Irish Draughts in the hunting field

[Heart_River]

Absolutely the best breed there is. I hunted with the County Louth hounds for six hours on a 20-year-old mare who kept up to the end - and got me over the ditches without even scaring me. They jump, they’re smart, they’re solid as rock.

Only … as someone said, don’t import one and then feed it like a dumbblood and expect it to be the same as it was at home. A friend did that - she said the gentleman who sold her the horse said, “And don’t be giving him that jet fuel you Americans feed,” but she didn’t follow instructions - and ended up selling him because he was way too much for her.

And, as fun as it is to jump three-year-olds, in Ireland they don’t even start young horses until they’re at least four - which is why they’re still hunting hard at 20.

[armandh]

[QUOTE=xeroxchick;2615086]
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.[/QUOTE]

yep that is how it goes like sugared up 2yo children
see below

[awm]

Grange Bouncer offspring

Yellowbritches: That isn’t Beal na Blath (sp!) is it?
I saw him for sale in the COTH—

p.s.
Hi Megan!

[IrishKharma]

I took my then 4 yr old RID gelding to a hunt clinic when I was 5 months pregnant. It wasn’t a good idea! But I am looking forward to the next hunt season to take him. He’s now 6 and a little more mature.

[Heart_River]

Yo, AWM - you saying Hi to me?

I refer to Heart as my $2500 Irish Draught - he’s everything I wanted, but I only had to import him from North Dakota.

[awm]

to Megans on the board!

YR, I was saying hi to another Megan on board—I’m breeding my mare to her
Irish Draught stallion!

The poster who talked about Bouncer’s rider jumping over an iron gate probably
was right—down in Killinick, some do start horses early!
I was hunting there with friends in Feb.—we were mounted on Bouncer, a 3yr. old
stallion by Bouncer, a 4yr. old stallion, (I forget who the sire is) & Jack, on a Bouncer
5yr. old gelding! I took videos of all, but didn’t do pix, unfortunately!

[harehound]

I have a 7 year old Irish import by Diamond Clover who we hunted in Ireland before bringing him over. My son has been eventing him all summer and I plan to start hunting him after their last event in September. Lovely horse to ride cross country - goes in a big fat snaffle and has a big, brave jump.
We also have a HUGE bay ID/TB yearling filly by Sea Quest, and a lovely grey 15.3h 3 year old Connemara/TB by Irish Park’s Belfast Bonfire who I hope will also make up into nice hunters/eventers. Love the Irish horses !

[witherbee]

me too!

Love my RID gelding! I don’t hunt per say, but do hunter pace and trail ride as well as show in the hunters. He’s by Rockrimmon Silver Diamond, who is back in Ireland out of Pearl Drop (by Castana). I second checking out the breeders on the NA Irish Draught site. I also agree that too much sweet feed is a bad idea, but my guy never gets high even when not ridden regularly. I love that about him and can throw him on a trailer and go regardless of whether or not we’ve been in regular work (of course I would not overwork him if he is not fit, but for a trail ride or to ship in for a lesson is fine). My job is such that I am away at times and find it hard ot get into a routine - my RID has no problem with that. He’s also great with our herd and is a SUPER babysitter for weanling foals. He’s worth his considerable weight in gold lol!
Here are some pictures of my guy - unfortunately the farm that I purchased him from does not sell RIDs anymore (the owner passed away and the herd was dispersed).
http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i245/wtryan/Our%20horses/?action=view&current=100_3165.jpg
http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i245/wtryan/Our%20horses/?
action=view&current=100_3198.jpg
http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i245/wtryan/Our%20horses/?action=view&current=100_3159.jpg
http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i245/wtryan/Our%20horses/?action=view&current=100_3157.jpg
http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i245/wtryan/Our%20horses/?action=view&current=100_3155.jpg
I wish I has some jumping pictures - he has an amazing jump!

[Outfox]

+1 Irish Drafts

I’ve hunted 2 “King of Diamonds” horses over the past couple of years. They are athletic and keen. Good Jumpers!

However, if the hounds are on a coyote, or if the country has a lot of elevation, or even worse both, these horses can run out of gas. That is unless you are diligent enough to condition them for a CCI***.

[Weatherford]

@Outfox;2635234

I’ve hunted 2 “King of Diamonds” horses over the past couple of years. They are athletic and keen. Good Jumpers!

However, if the hounds are on a coyote, or if the country has a lot of elevation, or even worse both, these horses can run out of gas. That is unless you are diligent enough to condition them for a CCI***.

That depends on whether they are pure draught or Sport Horse (draught/TB cross)… or Clover Hill (who was registered pure draft but actually out of a TB mare) … or Sea Crest/Cruising breeding…

The Sport Horses don’t run out of gas - mostly because of the TB in them… And they all can jump!!

I love them - have 8 (ouch) - three of which are preggers right now!!!

