Irish draughts - what do you do with yours and pics please :)

[mudmonkey17]

Hi I currently own a 19yr old cob type horse who looks to have a lot of Irish draught in him.

Looking into getting another horse maybe this summer or next spring and am really interested in getting a full ID.

What I want to know us what they are like to own and ride etc. Want a horse that going to be a good all rounder

 

[Roody2]

Go for it, I would have 10 of them if I had the time and money!!

All those I have ridden/known/owned have had beautiful temperaments and been true allrounders, SJ, dressage and XC, all to a higher than amateur level.

Obviously every horse has its own personality but I can't really think of anything stereotypically negative for them.

 

[Capriole]

they are fabulous horses and I dont think you can go far wrong with an ID tbh

 

[Shadow-01]

Not mine, but my best friends who I stable with (she's not on H&H, but won't mind me posting some piccies!)

He's a real all rounder as you can see

With another friend here, he's certainly got a pop in him!

Nothing negative to say really apart from he can sometimes be a bit of a worrier, but I think that's just him!

 

[emmab13]

We get a few full IDs in to sell, as we do hunters mainly. I LOVE them. Have had the occasional one who is worried, but they are all, without question, forgiving and honest. Wakes you up when you ride a warmblood after riding one of them!

Put it this way, I tipped up on Sunday, horse then fell on me and stood on my back. Can sort of walk, can't lift my leg more than an inch off the floor. Hurts a lot.

I'm taking a full ID 4 year old out hunting tomorrow, as he's the only one I can trust not to pull me about, jump without much assistance from me and be sensible. Also the more modern ones are VERY athletic, and a bit more sporty looking. I have a 16hh full ID who wouldn't look out of place in a BYEH qualifier, a tiny bit too heavy but def. athletic enough.

 

[Goldenstar]

My OH hunts one he is the most lovely character we adore him he's lots of fun he was quite naughty when he arrived as someone had taught him how big and strong he was so leading was fun at times but with regular work and ground work it quickly came right because he is the most easy going chap really he can be stuborne but he and OH have an arrangement now that seems to work fine and he's good with me and my groom as we did the sorting out when he arrived.
I will definatly buy another at some point all the ones I have known have been great horses I like them much more than ID / TB crosses which have very variable temperaments and if you are unlucky have the worse bit of both.

 

[Goldenstar]

He is difficult to keep slim though !!!

 

[caberston]

i ride one, Charlie, for MIL. he's a star, honest and keen and has a crack at anything. I've hunted him and done a bit of unaffiliated SJ and hunter trials so far, planning on doing some BE stuff this season all being well

he was very green when he first came, this was his first time XC, tad hairy but as you can see, he has a fair pop in him

 

[DosyMare]

I ride one down the stables, his manners are to die for. His a gentle giant and just so adorable, his the nicest horse to handle - better than any of my own!
He hacks like angel, safe with a novice, tries his best to be a elgant dressage horse and can clear 120 with ease. ID are a pleasure.

 

[JanetGeorge]

Looking into getting another horse maybe this summer or next spring and am really interested in getting a full ID.

What I want to know us what they are like to own and ride etc. Want a horse that going to be a good all rounder

They're wonderful to own and do anything with - even when you've got as many as I have (about 65 pure-bred and about a dozen part-bred!)

The Irish Draught is the ultimate all rounder! ALL the youngsters I have sold who are under saddle hack, in many cases hunt, do dressage, SJ, XC, TREC, show, event - you name it!

This one would probably excel at dressage and already shown successfully (and graded mare Class 1)

This chap will probably be a very good, sensible HW hunter for someone - although he'd also show in hunter/working hunter classes and do a half-way decent dressage test.

This chap would hack, hunt, show in working hunter - but he'd also be a very nice, sensible dressage horse for any rider.

And this chap we might keep on as a stallion (he has 7 foals due this year) - he still has a bit of growing to do but if his foals are good enough, then we'll take him eventing next year: if not, he'll make a very nice gelding who'll do almost anything.

I'd better stop there or you'll get bored.

 

[xxMozlarxx]

Hi I have one of the worried ones and am having real problems with him, generally very sweet and seemingly unflappable on the ground but not easy otherwise, I'm hoping it will come good as I bought him a pure I.D for the supposed temperament.

