Set my heart on an Irish draught ....

debsflo

debsflo

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I am looking to buy a safe sane mare ideally 15.2 -16hh and have set my heart on an Irish draught mare. I like solid substantial horses and everything ive heard of the temperament is what i want. But they are all youngsters that ive seen for sale and i am now 52 and not so brave .. Sharing with daughter who wants to do riding club ,i want a safe hack and to have a play at dressage but really a family horse that i can enjoy. Is it mad to consider a younger horses,are they as good as i have heard and where do i look for the best temperament.
 
Not sure what age would be a youngster but I got a 5yo Irish draft earlier this year. Bit younger than I had been looking for but he's been a superstar. If you get a good un I don't think the age matters as much, as long as you feel you can do whatever training is needed.
 
Very hard to buy well trained Irish draughts once their adult because they are not often sold and a mare will be even harder to find.
 
Irish Draughts are basically lazy - and greedy! The hardest thing to do with them is to teach them to respond to LESS than a couple of big kicks. Even our 4 year olds are hard work in that regard. They'd rather plod around than WORK!

I have a good choice of 4 and 5 year olds - not a SHORT trip but you'd get to see a lot in one day - but only 4 in the 16.1 and under category. All are graded mares. (The 5 year old gelding is a prat who's taking a LONG time to teach, and the 2x4 year olds are both close enough to 17hh)
 
I also wanted a sane been there done it ISH/ID but came home with a 4yo who is 3/4 ID and the safest sanest horse I have ever had as well as being talented. He'll happily put up with me one day whilst being placed at BE the next with my daughter.
 
JanetGeorge said:
Irish Draughts are basically lazy - and greedy! The hardest thing to do with them is to teach them to respond to LESS than a couple of big kicks. Even our 4 year olds are hard work in that regard. They'd rather plod around than WORK!

I have a good choice of 4 and 5 year olds - not a SHORT trip but you'd get to see a lot in one day - but only 4 in the 16.1 and under category. All are graded mares. (The 5 year old gelding is a prat who's taking a LONG time to teach, and the 2x4 year olds are both close enough to 17hh)
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That sounds perfect...What sort of price am i looking at ? Daughter is at uni in York and we live in Lincs so i would happily visit if you have a couple to view. My main aim is a fab temperament and to have seen a bit of traffic, and to find that forever horse. I have retired my 23 year old but this will probably be my last horse so i want to get it right.
 
I don't think they are lazy really it's more they tend to focus on what they like to do .
Fatty loves hunting he's lazy when doing stuff he does not like , my other H is never lazy he has a great work ethic he's really Into doing stuff he's the noisiest horse I have even known .
 
debsflo said:
I am looking to buy a safe sane mare ideally 15.2 -16hh and have set my heart on an Irish draught mare. I like solid substantial horses and everything ive heard of the temperament is what i want. But they are all youngsters that ive seen for sale and i am now 52 and not so brave .. Sharing with daughter who wants to do riding club ,i want a safe hack and to have a play at dressage but really a family horse that i can enjoy. Is it mad to consider a younger horses,are they as good as i have heard and where do i look for the best temperament.
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I am similar age and just brought myself an Irish Draught mare 5 years old - doesn't matter how old you are.

I love the Irish Draught and also has to be a mare not a gelding.
 
debsflo said:
That sounds perfect...What sort of price am i looking at ? Daughter is at uni in York and we live in Lincs so i would happily visit if you have a couple to view. My main aim is a fab temperament and to have seen a bit of traffic, and to find that forever horse. I have retired my 23 year old but this will probably be my last horse so i want to get it right.
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Fatty who I got when he was eight was on the market at £12000 That would be the height of his value .
I was recently sounded out about if I might sell my other one he's seven and they where expecting to pay £8 to 10 k .
 
JanetGeorge said:
Irish Draughts are basically lazy - and greedy! The hardest thing to do with them is to teach them to respond to LESS than a couple of big kicks. Even our 4 year olds are hard work in that regard. They'd rather plod around than WORK!

I have a good choice of 4 and 5 year olds - not a SHORT trip but you'd get to see a lot in one day - but only 4 in the 16.1 and under category. All are graded mares. (The 5 year old gelding is a prat who's taking a LONG time to teach, and the 2x4 year olds are both close enough to 17hh)
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Rubbish - my late mare responded to the minutest squeeze and she was far from lazy or greedy. My new mare must admit loves her grub, but I would not say they were lazy in general

Like all horse breeds there are some real gems OP Make a note of what you want and at what stage of training/ age then go search.

