I think a lot of people have already touched on this, but here in the US we treat our horses more like pets than most of the rest of the world. They are livestock and expected to behave. If they don’t, they are corrected. They don’t really use treats like we do and much more functional handling.
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Northern Ireland is. Besides, unless I have brain fog from a fun work day and missed something, the OP didn’t say where he came from, just that he’s an ID.
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She said Ireland. Which is different to Northern Ireland. 
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This is fairly common with Irish imports. Irish Draught tend to be big and hot, and they ride as a whole better than any of us. A lot of people import them for hunting and end up not being able to handle them. Best fix is to treat it like you are starting from scratch.
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I went to visit Irish horse friends in Co. Tipperary during winter break in college…
After hunting first flight with that crew I can confirm there are no limits to the Irish and their horses.
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Our riding center would import horses from Ireland to train further and were lovely, well started youngsters.
Maybe those we received were so nice because our trainer knew what to buy?
My favorite horse from the years there was an Irish TB I would have taken him home with me, he learned so fast and taught me so much.
Sadly I was not in a place to own a horse and when he was ready he was sold to the niece of the riding center owner to show in jumpers.
Everyone won, he was a sensitive soul and she was a very nice, kind rider and it was a perfect match.
Sorry the OP is having such a hard, dangerous time with her new horse.
Maybe he will come along and turn out well after all.
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Yes I’m leaning towards this theory of he went well under saddle but not a ton of handling on the ground was done. He tolerates throwing a saddle on but he’s not comfortable with it so some brave person must have just hopped on and got on with it while he was on verge of meltdown. He went in a snaffle and wasn’t overly forward looking or spooky. Jumping small stuff in and out of water, over ditches, brush etc. He’ll be 6 in May.
He’s TIH only 8% Thoroughbred DNA so I’m hoping that Draught brain works in my favor.
Thanks for the input! 
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Have you ridden or handled a lot of these?
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You want the TB brain because that’s the side of the horse that actually wants to engage and work with you. The Draught side is more “if you must…”.
I love my TIHs (and other Irish breeds) but sensible/quiet isn’t the first word that comes to mind for the ones I worked with. They are strong, bold, and have a cheeky sense of humor deeper than an Irish ditch.
I like that a traditional Irish horse is not quick’ the way a TB or high blood WB can be. Makes sitting their (many!) shenanigans much easier. 
BTW - I wondered before if my experience with the Irish horses was just because I was in the US and we weren’t getting the cream of the crop. Maybe the Irish were having a good laugh over sending us US eventers their nutters. Last year I went to Ireland on a riding trip. I’m confident in saying this - I’m a competent rider. Every single Irish horse I rode walked right all over me. I even got victimized on XC by the world’s cutest Connemara. I actually found myself missing my TB.
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I bought him from dealer in UK but he spent most of his life in Ireland where he was born. I spoke with former owner that had him since a yearling.
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Having owned OTTBs and draft crosses I’m at a stage in my life where I do want the draft brain. Not in a rush to waste energy, or jig down the trail for an hour. I don’t see myself trying to be too competitive if I ever event again.
He’ll hack, trail ride and do some dressage for the time being.
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So true!
The last two I trained for someone came with a bit I’d never seen before. “You’ll need this”. Yup, sure did. A draught is not a draft. They’re hot.
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Yes I’ve ridden and hunted a few ISH. I always found them to be overly smart and a bit cheeky at times but pretty level headed about life in general.
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You wouldn’t be the first person I’ve seen thinking this, but a TIH is not a draft or draft cross. “Draught” is a misnomer.
@ParadoxFarm I mean, look at this face. This is the face of a pony who is Sizing You Up.
She was a fabulous ride and super little jumper, but she took no instruction from her rider (she knew her job, 'kay thanks) and liked to throw in a buck or two to make sure you were paying attention.
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Can confirm. Ever ridden a Connemara? They’re closer to the type of brain, but also closer to the ground (and Satan ). A draft is an entirely different beastie.
Draughts and crosses IME are smart, cheeky, and can get hot - they are not as ho-hum or chill as people think. I find TBs easier to work with - generally TBs want to work WITH you, draughts tend to work for themselves . Like a pony, but also he knows he’s 17+ hands and beefy.
These horses like structure and rules and consistency. And they like to be TIRED. They’re like working line dogs - if you’re used to a pet lab and buy a working lab, you may find yourself in over your head.
IIWM, I’d get this horse on ulcer meds and put him to work. If that means getting him in a trainer’s barn, I’d do that.
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Sometimes that is the best option…especially for ranch hands and Irish.
No nonsense, right to steady, consistent work. Some horses thrive on that and can be bred for that attitude, let’s get on with it and kick on.
My only personal experience with ID has been those with more blood and they did school up to be more ammy friendly but they were older, seasoned horses bothered by nothing. Never owned one, prefer more blood. Even back in my Western days, preferred more refinement and blood…some straight cow horse bred old timey types are no nonsense, clock in, get to work and clock out with no warm fuzzy feelings.
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I have seen Import Syndrome before and it looked pretty much the way you’ve described.
Something to remember about buying off video, especially the Irish sporthorse auctions, is that the horses are broke just enough to get the video, and absolutely no more. Also, that you have no idea how much video was taken to be edited down into the sales video. Maybe hours? The riders that present the horses for the videos are simply world class. Making a semi-feral, half broke horse go like a made horse is their job, and they are very, very good at it.
As for the Irish “kick on” mentality, I think you have to experience it to understand it. Jumping isn’t something taught in a ring or over poles; you just ride cross country and kick them over stuff until the horse gets it. Horses are expected to jump cross county as soon as they can trot a straight line under saddle. Hot horses get lots of wet saddle pads until they’re no longer hot.
I remember hunting with our brand new Irish first whip, and we all queued up to jump a coop out of a pasture. He came up behind us, looked at the queue, scoffed, jumped his horse over the 4’ wire pasture fence and went on about his business.
I think you are doing exactly the right thing but turning out 24/7 and making as much of the diet forage as possible. Assume the horse knows nothing (you won’t be far wrong) and start from scratch. Treat him as an unbacked 3 year old. Send him to be rebacked undersaddle if getting on a 1600 pound feral beast is not your idea of a good time.
He will probably make a fabulous horse, just not in the time frame you envisioned.
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Perhaps some of our younger readers are not familiar with 14th century Blarney Castle and the large rock that is part of its foundation as it was part of the much older castle it is built on top of. It is called the Blarney Stone.
For several centuries it has been said that if you kiss the Blarney Stone you will be rewarded with the ability to “entice, flatter and persuade” others called the “Gift of the Gab”. Modern translation-BS.
Think many horse traders, agents and trainers visit Blarney Castle often. It is, of course in Ireland.
BTW “Gab” descends from the Middle English “gabbe” and “gob” meaning “idle talk”;and “mouth”….in case you are ever on Jeopardy.
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