Thoughts on their ability to gallop/jump the coops over the years? On a related site, I read about some folks’ concerns about purebreds’ ability to stay sound long-term for foxhunting, because of their size/weight, sweating issues, and conditioning.
Thanks!
Hi ASB
I have a purebred filly that will be my hunt horse next year. I know that alot of the ID breeders hunt and use their purebreds for it. I hear them talking about their hunts on them all the time.:yes:
Also Dandelion Diamond Rebel, a purebred stallion, hunts with master Vic Crawford at Potomac, in Maryland.
I eventaully plan to use him on my mare.:winkgrin:
also Cradilo a 16 year old purebred stallion is doing level 6 or 7 jumpers. Several stallions are doing Prix St. George dressage. There are high percentage of purebreds doing high level compitition,quite soundly and happily;)
L
i know plenty of full draughts out hunting every weekend…not a bother on them:)
The Irish Draught stays incredibly sound; I don’t have numbers, just what
I’ve seen & experienced over the years, the IDs stay sound, & have clever
feet, which maybe helps reduce wear & tear.
The ID is not like the draft breeds----Percheron, Belgians, Shires, in that
they are lighter on their feet, more athletic----
They have a proper gallop & do keep up & go all day!
I rarely venture over here, but go to any hunt in Ireland and you will find quite a few pure ID’s hunting, year after year after year. And you would not have any hunting back home like you do with the Ward Unions in Meath. They can take anything you throw at them those ID’s!
Welcome Molasses!
Terri
My guy can go all day and has never been unsound in his 8 years. Granted, he is still young, but they really are built to last.
The Irish Draught was designed to hunt all day, in all weathers, jump everything in front of it and stay sound.
Maybe not so much nowadays as they’re bred for looks rather than performance, but once upon a time they were great hunting horses
Big tough horses
These are bred to do this. The hunts in Ireland and GB and Scotland are all common places to see purebreds. These horses love to work, they need a job to be happy, they are also very tough. These are not whimpy I got an owie kiss my boo boo horses. They go cause they don’t want to miss the fun. Many Irish Draught stallions here and overseas are masters horses. PatO
Thanks for the input. I’ve got an ID mare on trial, and she’s really lovely. She’d been out of work for about two months, so she’s a little out of shape. I’m having trouble determining where the “out of shape” ends and where she might be a touch on the lazy side. And lazy is a relative term here, because I have ASBs and even the one I call lazy is considered to be a hard worker by my dressage instructor!
I’ve never owned a heavier horse before - always had ASBs. I don’t want to push her too hard, but at the same time I know there needs to be a little pushing to get over some of those fitness “humps”…just like with people. Any tips on how to tell the difference between still out of shape and just “not so motivated”?
[QUOTE=leslie645;4536800]
Hi ASB
I have a purebred filly that will be my hunt horse next year. I know that alot of the ID breeders hunt and use their purebreds for it. I hear them talking about their hunts on them all the time.:yes:
Also Dandelion Diamond Rebel, a purebred stallion, hunts with master Vic Crawford at Potomac, in Maryland.
I eventaully plan to use him on my mare.:winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
I love their horses, they are wonderful. Check out their website. Their Stallion, Tim, is wonderful, and a big teddy bear (http://www.dandelionfarm.com/huntingfield-proud-tim.html). So is their newest stallion, Bernie:http://www.dandelionfarm.com/transatlantic.html
I am actually looking at one of their up and coming 5yr olds as an eventing prospect.
I hunt my RID gelding. He loves it, and the times we haven’t kept up are more due to my flaws his conditioning program, not his willingness. (It’s our second season, so I’m still figuring this out :lol:)
That said, he seems to be the exception to the rule as far as feet go. He needs front shoes, especially when we are doing a lot of paved and unpaved roads.
Th
jmho!
They are VERY popular in our area hunting circles. Never seen a bad one! Perfect for hunting IMHO! I’d love to have one.
I think you should use their wind as an indicator of fitness as well as their recovery times. Bigger horses sweat a lot easier and heat up a bit faster. Heavier horses are no way like your ASB’s in forwardness unless they have some Tb in them I think. Don’t compare. They have their place. All good; just different!
I am enjoying her very much. She’s sane, comfortable, and it really seems as though she’s interested in what’s going on and is enjoying herself. I just don’t know how hard to push her…it’s difficult as she was not worked with much until this past year, so she’s likely never really be “in shape”. She’s darling and I’m hoping everything aligns that I can keep her!
My purebred ID will make his hunting debut in January, when he is officially 4 yrs old. He’s been great for all the prep work for hunting. He is very bold and brave, yet quiet and sensible. He is not lazy and does not get tired easily. He has wonderful feet and is extremely sound. He has no problem sweating in the FL heat and humidity either. He’s my dream horse. 
My mares came from Bridon Irish Draughts and most of their horses have hunted at some point. They are always on an ID
Me too :winkgrin: I can’t think of anything better than having her in a hunting home. Her daddy, two of her aunts (my two broodies) and one of her uncles all love hunting. Alas, if I didn’t have so much on my plate right now, she’d have been hunting with me!
That said, thanks so much for enjoying her and introducing her to what I’ve become convinced is the ancestral calling of this little horsey family.
Give her a peppermint and a scritch from me!
She jumped her very first (baby) coop today. It was baby sized more for my benefit 
than hers! My DH built it yesterday, and it even smells good…cedar 1x4s! WW, I sent you video.
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