Why do people source Irish horses?

[Pink Gorilla]

So I’ve been hearing a lot lately about people purposely sourcing Irish horses. I get the impression they are considered well bred and well produced??? But I just wondered if people could clarify what is it people are seeking when purposely sourcing an Irish horse? I’m mainly interested because I’ve just brought one and on my horse hunt and during my new horse’s vetting, I kept getting positive vibes about the Irish born horses off professionals (of any breed).

 

[oldie48]

I've never deliberately sourced ponies/horses from Ireland but three of our best came from there but had been "sourced" by dealers who had good contacts and a good eye, they were all five year olds and not particularly expensive, our best came via the late Jane Beswick and he was a connie x tb with no particular breeding. Good horse people will spot good horses anywhere in the world but if they are dealers they need to be able to turn a profit and I think the Irish market allows them to do that, doesn't mean everyone can though! Pleased you seem to have found a good un, not all of them are.

 

[atropa]

I didn't go out looking for an Irish horse but did end up with one, she's the hardiest horse I've ever known and has a lovely personality- people oriented, eager to please, behaves like a dream travelling and at shows and is a much calmer, more self assured horse than either my WB or my native. They also tend to make excellent all rounders, and my impression is that there ar a large quantity of well bred youngsters floating around Ireland so they can be a bargain.

 

[J&S]

Big, old horse I ride is an Irish horse and he is a cracker!

 

[ycbm]

Because the Irish know what they are doing when they breed horses, it seems to be in their blood.
.

 

[skint1]

Every horse that caught my eye during my search was Irish or connected to Ireland in some way and it was certainly not by design. I ended up with ID mare that had come over from Ireland 5 months before I bought her, it turns out that she is a Class 1 ID and is well bred, I bought her as a sensible hack- which she was, and once we get through the next little bit, I hope she will be again.

 

[smolmaus]

Wish you'd stop. Nearly every lovely little pony I see from local producers on FB is snapped up and shipped off to England or weirdly a lot to Sweden. Leave one for meeeeeee ?

 

[smolmaus]

Seriously tho, you probably hear a lot less about how we have a massive problem with over breeding poor stock, horse abandonment and neglect but that's the other side of the coin.

 

[Rowreach]

Seriously tho, you probably hear a lot less about how we have a massive problem with over breeding poor stock, horse abandonment and neglect but that's the other side of the coin.

Yeah and those years where some Irish breeders thought that crossing IDs with Continental warmbloods was a great idea ?

Things are better again now, but there’s still a lot of rubbish in the mix.

Traditionally everyone wanted Irish horse because they were tough. The army bought all the black ones for the cavalry. If you saw a black Irish horse for sale you steered well clear of it because it was probably an army reject. Hunting people wanted them because they were “made” over tough hunting country and would be careful and clever and would jump anything.

 

[Tagoat]

Each Irish horse I have purchased, I have found to have been properly broken, (albeit still quite/very green.) But, all have had good soft mouths.

 

[millikins]

Because the Irish know what they are doing when they breed horses, it seems to be in their blood.
.

This. Also the Irish do have a natural advantage in that their climate/soil etc creates excellent grass and nutrients to breed and develop healthy horses. I've had 4 from Ireland, all have excellent manners and respect, even the unbroken shetlands are good about tying up and feet, though they don't know much about life yet.

 

[shamrock2021]

They ask the redhead leprechaun ?

 

[Cortez]

Because the Irish know what they are doing when they breed horses, it seems to be in their blood.
.

Some of them......

This. Also the Irish do have a natural advantage in that their climate/soil etc creates excellent grass and nutrients to breed and develop healthy horses. I've had 4 from Ireland, all have excellent manners and respect, even the unbroken shetlands are good about tying up and feet, though they don't know much about life yet.

Irish horses seem to suit UK riders, probably because we breed for that market particularly. They tend to have good manners (when they leave here) because we don't mollycoddle them and take a fairly, erm, robust approach to handling and basic breaking.

 

[millikins]

Some of them......


Irish horses seem to suit UK riders, probably because we breed for that market particularly. They tend to have good manners (when they leave here) because we don't mollycoddle them and take a fairly, erm, robust approach to handling and basic breaking.

On the whole I agree with the approach but one of my four is a bred in the purple Connie who I found in a dealer's yard. I didn't realise at the time what I was seeing but I knew it was special (he has the paces and hock action of a 16.2 dressage diva) but he was completely shut down and traumatised. He's an over sensitive soul with enough quirks to write a book about but the "robust" approach wasn't right for him.

 

[Kaylum]

A Dealer our way used to sell irish horses unfortunately they were from York sales and never seen Ireland but hey the buyers never knew.

 

[ycbm]

A Dealer our way used to sell irish horses unfortunately they were from York sales and never seen Ireland but hey the buyers never knew.

And from York, most of them will have been "7/8 IDx's" straight from the race track via Doncaster Bloodstock Auctions ?
.

 

[Scotsbadboy]

The Irish have a long history of horsemanship and they breed some of the best horses in the world. We might have to forgive them for adding in dumbbloods to the ISH mix though ... what were they thinking!

 

[LEC]

I also think having agricultural status helps them a lot. Same as it does in Germany and France. To me its one of the fundamental failings in the UK which will limit horses because everything is ratable and taxable with Equestrian Use.

The commonality of langauge helps vs France etc Plus the horses they breed suit the UK market. You don't see many cobs etc in Germany/Netherlands.

 

[Bernster]

Yep, to all the above! I wanted an Irish horse in my last search. I was after something likely to be more robust, a leg in each corner, straightforward type. No guarantees ofc with any horse or breed, but Finnegan was all of that, and very nice paces and a cracking hunter too.

