Irish draught youngstock

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archiesmum

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Irish Draught people... experiences please... I have had the thought of getting an ID youngster in the back of my mind for a few years but with 3 exracehorses it was a no go. I am now down to one, my lovely 9yo exracehorse mare, who is going through investigations having had treatment for arthritis in her hocks and about to start xrays on her spine to get to the bottom of her behaviour under saddle - gutted! On to the point of my post - if my mare can be treated to return to ridden work, I am fully prepared that she will not make old bones as a riding horse so now could be an ideal time to be thinking of grasping the ID dream and take a break from the TBs!

My main requirement is temprament - a happy, easy going character is a must. Are there any particular breed lines to be looking out for that stamp there youngstock with a calm, happy-go-lucky view on life? And more sharper and stressy ones to avoid? Not massively fussy on size, pefer to make 16hh+, medium to heavyweight and any colour. No need to be a world beater in the show ring just after a nice time for riding club fun, low level/county showing and a bit of hunting. I'd be looking to purchase a weanling/yearling.

Any similar experiences, advice, hints and tips on what to look out for? Or is this a bit of an all round nuts idea?!

Please feel free to add pictures! :-)
 
Ditto AA on both points.

Bowland Irish Draughts have some nice youngsters for sale & if you go to the IDHS website they have a for sale section.

There are lots of excellent breeders in the UK.
 
Not a bonkers idea at all.

I have an ex-racer who is now 15 with more physical ailments than you can shake a stick at and a 3/4 ID (wanted something with a bit more blood as he events) and he is the best horse we have ever had. Sire is Crannagh Hero who unfortunately is no more but was approached at an event last year by a lady who asked whether I would sell (never!) as she buys anything by Crannagh Hero as they have such lovely temperaments.

Janet George is the font of all ID knowledge so worth getting a steer from her.
 
Echo the janet George comment. My experience of them is that there are few bad ones ,but some are "otherly good"They are extremely powerful and if a bit sharp ,can be a challenge for the uninitiated. I have found that they are honest and game , without malice and generally fun. But many can be as taxing as a sharp TB. I love mine to bits ,yet he is famous around here for swapping from B to E in the school( and an 180 degree turn), with a professional event rider ,who simply couldnt figure out how he managed to do it without seemingly touching the ground. (Thats my boy!)
 
Thank you all. I think Janet George is the person who I have contacted on Facebook after she put an advert up about reducing her Youngstock numbers, just waiting for a reply :-) I have only heard good things about her horses.

Haha Mike007 your boy sounds like he has character!

Are there any particular sires that I should pick out for throwing good temperaments and a traditional stamp of ID? Although I am warming to the idea of heavier ID crosses. :-)

Keep the posts coming :-)
 
Sorry can't help on the sires front, but I was in a very similar situation to you exactly 2 years ago and went for an I'D x irish cob. If my experience is anything to go by you will become a very happy person! My calm geldings ID sire is Ballyhornan Breeze. Buddy does everything you are wanting to do but he is definitely not for sale - I have finally found a horse I can enjoy!
 
I would certain echo the Cruising thing.

No your not silly but you need to be aware how wide they mature to be, how different they feel to a TB and how much you may have to restrict grazing in summer by the time they are mature ( and sometimes before )so your set up would need to accommodate this .
 
archiesmum said:
Thank you all. I think Janet George is the person who I have contacted on Facebook after she put an advert up about reducing her Youngstock numbers, just waiting for a reply
Click to expand...

Aaaggh - now I'm embarrassed because you shouldn't be waiting. And I still haven't seen your message because for some reason, FB 'other' won't load the messages!

As a starting point, I will have 7 weanlings (only 2 fillies) available later this year and I have 9 yearlings (also only 2 fillies - I've had a couple of years where colts dominated - though all the yearling boys are now geldings.) I am confident that all the boys and most of the girls will be 16hh+. even though the sire of the 2 yearling girls and 3 of the boys is only 16hh himself. The sire of 4 of the boys is the gorgeous Avanti Amorous Archie, who has a fabulous temperament himself (and I know - the oldest progeny I have bred by him are now 6 and we'e backing a couple by him now (as 4yo) - every one has been easy peasy.

