Irish Draught Breed Show 2015, Lincolnshire Showground

Image: © Chris Taken: 12 Sep 2015

Stabling. In the early part of the 20th century, the Irish farmer needed a more versatile horse than the popular heavy draft. He needed an animal that could work the land throughout the week, go fox-hunting all day Saturday, jumping anything he faced, and then be ready to bring the family trap to church on Sunday morning. It was from this need that the Irish Draught (pronounced draft') was born. Irish Draughts, like their smaller counterpart the Connemara pony, are predominantly grey in colour and are said to be descended from the horses of the Spanish Armada, many of whose ships were wrecked on the Irish coast. Some of the stallions throw only grey foals (though like most "white" horses these are born black and whiten with age). Irish Draughts have played an important role in the UK and Ireland, as army horses, hunters and for pulling royal carriages, as well as being a mainstay of riding training establishments and leisure riders. The Irish Sport Horse, or Irish Draught Sport Horse, which has evolved from it through crossing with thoroughbreds and European "warmbloods", is now a popular competition and leisure riding horse. See http://www.irishdraught.com/aboutid

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0