The Irish Draught Horse is neither as massive nor as heavily
feathered as it's name implies and has movement that is smooth
and free, without exaggeration, and not heavy nor ponderous. Standing
over a lot of ground, the Draught has an exceptionally strong
and sound constitution, great stamina and an uncanny jumping ability.
In addition, this breed possesses a fabulous temperament made
up of willingness, intelligence, docility and common sense. Not
only is the Irish Draught the perfect companion mount for riders
of all ages, but it also possesses the ability and versatility
to participate in various levels of jumping, eventing, dressage,
hunting and driving events. It is all these exceptional qualities
that make the Irish Draught an invaluable and irreplaceable element
in the production of the highly successful Irish Draught Sport
Horse. This popular cross, of Irish Draught and TB blood, has
produced such notable international Champions as Custom Made,
Moon Man, Cruising, Ado Annie, Carling King, Special Envoy, Clover
Leaf and Cagney to name a few.
TYPE AND
CHARACTER – The Irish Draught Horse is an active, shortshinned,
powerful horse with substance and quality. It is proud of bearing, deep
of girth and strong of back and quarters. Standing over a lot of ground,
it has an exceptionally strong and sound constitution. It has an intelligent
and gentle nature and is noted for its docility and common sense.
HEIGHT – Stallions 15.3h-16.3h. Mares 15.1h-16.1h
(approx.)
BONE – Good, strong, clean bone. The IDHS(NA) recommends
a minimum of 9" bone.
HEAD – Good, bold eyes set well apart, wide forehead
and long, well-set ears. Head should be generous and pleasant, not coarse
or hatchet headed, though a slight roman nose is permissible. The jawbones
should have enough room to take the gullet and allow for ease of breathing.
SHOULDERS, NECK AND FRONT – Shoulders should be
cleancut and not loaded, withers well defined, not coarse; the neck set
in high and carried proudly, showing a good length of rein. The chest
should not be too broad and beefy. The forearms should be long and muscular,
not caught in at the elbows; the knee large and generous, set near the
ground, and the cannon bone straight and short, with plenty of flat clean
bone, and never back at the knee (calf-kneed) i.e. not sloping forward
from knee to fetlock. The bone must not be round or coarse. The legs should
be clean and hard with a little hair permissible at the back of the fetlock,
as a necessary protection; the pasterns strong and in proportion, not
short and upright nor long and weak. The hoof should be generous and sound,
not boxy or contracted and there should be plenty of room at the heel.
BACK, HINDQUARTERS, BODY AND HIND LEGS – The back
is to be powerful, the girth very deep. The loins must not be weak but
the mares must have enough room to carry a foal. The croup to buttocks
is to be long and sloping, not short and rounded or flat-topped; hips
not wide and plain. Thighs are strong and powerful and at least as wide
from the back view as the hips, with the second thighs long and well-developed.
The hocks are near the ground and generous, points straight and in line
from the back of the quarters to the heel to the ground; they should not
be overbent or in any way weak. The cannon bone, etc. as for the foreleg,
short and strong.
ACTION – Smooth and free but without exaggeration
and not heavy or ponderous. Walk and trot to be straight and true with
good flexion of the hocks and freedom of the shoulders.
COLOR – Any strong whole color, including
grays. White legs, above the knees or hocks not desirable.
Copyright © 2002 Irish Draught Horse Society of North America.
All rights reserved. |