I was lucky OP my 5 year old ID mare was £ 2200


This mare is similar to mine in age and price http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/113831035/may-morning-5year-old-mare.html

or a little more

http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/113514603/pure-irish-draught-mare.html

http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/113920309/163-registered-irish-draught-mare.html
 
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ooh love the second one....i have messaged Janet as like the idea of knowing the history of them.. I have managed to trace my other horses breeding and visit the stud but would be nice to know them in depth..feeling excited now. i want this horse for the next 20 years at least.
 
Bernster said:
Not sure what age would be a youngster but I got a 5yo Irish draft earlier this year. Bit younger than I had been looking for but he's been a superstar. If you get a good un I don't think the age matters as much, as long as you feel you can do whatever training is needed.
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Same here. Bought a 5 yo full Id gelding earlier in the year. He is amazing, a total Saint and looks after whoever rides him. He's a total pleasure in every respect. Don't be put off by the age, I'm glad I wasn't
 
Dealers also worth trying,although Janet would be a perfect start I think.
Our mare is definatley not a kick along, either, nor lazy at all, very sensitive. Too sensitive at times, as she is not a novice ride. Not sure if that's down to breeding?
I am a similar age to you and will hack her, but wouldn't want to compete her as she is very sharp, so my daughter does that. Nothing bothers her, totally bombproof. Mine is by the stallion Hillviewfarm Superstar and a mare thats King of Diamonds bred.
Here's a dealer with another by her sire:
http://www.kentonwoodstables.co.uk/horses/hunters/sean
 
debsflo said:
So where do you find them is my next question, sounds like Janet George is well thought of, is it just luck or the normal sites.
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My mare I found through many painstaking ours of trawling the internet and a failed vetting I always wanted another ID but looked at other breeds as there were few ID around that I wanted, I had emailed the seller prior and got no response - so a month or two later I tried emailing her again and this time got quick response this is the thread

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...-up-new-horse-later-)&p=12981553#post12981553
 
Spottyappy said:
Dealers also worth trying,although Janet would be a perfect start I think.
Our mare is definatley not a kick along, either, nor lazy at all, very sensitive. Too sensitive at times, as she is not a novice ride. Not sure if that's down to breeding?
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Definitely - I've bred a few like that - by accident! I had one by Kenson's Aragorn out of a mare who - though well bred - turned out to be VERY inconsistent in what she produced! This one was a 15.2 racehorse!! Got her a great owner - who loves her to bits - and does a bit of Field Mastering on her (she LOVES that - she's in front) - she's not as impressed with dressage!

My own stallion (Indigo Pure Arrogance) by Kenson's Aragorn is MUCH more consistent - some of his 2 and 3 year olds I struggle to tell apart without checking my list, lol. And Raj and Archie are also very consistent. Raj's tend to be lazier (or mre laidback) than Archie's - he was incredibly lazy most of the time but then he hadn't had the schooling in his early life whereas Archie showjumped first - then went to dressage.
 
Just bear in mind they are not all the same ( like any breed). I had a 5 year old who was a nightmare, super highly strung and tanked for fun. Started off nice and quiet, but grew 3 inches in the year I had him. Some of them are still developing around that age, so the horse you buy might be different in a few years! Id either get one who is older and settled, or go with a breeder who knows the temperament well.
 
Great choice,

I've got a six year old and my wife a four year old, they are steady and sensible, I would never have entertained a four year old, or rather Irish Four year old (3!!!), but the timing was perfect having just lost a WB x TB. Apart from some shennanigans when he was settling in and needed to be put in his place he's been fabulous, quite the kindest horse I've ever had! Just bought a four year old for my wife who is another absolute gent, she adores him and is super confident on him.

Sure they all vary, but if you look in the right places and aren't expecting a bargain at £500 I paid £5K my wife £8K, direct from Ireland via our trainer who specialises in Connies and ID's, PM me if you want contact details.

My boy was second in the BRC Eventing Championships BE80 in his first year, his default setting is lazy but that does mean he's not responsive, he has his moments but whilst he might jump at things, he will never use it as an excuse to b***er off!
 
Have contacted Janet and am slightly increasing my budget then hope to pop over to look. I love the idea of knowing a horses history and lineage more for temperament than anything as i dont compete at a high level but everyones feedback has just confirmed my plan. I have realised its worth waiting for the right one and i will try and found one who is on the steady side as that will suit me fine,. Have a chunky warmblood know so much prefer the build to anything else...excited
 
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