 

[twiggy2]

In all my years I have ever met a horse fresh over from Ireland with good manners or nicely backed, many I have known of have broken at an early age (or already been broken), that said it would never have been the top end of the market.
They have always had a sensible brain though and a workman like attitude once they have settled, learnt manners and been properly backed

 

[Scotsbadboy]

In all my years I have ever met a horse fresh over from Ireland with good manners or nicely backed, many I have known of have broken at an early age (or already been broken), that said it would never have been the top end of the market.
They have always had a sensible brain though and a workman like attitude once they have settled, learnt manners and been properly backed

Blimey thats the exact opposite of my experience!

 

[TPO]

Because initially they were cheaper to buy in ireland and bring over than to buy the same type here.

Everyone wants a bargain ??‍

 

[palo1]

I've ridden and owned a couple of Irish bred horses - there are many admirable things about them and they do have a hugely popular appeal as all rounders. Ireland is blessed in terms of it's ground in places which provides a brilliant mineral rich start for some lucky horses. BUT I have also known some fairly grim examples of Irish bred/imported to the UK and in some ways Irish horses can be a bit 'bland' in terms of the riding experience I have found. My experience is that they are not as sharp or clever as Arabs, Spanish types, TBs (obviously there are variations in every breed) or some of the natives (connemaras included here!). Those breeds tend to get a harsher press and the ID/ISH benefits from being seen as more easily trained, handled and competed I think.

 

[stormox]

Yeah and those years where some Irish breeders thought that crossing IDs with Continental warmbloods was a great idea ?

Things are better again now, but there’s still a lot of rubbish in the mix.

Traditionally everyone wanted Irish horse because they were tough. The army bought all the black ones for the cavalry. .

Nearly all the horses selected for the 'go for gold' sale were Warmblood stallions to ID or IDx mares. A big very successful stud here in Co Kerry specifically breeds that mix.

 

[Abi90]

Nearly all the horses selected for the 'go for gold' sale were Warmblood stallions to ID or IDx mares. A big very successful stud here in Co Kerry specifically breeds that mix.

I’ve literally bred my ID mare to a warmblood stallion this year!

 

[sport horse]

The rather old fashioned ID x TB used to be very popular and did very well in the sport. Modern sport has moved on and you need a lot more TB blood which is what the warmblood breeding does. Surprisingly the people that say they want an Irish horse not a warmblood are still ignorant of the fact that an ID x TB IS a warmblood! The hot blood of the TB crossed with the cold blood of the ID = warmblood! The difference being that the Europeans have interbred their warmblood and got a much more consistant product. I have bred ID and TB same mare and same stallion and had everything from a cob to a 17.2 MW hunter which if you are breeding for sport is not helpful. The Irish sporthorse breeders are now copying the European model.
A big reason for there being less of the old fashioned sort is that they are often puchased by amateur riders who only want to pay low prices because 'they do not want to compete at a high level'. However it costs pretty much the same to produce an 'ordinary' horse as a 'sport' horse (maybe a slightly lower stud fee) so for a breeder it is not very interesting to breed horses that will make a loss!

 

[palo1]

The rather old fashioned ID x TB used to be very popular and did very well in the sport. Modern sport has moved on and you need a lot more TB blood which is what the warmblood breeding does. Surprisingly the people that say they want an Irish horse not a warmblood are still ignorant of the fact that an ID x TB IS a warmblood! The hot blood of the TB crossed with the cold blood of the ID = warmblood! The difference being that the Europeans have interbred their warmblood and got a much more consistant product. I have bred ID and TB same mare and same stallion and had everything from a cob to a 17.2 MW hunter which if you are breeding for sport is not helpful. The Irish sporthorse breeders are now copying the European model.
A big reason for there being less of the old fashioned sort is that they are often puchased by amateur riders who only want to pay low prices because 'they do not want to compete at a high level'. However it costs pretty much the same to produce an 'ordinary' horse as a 'sport' horse (maybe a slightly lower stud fee) so for a breeder it is not very interesting to breed horses that will make a loss!

So true!! Also, it has to be said that a great many horses of hugely varying type and quality are advertised as 'Irish Sport Horse' (i.e warmblood). I think an 'Irish hunter' used to be a bit more consistent but the market has changed a great deal.

 

[Ceifer]

I love my ISH. She is mannerly and very well put together.
The good ones make excellent general riding horses that put their hooves to most jobs.
As someone above mentioned though, fashion and sport are changing and they aren’t ‘flashy’ enough for some people/disciplines so the breeding is changing and in some cases I don’t think for the better.
I’m seriously considering putting my mare in foal next year but I wouldn’t want to put anything too ‘hot’ into the mix.

 

[Rowreach]

Nearly all the horses selected for the 'go for gold' sale were Warmblood stallions to ID or IDx mares. A big very successful stud here in Co Kerry specifically breeds that mix.

Yes but not all of them have gone to the Olympics, generally speaking only the pros can ride them, there was/is a lot of wastage, and some of the great ID lines have been irrevocably damaged in the process.

 

[Griffin]

On the whole I agree with the approach but one of my four is a bred in the purple Connie who I found in a dealer's yard. I didn't realise at the time what I was seeing but I knew it was special (he has the paces and hock action of a 16.2 dressage diva) but he was completely shut down and traumatised. He's an over sensitive soul with enough quirks to write a book about but the "robust" approach wasn't right for him.

My mare is Irish and she was quite traumatised when I got her. She is very talented (more so than me) but it has taken several years to win her trust and help her to be less anxious. Most of her worries seem to have stemmed from the way she was broken.

I have ridden lots of Irish horses over the years and they have been some of my favourites.