The others are all by my little home-bred stallion, Indigo Pure Arrogance. I was partly to blame for him being a Class 2 stallion - I put him forward for grading at 3 which is too young. The other person to blame - in my eyes - was the Irish Chief Inspector who said to me after telling me he'd failed: "It's not my place to say so, but if I was you I'd geld him quickly - he doesn't have a good temperament." She was SO wrong about that - because his temperament is fabulous - but gee - what would I know. I'd just cared for him 365 days a year for 3 years - she'd seen him for 30 minutes. His oldest foals are 3 now and rather promising.
 
Cruising was an IDxTB cross, so you won't find him in too many pure ID pedigrees, but with a little luck you might find his ID father Sea Crest, who is highly prized in breeding terms.

OP if this is a riding horse and you're not going breeding then I wouldn't worry too much about the pedigree. Your weanling will have already shown his temperament and I would be guided by the breeder; provided they are a good reputable person they should give you want you're looking for. Also let them guide you about how the horse will finish as that lovely svelte yearling you fall in love with could end up truely massive at five!

Again the breeder can guide you going on how other foals from the family have finished up. Janet George I'm sure can help or put you in touch with other trustworthy breeders. Good luck, how exciting!
 
Adorable Alice and Dianch's Bridgette would love to have a sister or brother join them on HHO.

IMG_0181_zps978fcb56.jpg
 
We've got a Sir Rivie 5 yr old (he's by Sea Crest) who is the most laid back, easy horse I have ever come across. Guy came to try him the other day and his mother decided she'd like to ride him. Bearing in mind, the horse is 5 and 17.3. Woman is early 60s and hasn't ridden since she was a child. He walked and trotted with her round a 22 acre field without batting an eye.

You could also look at Fast Silver - well known for producing good looking, hunter stamps.

Goldenstar, not all IDs are fat lads - my little white one is pure draught and he looks like a connie x

Fast Silver

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By Coille Mor Pride
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By Sir Rivie

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but sadly, they do all seem to be grey.........
 
I have a lovely gelding by Annaghdown star. He is sharp and cheeky enough to be fun but he is bright, clever and is such a fast learner.
He's my first ID and I wouldn't have another breed now. X
 
Pilib said:
I have a lovely gelding by Annaghdown star. He is sharp and cheeky enough to be fun but he is bright, clever and is such a fast learner.
He's my first ID and I wouldn't have another breed now. X
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Our Sir Rivie is out of an Annaghdown Star mare and we have an Annaghdown Star boy too - this is him

VWHLedburyjointmeet.jpg
 
I like the sound of Sir Rivie, and they are lovely looking horses in the photos. Sea Crest, his father, was a grade A jumper and his dam was by Ginger Dick, another Grade A horse, while the grand dam was by the King of Diamonds. So a whole lot of jumping genes; should make a great cross with a TB mare for an eventer or jumper.
 
They all look fantastic! Thank you for sharing them! Fast Silver and Sir Rivie progeny are something to look out for and definitely to consider for my mare when/if she takes up the mother route in a couple of years as well as youngstock now :-)

AdorableAlice your foal is gorgeous!

Janet George, no problem at all and thank you for the a brief overview of your gang available. I have heard good things about Avanti Amrous Archie, I even put him on my future list for my mare! Would definitely like some more info on your young ones. Is your email address still the same as the one on your website? I'll pop my Facebook message over in an email if that helps? :-)

Thank you for all your replies, really appreciate it :-)
 
Apologies for the hijack but I'm looking for an Irish Draught youngster (pure or cross bred) - do any of you knowledgeable people know of any good breeders in the Yorkshire region (or thereabouts)!? Many thanks! :)
 
Dazed'n'confused - go to the IDHS (GB) website and breeders are listed there. There is also a For Sale section. Good luck - there are some lovely ID's out there!
 
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