eye. The neck is set |
| registering their animals and hundreds of Irish Draughts | | | | high and carried proudly, showing a good length of rein. |
| were going to the slaughter houses each week until | | | | The strong limbs have particularly short cannon bones |
| there were very few left. The conservation status of | | | | and despite the power, this equine is free-moving and |
| this equine is considered rare. However, today the Irish | | | | not ponderous. The feet are like those of a hunter and |
| Draught is more sought after for its breeding qualities | | | | not like those of a cart horse. The feet are one of the |
| with other equines rather than with itself. In England, | | | | horse's most important features and they are the |
| brood mares are considered to be excellent dams for | | | | reason why the Irish Draught is required for the |
| the Irish Sport Horse when mated with a | | | | breeding show jumpers -- the feet have to withstand |
| Thoroughbred stallion. Now the Irish Draught stallion is | | | | the concussion from jumping, often on hard surfaces. |
| being used more and more to get extra bone and | | | | The traveling action of the breed is smooth without |
| substance in the progeny of the lighter type mare. | | | | exaggeration and not heavy or ponderous. The walk |
| The Irish Draught Horse Society of North America | | | | and trot are straight and true with good hock flexion |
| (IDHS-NA) was established in 1993 to assist in the | | | | and shoulder freedom. |
| conservation and appreciation of the Irish Draught | | | | It is hoped that the traditional Irish Draught Horse can |
| Horse and its successful crossbred, the Irish Draught | | | | make a comeback. It has an intelligent and gentle |
| Sport Horse throughout the world. The IDHS-NA | | | | nature and is noted for its docility and common sense, |
| maintains the studbooks for qualified Irish Draught and | | | | and has a proud bearing, as well as being an important |
| part Irish Draught horses in North America. | | | | ingredient in the creation of the Irish Draught Sport |
| On their website can found information regarding the | | | | Horse. |