Does anyone hunt an Irish Draught, or know of any notable Irish Draught Fox hunters in the States?
I know Kilkelly Farm and Bridon Irish Draughts hunt with thier Irish Draughtsin Virginia, but can’t name a specific horse. There is an RIDSH stallion, Macha’s Morpheus, who is the master of hounds main horse with a hunt in Maryland. Dandelion Diamond Rebel RID hunts with the HardAway Whitworth Hounds in the Deep South with his rider Melissa Mysing.
I hope others will chime in, as I know there are a bunch of them out there!
Years ago I had a couple on consignment as foxhunters, and did hunt one guy, he was 18 at the time. What a comfy sofa he was to hunt!
I used to also train draft crosses and hunted them. LOFFED them! We had Clydes, Shires, Belgian and a Perch X who thought he was ‘da bomb’. Trained them for jumpers, as well. But they were by far my favorite ride, in a barn full of TBs and these draftie Xs. I think I preferred the Belgian cross best, but there was one very special Clyde X mare. They I believe were all from draft mares, TB daddies. I know the clydies were.
I loved their minds. We had them out in the field 4 months after breaking (usually broke the 4 year olds). They went like seasoned horses!
I do not.
However…
Lots of funny stories about people who go on a hunting vacation in Ireland who come back with a horse. Always goes something like this: greatest hunter they ever experienced, bought it, brought it to The States, give it lots of sweet feed and it doesn’t get hunted five days a week anymore, horse scares everyone, horse is sold. One even kicked out all the windows of a big van horse carrier.
I think we should start a thread on Innocent Americans buying Irish horses.
Not that there’s anything wrong with it.
If you posted this…
in the Eventer thread… you would have tons of responses from RID owners that event and fox hunt with their RID’s. They are amazing XC horses… yeah… a bit opinionated, maybe bossy but safe, calm and can jump the moon.
I took lessons on a RID foxhunter… she would tote beginners around in lessons and fox hunt like a queen on the weekend. I love them.
They are all I hunt. I do have to say since my famly breeds, trains and sells them I do have a reason to love them!
But I have seen then in almost all the hunts I have been too in the USA and Candana. The big hire barn here in NY has mostly Irish Sports.
They are a great all around horse.
Irish Sport Horses
Irish Draughts and their 1/2 TB-cross relative, the Irish Hunter, are the best horses to have in the hunt field due to their soundness, temperment, and comfortable ride. I admit my bias, having lived in Ireland for 2 years, but I won’t own anything else. They are the sweetest horses I have ever worked with and tend to have bombproof attitudes. They stay sound forever, they are big and attractive, and can be ridden by novice or beginner riders. Even with their size, they have enough blood to go first flight as the Irish Draught is bred to jump. My preference is the Irish Hunter due to having the TB cross. I could go on forever about Irish horses, but I would say to anyone who is thinking about buying an Irish horse for the hunt field is probably about to make the best decision!!!
I whip-in on my 9yo homebred ISH gelding. (Out of my TB mare by The Irish Rover). He is 17.2H- really too big for me at 5’3" - BUT- because he is so laid back and comfortable, I wouldnt think of selling him. (And I’ve had some pretty hefty offers after he was a Finalist in the 2005 N.A. Fieldhunter Championships!) He is realxed and easy to his jumps, has a huge , floaty trot , and a comfy canter. Because he’s “backward bred”, he doesnt have the drafty look- a finer head and body than some of the x’s you see out of RID mares bred to TB’s. Aside from growing up to be too tall, he is everything I was hoping for in an ISH.
O- And he LOVES his job! 
I’m really considering an Irish Draught or Irish Sport for my next mount. I need something sweet and athletic for trail riding and low level eventing. I’m really drawn to their personalities…
We keep selling our young Irish crosses before I get to hunt any!! Our new ISH stud colt will see action in the hunt field when he gets older as I’ve gotten to enjoy hunting more than showing!! They just have the best attitudes…and motors when needed.
I have not had had the pleasure of hunting them but have two Irish Hunter mares (full sisters) who both have exemplary records on the hunt field. One also won a National young horse championship as a 4yo (against the best 4 year olds in the country) and the other won multiple saddle and working hunter championships. They are both with me as as broodmares - Lovely big upstanding horses with good heads and hearts.
