Irish Draught Horses

by Jane Hollis

In the early days of Irish agriculture flock and herd keeping were the main forms of livelihood - crops were rarely grown which meant plough horses were not necessary. Instead, an active and enduring type of horse was needed which could also carry its owner to war. This type of horse, which was believed to contain Spanish blood, was called the 'Hobby' and is probably the predecessor of the Irish Draught. There is some controversy over the date that Spanish blood was introduced, but there is no doubt that there was regular trade between Ireland and Spain for centuries and that in the 16th century numerous Andalusian Barb stallions were imported.

During the reign of George III, Ireland became a substantial exporter of corn and livestock. Land which was previously used for grazing cattle was utilised to grow grain. Potatoes were found to be a useful crop to clean the land before planting corn, and had the advantage of being a cheap food for both humans and pigs. They soon became the staple food of the Irish people.

The Irish population and economy began to boom until 1820 when the Government decreased public spending and introduced deflationary policies. An economic recession set in and the land became less able to support the still- increasing population. Then, to make matters worse, the potato harvest failed repeatedly, resulting in disease and starvation, and also mass emigration.

Against this background of agricultural depression, smallholders needed a versatile, active farm horse used for farm work, cart drawing, hunting and breeding foals to sell. Such a horse had to be quiet, strong, economical to keep and sound. It had to be lighter and more athletic than a cart horse, yet tougher and more sensible than a Thoroughbred - the answer was the Irish Draught. There was no tolerating a weak or difficult horse, even if it was good looking, as such an animal could be enough to wreck the farm budget.

To supplement their incomes, the farmers would put their mares to Thoroughbred stallions to produce the renowned Irish hunters, which could then be sold abroad.

Image of an Irish Draught cross Thoroughbred showjumping

Irish Draught x TB

These horses soon acquired a justified reputation for performance and soundness, as they were bred from tough, working stock with no regard for fads and fashions. In fact such horses as Ryan's Son, Towerlands Anglezarke and Pennwood Forge Mill are typical of Irish horses, as none of them could be described as pretty or flashy, but they are outstanding performers. Another Irish Draught characteristic is a big jump with an excellent round bascule.

Irish Draught breeding is found in a large proportion of top-class competition horses in a wide range of disciplines, including showing, showjumping, dressage and eventing. Horses of Irish Draught descent have also been valued as hunters for centuries - being sensible, sure-footed, tough and having a good jump. However, their excellent temperaments also make them suitable for amateur riders, nervous riders and novices. Unfortunately, because of the popularity of the Draught cross Thoroughbred, numbers of pure-bred Irish Draught mares are small. However, this problem has been recognised and the Irish Horse Board is taking steps to rectify the problem.

The Irish Draught cross Thoroughbred mix is much more successful than crossing English carthorses with the Thoroughbred. It has been suggested that this may be because the two breeds are not too genetically dissimilar - in fact, the 'Hobby' is thought to have played a role in the formation of both breeds.

Irish Draught Horses

Adapted from my article "Luck of the Irish" in Horsewoman magazine