 

[PaddyMonty]

I'm currently training a full ID for SJ (BS). owner bought him for dressage but would like him to do a bit of everything.
This is a thread showing vids of the first time he saw a course of fences and fillers.
The difference between the 3 vids says a lot about the breed.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=517813

 

[JenHunt]

Mine is like the OP's - described as "Irish" on his passport, but we suspect him to be ID or IDx.... he is a total legend. He hacks, hunts, jumps, he's done some eventing, hunter trials, show jumping, team chasing and RC stuff. He's good to handle, he's an absolute sweetheart to travel (loads himself), he is happy in or out, in company or on his own.... OH has jumped well over 4foot on him (I'm not brave enough!). He will do a dressage test, but he's never really been schooled enough to do it 'automatically' and it's not something I'm bothered about - he's obedient, that's all that matters to me!

we do this with him...

sorry for the pic overload!

 

[measles]

Completely agree with the others that a sensible temperament is almost guaranteed. What people often forget is that athleticism in some can be another huge bonus when combined with the can do attitude.

We have this rising 5yo 15.2hh IDx mare in to produce and son is 6ft yet she carries him effortlessly and moves beautifully

 

[Sarah1]

I have an ID x (we were told ID x WB) and he's a complete super star. He honestly will turn his hoof to a bit of anything and will be more than capable to do anything to the level that I'll ever reach.
He's as brave as a lion and has a heart as big as a bucket - he ALWAYS tries for you and is so so genuine - as you can probably tell I think the world of him!
He's a big boy at almost 17hh and very wide but he's ridden in a plain cavesson and snaffle, even when jumping.
I honestly can't say enough good things about him - he's a horse in a million!
He's currently accompanying youngsters/ex-racers out hacking to give them some confidence and when we have a rather important visitor to the estate for a hack out he's the horse that's chosen for her to ride (with my permission of course!) out of all the horses available (in excess of probably 30 horses in total)
I've always thought he has the ID temperament and build and the only bit of him that is potentially WB is his paces as he'll do a smashing dressage test
There's definitely more ID in there than anything else though...

and here he is this last weekend with my 16 month old daughter! (excuse the mane!)

PS - his mane is the worst thing about him, it's a nightmare to keep on top of as it's so thick!

 

[Loupride]

Ive had the pleasure of owning an RID for the past 11 years and he has been there and done it all; SJ, Dressage, Eventing, XC, Hunted, TREC - you name it and he has tried it. He has such a good temperament and a brain to get him out of trouble (invaluable XC ) but he also has that special twinkle in his eye that sets him apart;

Couldn't recommend them highly enough!

 

[Tr0uble]

If you do go for it (and you really should!) it would be well worth your time to visit Janets place. My boy is one of hers and he is wonderful!

He'll be 5 in June but still low mileage because I was injured for most of his four year old year (not by him!)

 

[KautoStar1]

I have a pure bred ID and he is the nicest person you could meet, he’s great with people, loves other horses and is very pleasant to ride. He is also very handsome, almost too pretty for an ID I have spent a lot of time working on him though – they are naturally a bit on their forehand, so correct training is vital and they take a bit of time to come to themselves and mature. He is the first draught horse I’ve owned and rather different from the hot heads I’ve had previously, so its taken me a while to work him out. I had to learn to use my leg properly at the start, however, he is now forward and very light in my hand, really lovely mouth, jumps, does dressage (is even learning piaffe), hunts, hacks, shows, just about anything I want really. All in a lozenge snaffle, no add ons.
But he is a laid back beast and is very greedy, so keeping him fit, entertained and his waistline under control is vital. I wouldn’t swap him for anything

 

[asommerville]

I have 2 IDx! My mare is 17, she's an IDxTB and has turned her hooves to everything. She can be a wee bit marey but generally has a lovely nature and is the most bombproof horse i have ever known. She's been great to have with my youngster as he follows her like a puppy! My youngster is a 5 year old IDxArab - when he was younger he had more of an arab brain but seems to have matured a lot over the past 6 months, and he has despite a few 'green' moments he has always had a lovely nature and would never hurt a fly. When i went horse hunting i was specifically looking for an ID or an IDX i just love them and don't think i would have anything else!

 

[mudmonkey17]

Thanks for all those replies guess that sealed it will be saving for a lovely ID

 

[samlf]

I have an ID, shes such a lovely kind mare - puts up with my non horsey mother spending about 5 minutes trying to put a headcollar on her!
Shes not registered which is such a shame, and shes also quite immature for her age which I think is something you should consider - they dont fully mature until 7/8. Mine looks like a 4 year old still as shes barely been in work.

