Irish draught info please

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SarahM

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Hi just after anyone else's experience with irish draughts. I've had mine for 12 months now, he's rising 7. Typically he was so chilled when I tried him, as soon as he came home with me he was scared of his own shadow. He's improved but generally is very anxious and immature. He is extremely sensitive and cheeky, can be very naughty but also finds life scary so difficult to find a balance with him. Just looking for anyone else's experience.....hoping he will mature and grow up.....eventually:) thanks in advance
 
Hmm whilst they should mature with age, I wouldn’t assume that’s all that’s needed from the sounds of it. Could be his character but worth checking it’s not something about his routine, feed, handling, discomfort etc that’s maybe not helping him.

Although breeds tend to have certain traits obv there is so much variation. However of the IDs I know, inc my own, they’re actually pretty chilled. Can be a bit bargy and need to learn good ground manners but I wouldn’t see them as particular tricky.

Depending on your experience level, I’d be looking to get some advice or help in person to try to work out what’s going on.

PS change your user name so the world doesn’t know your email address!
 
I have a 6yo ID who I’ve had since a yearling and bought on myself.

Generally he’s been easy and I wouldn’t necessarily say the tricky moments have been because he’s ID but because he’s young...7yo is still quite immature depending on what he’s done and moving home/yards can unsettle them. 12 months is a good time to settle but maybe he’s finding his feet just now.

Do all the usual checks - saddle, back, teeth and if nothing untoward found, find a decent instructor and push through.

I have got to the point with mine where I now know I need some help because his schooling needs bringing on and I feel out of my depth beyond the basics of getting babies forward off the leg (I’m good at that bit!) but containing the energy and asking him to now work correctly is causing a few ‘discussions’. The weather also hasn’t helped as we have not been doing as much hacking which he loves, so that’s the aim when the nights draw out.

Good luck, they are a fantastic breed.
 
We have a ID. He used to be a stallion (class 1) and if he hasnt been worked he gets full of himself and a little green/immature but with patience and proper work he comes out the other end but it generally only takes a week or so but he isnt bad with it. (he hasnt been in proper work since May last year due to a foot imbalance and now waiting for OH boots to come back from being fixed and then he will be back in work).
 
Thanks. He was x rayed, 5 stage vetted prior to purchase. Has had chiro every 3 months, has had his saddles checked every 3 months due to changing shape so much over 12 months, had a 3 months break to digest what he learnt at the end of the summer. Has teeth every 6 months. I have a lesson every week, is fed on a sugar free diet as much as possible. Lives at home with 2 companions, turn out every day, stabled every night and has varied exercise. Not sure what else I could change.
 
sherry90 said:
I have a 6yo ID who I’ve had since a yearling and bought on myself.

Generally he’s been easy and I wouldn’t necessarily say the tricky moments have been because he’s ID but because he’s young...7yo is still quite immature depending on what he’s done and moving home/yards can unsettle them. 12 months is a good time to settle but maybe he’s finding his feet just now.

Do all the usual checks - saddle, back, teeth and if nothing untoward found, find a decent instructor and push through.

I have got to the point with mine where I now know I need some help because his schooling needs bringing on and I feel out of my depth beyond the basics of getting babies forward off the leg (I’m good at that bit!) but containing the energy and asking him to now work correctly is causing a few ‘discussions’. The weather also hasn’t helped as we have not been doing as much hacking which he loves, so that’s the aim when the nights draw out.

Good luck, they are a fantastic breed.
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Thanks very much :) he is young and was inexperienced when I got him. I've not had an ID before and from reading etc are they are late maturing so just wondered about others with experience. Thank you for your reply
 
Mine (at 6) took a good 12 months to settle in - when he first arrived he was very nervous and would panic and run if he got spooked. I had a lot of help with him from a professional rider and he is in the same routine as yours (out during the day and in at night). I've had him a couple of years now and whilst still argumentative and cheeky on occasion is much more trusting of us to the point where I took him out to a wide open arena hire in 45mph winds the other week and he didn't bat an eye.
 
Zibby said:
Mine (at 6) took a good 12 months to settle in - when he first arrived he was very nervous and would panic and run if he got spooked. I had a lot of help with him from a professional rider and he is in the same routine as yours (out during the day and in at night). I've had him a couple of years now and whilst still argumentative and cheeky on occasion is much more trusting of us to the point where I took him out to a wide open arena hire in 45mph winds the other week and he didn't bat an eye.
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Thanks so much for your reply, exactly like mine. He has become a lot more relaxed and trusting just an anxious type. I think he had a hard time in Ireland before coming to me. Thanks again x
 
I think IDs sometimes surprise people with their sensitivity. They are billed as being solid allrounders but they often have oodles of talent, and with that can come some quirks. And some of them don’t mature mentally till they are 8 or 9. If you’d said Seacrest lines or something similar I’d have gone ah right, that explains it ?
 
Rowreach said:
Nothing there that would make me think nervous horse tbh. Nice lines, I like Ginger Dick horses.
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He has some strange ways, hates men, will let me mount first time every time, but wont let someone new get on. He shows lots of signs that suggest he's had some heavy tellings off previous to me. Hopefully will come out the other side and get there eventually:)
 
As others have said ID vary so much depending on lines - as some have fair amount of TB in even if classed as full ID etc and can be really athletic sporty lads. I think your lad sounds like he needs time more than anything. Presume he came from Ireland?
 
YorkshireLady said:
As others have said ID vary so much depending on lines - as some have fair amount of TB in even if classed as full ID etc and can be really athletic sporty lads. I think your lad sounds like he needs time more than anything. Presume he came from Ireland?
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Hello, yeah he came from Ireland and was in the UK for about 6 months before coming to me. A lot of change and some settle better than others I suppose.
 
I have had several IDS and currently have 2 . As others have said they can be sensitive and quirky . One of mine is rising 13 I've had him since he was weaned he has been the most challenging horse he is extremely spooky and can spin & drop his shoulder at the drop of a hat . I would say he didn't physically mature until he was 9 . Its taken me probably 4 seasons to get him to hunt relatively calmly he's so wired but in other situations he is a dream and is so affectionate and easy to look after.
 
Sadly I didn't get on with my ID cross, I found him very lazy,, prior to that I'd had a very quirky WB who never said no to anything and could be a kind of 'canter sidewards, leap forwards a bit' type when the mood took him.

I think the ID would probably be the ideal horse for me now, given my age and experience and with what I want to do in the future but then when I was young it was a very unsatisfactory pairing.

The only time he came alive was on fun rides, his Dad was a three times champion hurdler and him Mum a hunter and I think it was in his blood, but schooling and dressage was a definite no, no. TBF they are all individuals and what one has been like doesn't determine what future ones are like, I know that.

Enjoy your horse.
 
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irishdraft said:
I have had several IDS and currently have 2 . As others have said they can be sensitive and quirky . One of mine is rising 13 I've had him since he was weaned he has been the most challenging horse he is extremely spooky and can spin & drop his shoulder at the drop of a hat . I would say he didn't physically mature until he was 9 . Its taken me probably 4 seasons to get him to hunt relatively calmly he's so wired but in other situations he is a dream and is so affectionate and easy to look after.
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Thanks so much for your reply! Good to know, I think he is just an anxious chap! Hopefully he has talent if I can get him to concentrate:)
 
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