Irish Draught

Even though the name signifies the heavy draight horse image, the Irish Draught horse is actually a light and free moving horse.  Today's Irish Draught horse is sought after because of it's superior breeding qualities.  In England, breeders cross the brood mare with a Thoroughbred stallion to obtain excellent hunting horses.  When bred for lighter mares, the Irish Draught stallion helps increase bone and substance.

Irish Draught horses have existed for about a century, although the breed numbers have declined to next to nothing on several ocassions. 

In Ireland, the Draught horse was used on farms as well as hunting and for riding.  Irish Draught horses were able to pull carts, till the fields and jog.  The breed has developed into a horse that stands about 16 hands high, and holds a graceful head and neck with a kind eye.  The feet are more like a hunting horse than a cart pulling horse- and they have the ability to land after jumping on very hard surfaces.