Irish Hobby facts for kids
The Irish Hobby was a special type of horse that lived in Ireland a long time ago. It was developed before the 1200s. Sadly, this horse breed is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists.
Even though they are gone, Irish Hobbies were very important. They were the ancestors (or "foundation bloodlines") for many modern horse breeds. This includes horses as different as the quick Connemara pony and the strong Irish Draught. The name "hobby" might have come from French horses called haubini, which later became hobbeye. These horses eventually came to Ireland and helped create the Irish Hobby.
A Look Back in Time
The Irish Hobby was famous for its speed. A poet named John Barbour wrote about them in 1375. In his poem, The Bruce, he called them hobynis and said they were very fast. He even wrote about an "Iyrysch man" who "swyftly ran" on his hobby horse.
A Horse for Many Uses
Irish Hobby mares (female horses) might have helped create the famous Thoroughbred horse breed. People often brought Irish Hobbies to England and Scotland. They were used for many things, including racing, because they were "so light and swift." Horses were traded in Ireland at the Cahirmee Horse Fair. This fair near Buttevant has been happening since the Middle Ages.
Fast and Agile in Battle
This quick and agile horse was also popular for skirmishing. Skirmishing means fighting in small, quick battles. Light cavalry (soldiers on horseback) often rode these horses. These soldiers were known as Hobelars.
Irish Hobbies were used by both sides during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Edward I of England even tried to stop Ireland from sending these horses to Scotland. He wanted to prevent his enemies from using them. However, Robert Bruce used the hobby horses very well. He used them for his guerrilla warfare and quick raids. These amazing horses could travel about 60 to 70 miles (97 to 113 km) in a single day!
What's a Hobby Horse?
The Irish Hobby horse is where the term "hobby horse" comes from. Today, a "hobby horse" can mean a toy horse on a stick. It can also mean a favorite topic that someone talks about a lot. If someone says, "go get on your hobby horse," it's an idiom. It means they are complaining about something they are very interested in.