Hunting Irish Draughts
I have a 6yr. old purebred by Grange Bouncer out of a Flagmount King mare. She was
foaled in Ireland, & imported as a 3yr.old.
Grange Bouncer hunts & competes in Ireland, several of us from Geneseo have hunted
this fabulous horse when we visit our friends in Wexford! I was determined to get a
horse to the States by Bouncer, & bought this mare as a foal.
She hunted as a 4yr. old, in the field and whipping-in, also in foal to a T-bred!
She’s back in the field for this season, very steady, great with her feet, will jump
any boggy place! Of course, loves ditches & banks! Probably will jump wire (!) &
does do all paneling happily.
They are intelligent horses, so while being willing & steady, they need an intelligent
rider!
They come highly recommended in my book!
[QUOTE=awm;2616775]
I have a 6yr. old purebred by Grange Bouncer out of a Flagmount
They are intelligent horses, so while being willing & steady, they need an intelligent
rider!
![/QUOTE]
LOL! I know exactly what you mean. My guy likes to test every new person- likes to push the envelop to see what he can and cannot get away with with each human he meets- but only the first time. Not a buck in him, but a timid rider probably would not get far with him- he’d merely plant his four feet to the ground and refuse to move! But, once a rider is tested and the horse s made to understand that he is NOT in charge, he’s fine.
What I like is that he’s not a hot-head, nothing seems to phase him, and he goes on the buckle 90% of the time.
Love them!
Seems like every hunt in Northern Virginia has at least one. They are very popular but expensive. I second the quality stock from Bridon Drafts in our area. I’ve lusted after theirs for years.
Where should one look for a quality Irish Draught? I’m thinking a 2 year old filly, not started, doesn’t have to have any super fancy bloodlines, but should be good quality in the heart, mind and conformation…
Start with the breeders listed at www.irishdraught.com the website for the Irish Draught Horse Society of North America. The website will also have both pure and part breds listed for sale on the Sales pages.
Snickersville has 1!
Jan Reutz imported one;) just before her death:(
, and gave him to a lady out that way, middleburg/purcellville :yes:who, hunts with Snickersville; Cammie Eaton also in Middleburg also imports them :yes:for resale to foxhunters.
I LOVE my guys. I own a mare that is an Irish import and 2 of her sons. One full draught and the other an sport horse. Just wonderful wonderful horses. My Husband who does not have a clue which end of a horse is the good end will lead our big mare in from the paddock. She has never taken advantage of him and for that matter treats him like a foal being very careful NOT to step on him. She can be a bargy girl with more knowlegeable people. Just sighs and lets him take her halter off before she hits her tiny little bit of grain.
I have a 6yr. old purebred by Grange Bouncer out of a Flagmount King mare. She was
foaled in Ireland, & imported as a 3yr.old.
Grange Bouncer hunts & competes in Ireland, several of us from Geneseo have hunted
this fabulous horse when we visit our friends in Wexford! I was determined to get a
horse to the States by Bouncer, & bought this mare as a foal.
We had a fabulous Grange Bouncer baby that was imported to event. He was imported as 5 yr. old and already had an extensive hunting career, including one great tale of his breeder’s husband getting a bug up his butt and jumping the horse over a six rail, aluminum gate as a 3 yr. old (which he did easily). He is a fantastic horse with a great brain…sadly, he didn’t hold up for the upper levels, but is now doing the Big Eq (and loves it). It is so cool to hear that there our others by his daddy in the states! And that they are just as nice.
I’m hardly and experienced hunter, but my favorite horse to hunt was an ISH. We had several for awhile with varying degrees of TB that were all great hunters. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with hunting, but I have always had a good day if it was on the back of an Irish horse.
very popular in the UK
[QUOTE=EquineLoveSpell;2616192]
I’m really considering an Irish Draught or Irish Sport for my next mount. I need something sweet and athletic for trail riding and low level eventing. I’m really drawn to their personalities…[/QUOTE]
I have a pure bred ID by King of Diamonds and an ISH with KoD as grandsire.
Brilliant horses! As well as hunting mine have evented, showjumped and now do dressage all at affiliated level.
Quirky personalities, they won’t be bullied, they like a discussion!:lol:
Would not swap my 2 lads for the world.
Paddy