[harehound]

[QUOTE=Weatherford;2646273]
That depends on whether they are pure draught or Sport Horse (draught/TB cross)… or Clover Hill (who was registered pure draft but actually out of a TB mare) … or Sea Crest/Cruising breeding…

The Sport Horses don’t run out of gas - mostly because of the TB in them… And they all can jump!!

I love them - have 8 (ouch) - three of which are preggers right now!!! ;)[/QUOTE]

I can vouch for the both the Clover Hill and Sea Crest bloodlines not running out of gas… Our big guy from Ireland is a Clover Hill grandson ( with Ballinvella on the dam side) and he just doesn’t get tired. He is a long, tall drink of water (17.1) and can go all day. We have not seen anywhere close to the bottom of him yet. Our Sea Quest ( son of Sea Crest) filly is looking like she will be the same type - no “off button” on her. But her TB dam is also from tough lines - she is a daughter of Great Gladiator, and has the blood of the excellent broodmare, Wavy Navy, flowing in her veins.

[AilleXWest]

My ISH never gets tired. I have raced him point to point and he dose great. We have had a fun time and he has gotten me ready to race TB next year.

I have hunted him for years and at the end of the day when the TB’s are barly walking home he is up and ready to keep going. He has to be the best horse I have ever had to keep fit. Even after a few weeks off he is almost as fit as the last day on was on him.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

@Weatherford;2646273

That depends on whether they are pure draught or Sport Horse (draught/TB cross)… or Clover Hill (who was registered pure draft but actually out of a TB mare) … or Sea Crest/Cruising breeding…

Mild correct, but needs to be said… Clover Hill was indeed a full reg’ed ID but he was by a TB stallion, Golden Beaker.

As Weatherford pointed out, the Irish halfbred hunter, essentially a TB/ID cross (and more commonly called an ISH nowadays) is the quintessential hunting horse. It has no peer in the hunt field. It is to hunting what the QH is to cutting cattle, or the Arab is to endurance.

[Equibrit]

That would be called an IDXTB!
Jumbo is a perfect example. http://www.grafhamstud.co.uk/

[system]

RIDSH Macha’s Morpheus is an excellent fox hunter. The Master/huntsman of the Middlebrook Hounds, Fred Getty, hunts him 3-2 times a week …also, he won the 2006 foxhunting award from the IDH Association. He’s is located in Middlebrook,Virginia.

I have a daughter to this stallion and LOVE her. She is smart,sane and very talented. There was a big write up in the Blarney magazine about him…so you could get more information from there.

[Marcella]

I have an Irish Sport Horse. I haven’t had the opportunity to hunt him yet, but he is incredibly level headed. I also have an Irish TB, who on the other hand, while built like a tank, is sometimes not playing with a full deck of cards.

I don’t think I will own another horse that isn’t an ISH.

[Foxtrot_s]

My friend gelded her wonderful, horse of a lifetime, Irish Sporthorse stallion, To Be Sure, I’m sorry to say. (He is doing well showjumping and she just felt she wanted to concentrate on that rather than him being all guy and working around breeding schedules). But if there is one quality he passed on, it is the Irish mentality - they are a joy to be around. All her youngstock are kind, but have equal amounts of “go” and “whoa”. No wonder people rave over their breed and I do hope it does not get ruined and stays true to its type.

[LaoiseNic]

[QUOTE=Outfox;2635234]
I’ve hunted 2 “King of Diamonds” horses over the past couple of years. They are athletic and keen. Good Jumpers!

However, if the hounds are on a coyote, or if the country has a lot of elevation, or even worse both, these horses can run out of gas. That is unless you are diligent enough to condition them for a CCI***.:D[/QUOTE]

I can assue you not all R.I.D.s run out of gas My boy is 16 now and still leaves the TBs behind at the end of the day (usually the TBs are stuck on the other side of a bank or ditch :lol:) There is nothing like hunting an I.D. Its their job and they know it!!!

[My2cents]

Irish Draughts-sigh

My friend and I used to ride in Ireland with Charlie O’Neill (and the Kildare Hunt). Even though we basically ‘met’ our horses the morning of the hunt or for cubbing, I was NEVER fearful because I knew my horse would be sure and steady. Now I own a 1/2 Irish Draught & 1/2 English Tb (born in Canada) and he is sooo true to the Draughts I rode in Ireland, I’m a total convert and wouldn’t want another breed. He recently underwent colic surgery and during his ‘recovery’ time at the vet hospital, the reports I got back from the staff and dr’s. was that he is such a love bug for human contact. My farrier calls him a cross between a Newfoundland and a horse. My boy’s Irish line is King of Diamonds and true to that line, he’s a jumper that loves it. Once jumped a four foot high electric tape (with an easy boot on) because he wanted to scratch on his tree that was on the other side of the tape. He took one trot step to gather himself and launched over without a hiccup and perfect form. Go Irish.

[Thomas_1]

We’ve had qu![](te a few over time and here’s my wife on one and whilst out hunting

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/flodden_edge/hunting/79cfre2.jpg)