Irish Draught facts for kids
Irish Draught stallion
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| Distinguishing features | Powerful warmblood build, well-muscled |
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| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
The Irish Draught horse is the national horse breed of Ireland. These horses were first developed mostly for farm work. Today, they are very popular for breeding with Thoroughbreds and warmbloods. This mix creates the famous Irish Sport Horses, also called Irish Draught Sport Horses. These horses are super good at top horse sports like eventing and show jumping.
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History
People have talked about Irish Draught horses since the 1700s. It's thought that this breed came from mixing different types of horses over time. The Irish Hobby horse was bred with war horses from the Anglo-Normans in the 1100s. Later, horses from Spanish ships that crashed in the 1500s were added. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Clydesdale and Thoroughbred stallions were also used. Even local Connemara ponies played a part.
Breeding with Clydesdales made the horses taller. But it also made them less strong and not as well-built. Adding Thoroughbred horses to the mix helped fix these issues.
The Irish Draught was bred to be a horse that could do many jobs. They were good for pulling plows, pulling carts, and being ridden. It was also important that they were cheap to look after. So, they would eat grass in summer. In winter, they were fed things like chopped gorse (a thorny bush), boiled turnips, and leftover food from cows.
Saving the Breed
Official records of Irish Draught horses began in the early 1900s. The government started registering stallions in 1907 and mares in 1911. They even offered money to help with this. The official record book for the breed was started in 1917. It listed 375 mares and 44 stallions as the first group of horses. Sadly, the first records were lost in a big fire in 1922.
Many Irish Draught horses were used in World War I by the allied military, which led to big losses. Later, machines took over many farm jobs. This meant fewer horses were needed for traditional farm and carriage work. Many horses were sent to slaughterhouses or sold to other countries for breeding.
To protect the breed, the Irish Draught Horse Society was started in 1976. Other groups formed in different countries, like Great Britain, Canada, the US, Australia, and New Zealand. These groups work to keep the breed going. In 2011 and 2012, groups from Ireland, Great Britain, and Canada agreed to have similar rules for their breed standards.
Even today, the Irish Draught faces a risk. Because they are so popular for creating sport horses, many purebred Irish Draught mares don't have purebred Irish Draught foals. This means fewer purebred horses are born. Also, breeding for specific show jumping traits has changed the original horses. Breeding from only a few popular horses has also reduced the variety in their genes.
Because of this, the Irish Draught is considered an "endangered" breed by a United Nations committee. In 2009, it was put on a "Watch" list for rare breeds. Groups like the Irish Draught Horse Society of Ireland are working hard. They are researching how to improve the genetic variety and keep the special traits of the Irish Draught horse.
To help breeders, annual checks for adult horses are now done. These checks look at how athletic the horse is, how it moves, and its body shape. This helps to see how well the horse matches the breed standard. Horses are then put into a 4-level classification system. This system helps to include horses that might not perfectly meet the standard. This helps to keep more horses in the breeding program and increase genetic variety.
What do Irish Draught Horses Look Like?
Each country's horse registry sets the breed standard. But they are trying to make these standards similar everywhere. The Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association says the Irish Draught is a "versatile, powerful and athletic animal." They have good bone structure and are well-built. They have a nice head, strong legs, and a powerful way of moving. They are known for being calm, easy to train, and willing to work. They are also very healthy and strong.
Ideally, these horses should be between 158 cm (15.2 hands) and 170 cm (16.2 hands) tall. Their lower leg bone should be strong and flat, about 23 cm (9 inches) around. Their head should not be too big, with a wide forehead and kind eyes. The neck should be long and well-shaped. Their Withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades) should be clear. Their hooves should be hard and sound, not too big or flat. They should have a deep chest and strong hindquarters.
They should move actively, strongly, and freely, not heavily. Most solid colors are allowed, including bay, brown, grey, chestnut, black, and dun. Too many white markings are not wanted.
How are They Classified?
In many countries, Irish Draught horses are not just passed or failed. Instead, they are checked to see how well they match the breed standard. After this check, they are put into one of four classes:
- Class 1 horses have passed all health checks and meet the breed standard.
- Class 2 horses do not fully meet the breed standard but have passed health checks. Their foals can be checked later to become Class 1.
- Class 3 horses have failed the health checks. They are not suggested for breeding. Their foals cannot be upgraded.
- Class 4 horses have not been checked yet. They could fit into any of the other classes after an examination. Their foals cannot be upgraded.
What are Irish Draught Horses Used For?
Irish Draughts are often crossbred with Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods. This creates high-quality sport horses, known as the Irish Sport Horse. There's a big demand for Irish Sport Horses, so many are sold to other countries for competitions.
Purebred Irish Draughts are also popular in eventing, showing, and as hunter horses. They are also used as police mounts because they are calm and strong.