Here she is

Oh and she can jump

 

[cassie summers]

this is mac he was a full irish draught sadley died last year

 

[Bright_Spark]

They're wonderful to own and do anything with - even when you've got as many as I have (about 65 pure-bred and about a dozen part-bred!)

You have HOW many?

This one would probably excel at dressage and already shown successfully (and graded mare Class 1)

Can you pop this one in the post for me please? Gorgeous

 

[JanetGeorge]

You have HOW many?

Can you pop this one in the post for me please? Gorgeous

Um - it IS a bit embarrassing - I have to look at the shoeing book to check how many. Put it this way, I have 15 mares due to foal this year, 12 pure-bred and 3 part-bred. I have 11 yearlings - all pure-bred. 13 x 2 year olds. 7 x 3 year olds (a couple sold as yearlings.) They're all in the field. There are 2 x 5 year olds in training, 5 x 4 year olds currently being backed, 3 more 4 year olds waiting for me to have time to back them, a couple of 6 year olds in training as hunters for my OH, 3 stallions, a couple of retired mares, a retired gelding ... how many is that??

Magic wouldn't go in the post - she'd eat her way out overnight!

 

[marmalade76]

How much for a broken 4yo, Janet? Just so I know how much saving I have to do

 

[galaxy]

The mare in my siggie is clearly not a RID as she's coloured! But she is a blue passported ISH. When I researched her breeder he breeds RID, so I expect she has a great deal ID in her and he just wanted to breed a coloured one. A lot of people look a her a label her as a "cob" cause she's big and coloured, but once they see her move or if they ride her she does not feel or look like one. She is far more like a coloured ID!

I will be doing BD with her. She does like her jumping (and is a great hunter), but she's a bit of a cluts!

 

[dollymix]

I moved my horses onto an ID stud....wasn't long before I started wanting one myself!

I now own Dulcie, a 5yr old RID who I bought last September and who is a star! We've progressed slowly so far, (I had an operation in December and recovery has taken longer than I'd hoped) but we came 2nd in our first Intro dressage test (would have won if I wasn't such a numpty and forgot a movement!) and since getting back on board in Janurary we've done lots of gridwork which she LOVES!!! I hope eventually to do some ODEs and riding club stuff.

Her jumping is really one of the main reasons I knew she was THE ONE. I am not the bravest, but when I went to try her, after my instructor riding her, I took her round a course of XC fences and fell in love!

This isn't me sadly....it's one the sellers sent me to show her jumping before i arranged to see her

I will have some jumping ones myself before long! And the below is at our first dressage comp together (2nd place in the intro!)

 

[marmalade76]

Well if we're allowed to post pics of non-pure breds, here's mine, 3/4 ID 1/4 TB by Uibh Fhaili '81 out of a mare by Ballinrobe Boy. I sadly lost him nearly two years ago and now I'd like another!

 

[chameleon]

Well I have a 4 yo Full Irish Draught - hopefully going to do a little bit of everything with him. Photos are not of me riding but of my fab YO who is doing his schooling and getting him out and about seeing the world. I wasn’t looking for a youngster, hence why I opted to get someone else involved with his early education - but you try finding one between 7&9 yo that has done a bit of everything and you will be hard pushed to find one unless you have very deep pockets. It seems that no one wants to sell them and I can now see why. My boy has a fab temperament and there is not a nasty bone in his body. So a few photos.....

First walk/trot dressage test - which he won, bless him!!

Next test he did prelim 7 - first time in an indoor school and he came 4th!!

And a few to show that ID's can also jump....his first time ever at a party.

Sorry for photo overload…….can you tell I am smitten with him.

 

[Archina]

I have a lovely 4yr old bay ID gelding who I rescued from Ireland through ERR. He was everything I wanted! He is a big lad, arrived with me Dec 2011 and was standing at 16.3hh, he is now 17.1hh I just hope he stops growing! haha He is lovely though and very quiet, a bit on the dim side but he seems to be getting smarter! lol Broke him in last year and did some basics then turned him away for the winter where all he has done is get up to bad news! He seems to have got the idea that he is very large and all he has to do is put all his weight on the gate or fencing and it will give way for him. Then he see's me coming and jumps back into his field!! haha Anyway, I am looking forward to bringing him back into work this summer and start doing things together

Him and my little filly foal in a stable together, shortly after she was weaned she used to pretty much stand underneath Troy (my ID) when it was raining!