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A Look at Irish Draughts and Irish Draught Sport Horses
 Irish Draughts are magnificent horses that can do it all, as an international competitor, a mounted policeman's partner, a reliable trail mount for the family, and any number of other duties. The name Irish Draught might conjure up images of lead-footed horses so big they block your sunlight. But in actuality, it is a solid but refined breed, looking just as sharp and performing just as impressively under saddle as in harness. They are extremely versatile equines. You will find them excelling in any number of disciplines: leaping over liver pools, dancing in the dressage ring, galloping in a hunter pace, and maneuvering through driving obstacles.
Their stature and stamina make Irish Draughts a reliable and sound breed, suitable for all levels and styles of riding. Combining brains and brawn, it is a breed that truly stands out. Although a rare breed (especially in this country), Irish Draughts have made their mark in the mainstream horse society by producing the Irish Draught Sport Horse, a crossbreed that is becoming increasingly popular with horsemen of all kinds.
The Real Deal: Registered Irish Draughts
 Irish Draughts are characterized by their powerful yet polished build. Covering substantial ground, the breed boasts a deep girth, strong back, powerful quarters, and short shins. Their height ranges from approximately 15.1 hh to 16.3 hh, and they possess strong bone structure. With large eyes set apart along a wide forehead, the Irish Draught possesses a large head, carried high and proudly. A mild Roman nose is acceptable. Shoulders and withers are well defined and sculpted. The line from croup to buttocks is long and sloping, leading to strong thighs. The Irish Draught stands upon long, muscular legs, with large and low-set knees and short cannon bones. A little hair at the fetlock is acceptable, but the overall appearance and turnout resembles a hunter horse more than a typical draft. Any whole color is permissible. However, white markings above the knees or hocks are considered undesirable.
Today, the Irish Draught is considered a rare breed. But the breed has enjoyed a rich past, and has undergone many modifications in appearance, size, and characteristics (and still is). As early as 1 B.C., there are records of horses considered to be Irish Draughts, a smaller style of horse used to pull chariots. In the twelfth century, the Normans came to Ireland and introduced their horses to the local Irish herds, producing horses that were larger and stronger. Then in the sixteenth century, the Spanish introduced their horses through trade with southern Ireland, and the breed developed into a reliable, smart, and strong mount used for military battles from the Middle Ages up to World War I.
Although the Irish Draught has a long history, most of its refinement can be attributed to the last 100-150 years. The breed developed into a versatile horse for those who lived in the Irish countryside and needed one horse that could perform a variety of duties on the farm and around town. The Irish Draughts were ideal because they were lighter than most draft breeds, and therefore able to perform in ways that drafts typically cannot. The Irish Draught was suitable for both work and leisure activities, capable of plowing the fields, pulling the family carriage, and participating in foxhunts.
The Irish Draught Horse Society of North American (IDHSNA) is the regulating body for the Irish Draught and Irish Draught Sport Horse inspections, registration, and study book maintenance in North America. The IDHSNA is currently the only organization approved by the IDHS-Ireland and the Irish Horse Book for this purpose. Rachael Cox is the Information Officer at IDHSNA, and she has had personal experience with the breed since her childhood in Great Britain, when Irish Draughts were a part of her daily life. She recalls that "they made wonderful hunters," and performed all sorts of other necessary functions for hard-working farmers and leisurely equestrians alike. Rachael says, "The type was built over a long period of necessity." Before there was a registry for Irish Draughts (which formed in 1976 in Ireland, and 1993 in North America), they were more of a "type" than a "breed". The breeders were less concerned with purity of bloodlines than creating a stronger, smarter, and more versatile horse. In every stage of the breed's long history, it has been modified in an effort to enhance its usability and performance. Adding Thoroughbred bloodlines (as well as other breeds) has been a long tradition rather than a new trend.
Currently, the purebred Irish Draught is considered an endangered breed. With the advent of mechanized farming and the growing financial viability of breeding crossbreds rather than purebreds, the Irish Draught has been steadily dwindling in numbers. There are now organizations in Europe and in North America that inspect and register Irish Draughts, in an effort to keep the breed from disappearing. In order to perpetuate all the best temperamental qualities and physical standards of the Irish Draught, the IDHSNA and IDHS-Ireland are instrumental in the inspection and registration of all purebreds. Once a purebred has reached the age of two for females and three for males, they are eligible to be presented for inspection. Horses passing inspection are then designated the Registered Irish Draught (RID) status, and placed on the official studbook, marking them as quality breeding stock. There are hardly 2,000 Registered Irish Draughts left, and enthusiasts are doing all they can to preserve this unique breed. Organizations such as the Irish Draught Horse Society of Ireland and of North America, and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in England are working hard to keep this and other breeds from extinction.
Irish Draught Sport Horse
 The near extinction of the Irish Draught can partially be attributed to one of its greatest successes: the Irish Draught Sport Horse (IDSH). Although you may having trouble finding a purebred Irish Draught, its bloodlines can more easily be found in the Irish Draught Sport Horse, which is usually a cross between an Irish Draught and a Thoroughbred (though any breed can be crossed with an RID). Although the two breeds share obvious similarities, they have separate breed registries and different standards. The Irish Draught Sport Horses are bred to be just that, athletic sport horses that can perform any activity asked of them. As Rachael Cox puts it, "The Sport Horse should be able to do anything. They are very user-friendly." An inspected and registered Irish Draught Sport Horse must meet certain standards. An IDSH mare must have at least 1/8 RID blood, and a stallion must have at least ¼ RID blood. All horses to be registered as an Irish Draught Sport Horse, must pass an inspection at age two or older. At these inspections, Irish Draught experts travel from Ireland to different sites throughout the country. They inspect each horse and determine whether its movement, physique, and temperament meet the standards of the breed ideal. This process ensures that the quality of the breed can be maintained and regulated, even as it popularity spreads.
Not to be confused with the IDSH, there is also the Irish Sport Horse, which can differ from the Irish Draught Sport Horse significantly. The Irish Sport Horse is recognized by the Irish Horse Board as a horse of Irish heritage of any breeding, not necessarily the Irish Draught.
The Irish Draught Sport Horse often combines the willing temperament and hardiness of the Irish Draught with the speed and athleticism of the Thoroughbred. However, breeders can cross an RID with any other breed of horse. Quarter Horses, Arabians, Tradehners, and all sorts of other breeds have been crossed with Irish Draughts to create athletic and intelligent horses for all disciplines. IDSH's, usually when crossed with Thoroughbreds, are no strangers in the winner's circle. No doubt you have seen several Irish Draught Sport Horses excel in grand prix jumping and eventing. Custom Made, Cruising, Cagney, Eezy, Moon Man, and Supreme Rock are famous individuals, just to name a few.
Often, breeders prefer to cross a registered Irish Draught mare with a Thoroughbred (or other breed of) stallion. This is because the temperament of the RID is so wonderful that breeders would like the mare to instill in her foal this easy going and willing to please attitude. However, even when an RID stallion is crossed with a mare of a different breed, the results are more than satisfying.
Partial Reprint Courtesy of Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar
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