Why Irish?

The Registered Irish Draught (RID)--pronounced “draft”--and the Irish Draught Sport Horse (IDSH) are magnificent warmbloods that really can do it all. You’ll find them excelling in any number of disciplines, leaping over fences, dancing in the dressage ring, galloping through a cross country course, maneuvering through driving obstacles, herding cattle, teaching adults and children to ride, ambling down a trail, and even helping police patrolling city streets. They have proven to be very competitive in the international arena in a variety of disciplines.  The Irish horses really are versatile. They are known for their quiet, sensible, sweet personality along with incredible athleticism, soundness, stamina, and courage.

There is something special about Irish horses. People seem to be drawn to them. Once you’ve owned one you will experience this unique phenomenon. I first got started with Irish horses when I was on a search of an international caliber dressage prospect. I was looking for something that not only would wow judges, but would also be quiet minded and easy to train. This led me to my first IDSH. He was everything I had imagined. He had size, soundness, a sweet and willing personality and movement that always captivated the judges and the crowds. No matter where I took him, people were attracted to him and wanted to know his breed and if they could pet him. Of course, there is nothing an Irish horse loves more than attention and this big guy was like a puppy. More important, he had it all to compete at the upper levels – athleticism, soundness, endurance, trainability, and an excellent mind.

The Irish horses really can do it all.

Many think of the Irish Draught as a heavy, lead-footed big draft horse. But actually, the Irish Draught is quite refined with lovely, light uphill movement. The Irish Draught registry has excluded horses with Heavy draft blood, like the Clydesdale and Percheron, but has encouraged the introduction of thoroughbred as well as Andalusian, thus ensuring outstanding movement, athleticism and stamina while maintaining the bone and excellent confirmation needed to maintain soundness and excellence. In short, the Irish created an all around performance horse that demonstrates incredible movement, temperament, athleticism and soundness.

The Irish Draught Sport Horse (IDSH) developed out of the Registered Irish Draught. The IDSH generally is more refined than the Irish Draught. The most typical cross is the RID with a Thoroughbred (TB), though any breed can be crossed with an RID. Crossing the RID allows people the best of the RID as well as whatever breed they choose to cross with.