Irish Draught Horse Resource Guide

In this Yearbook article, Begg a noted breeder and owner of Irish Draughts, traces the pedigree of 64 RID stallions back to the original foundation lines and details those with Thoroughbred sires and those whose dams are by Thoroughbred sires. Additionally, she looks at those RID stallions whose dams were sired by registered Half-bred sires as well as the contribution made by a Clydesdale stallion who was bred to a thoroughbred mare but whose progeny was registered as an RID stallion. She debunks some traditional pedigree myths and to date these seem not to have been challenged. Useful pedigree charts are included.

Begg, Sally, A Study of the Development within the Breed over the past five years, IDH Yearbook 1983, p. 27 – 33.

In this Yearbook article Begg updates her original work done in 1979, with various stallion lines alive at the time in Ireland and England, which totalled 71. Top stallion sire lines which go back to Young J.P. with 56 due in part by the progeny of two stallions, King of Diamonds (8 sons on the register) and Pride of Shaunlara (10 sons on the register). The rarest lines were Woodranger, Prince Henry, Young Authur represented by Timohoe Heather (England), Glenside and Rusheen Lad (both of Ireland) respectively with one each. Begg maintains that stallions exported to UK were the more traditional heavy type and those in Ireland were becoming more the modern competition type. Pedigree charts are included and updated.

Breen, Elaine, The Development of a Sustainable Breeding Programme for the Irish Draught Horse, September 2007, presentation giving at the Irish Draught Horse Conservancy, First Annual, Breeder's Roundtable, Chicago, USA, This report/research is supported in part by the Royal Dublin Society, The University of Limerick and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation.

PDF presentation available from IDHC website for downloading 

Breen presents background information gathered in conjuction with the RDS and ICBF which was prepared by Francis Kerney (see below) of the same title, which centers on the current status of the herd population in terms of endangered breed classification by the FAO, inbreeding and relatedness of RID and S1 ID stallions. Also included is information on the large influence of King of Diamonds, Pride of Shaunlara, and Clover Hill. Only 6 stallions were found to be complete outcrosses from KOD, POS, and CH: in Ireland  - Bridgeford Stockbroker; Come T; Coolehane Flight (deceased); Gortlea Ruler; and in GB - Grove Warrior; and Amber Glen. Conservation Startegy information is also presented. Breen continues with information of her own student project at the University of Limerick concerning Conformation of Irish Draught Horse, in which she compares subjective and linear scoring approaches and also tries to evlaute how the conformation of the Irish Draught has changed over the past forty years. Includes photographs and charts.

Browne, Noel Phillips, The Horse in Ireland, Pelham Books Ltd, 1967.

This book offers a collection of essays about the horse in Ireland. The Irish Draught horse is mentioned in the introductory chapter as an important part of Irish horse breeding. Browne a racing commentator and breeder, believes, and rightly so, that the fate of the Irish Draught is in the hands of the Department of Agriculture and its incentive breeding schemes. He goes on to suggest, in 1967, that unless a Breed Society is formed the Irish Draught Horse as a separate breed will become a part of history. (The breed society was not formed until 1976.) An excellent all around history book on Irish horse breeding. (Cover: Irish Sweeps Derby, The Curragh, Co Kildare)

Clayton, Michael, The Hunter: Horse, Cob and Pony Country Life Books: Surrey 1980.

In a chapter on "Hunter breeding" the Irish Draught is identified as the foundation stock for the hunter type horse. The Draught mare put to a thoroughbred stallion producing a wonderful hunter type; he believes the reverse cross, Thoroughbred mare to Irish Draught stallion not as suitable. Clayton was a one time editor of Horse & Hound, and wrote extensively on hunting. This book is perfect for the uninitiated in hunting classes, as it describes clearly the different classes in which the hunter type is shown: Heavyweight (to carry 14 stones); Middleweight (12 1/2 - 14 stones); Lightweight (12 1/2 stones); Small hunters (by height, up to 15.2 hands); Ladies Hunter (ridden side-saddle), Novice hunter, and Working hunter.  Informative to read, a number of good photographs from both Irish and English venues.

Doran-O'Reilly, Quentin, Major move to boost the Draught, Irish Farmers Journal Interactive, 29 April 2006, Farm Management section. 

Doran-O'Reilly reports on a major proposal that has been accepted that will help to curtail the in-breeding in the current herd population in Ireland. This outcome based on findings from the study currently underway by the RDS, Committee of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/ICBF. This will allow the offspring of certian Irish Draught bloodlines (S1 and UK RID) to be eligible to obtain full RID status in Ireland.(green passports) Read his report online, Irish Farmers Journal Interactive link above.

Dossenbach, Hans D. , Irish Horses Gill and Macmillan Ltd, Dublin, 1977 text by Max Rueger and Hanspeter Meier; translated by Nora Godwin; photographed by Monique and Hans D. Dossenbach; forward by Michael Osborne.

To find this book is a surprise having been out-of-print for many years, found on the internet by accident, and bought from an online bookshop. It is filled with wonderful full page colour and black & white photographs of Irish horses, by one of the world’s best animal photographers. Hans Dossenbach and his wife Monique spent a good deal of time in Ireland researching and photographing Irish horses and the Irish horse environs. The Irish Draught is mentioned throughout the book almost as much as the other more well know Irish horse breeds, the Irish thoroughbred and the Connemara pony. Michael Osborne, the then Manager of the Irish National Stud, writes in the Foreword – “although a work horse, as it name implies, the Irish Draught has not the heavy squat build of the Percheron or Clydesdale, which would entail a heavy trot and awkward gallop. In contrast, the Irish Draught is a horse of smooth action with a good trot and a fair gallop. Thus it could fulfill its role of ‘jack of all trades’ for the ordinary Irish farmer – plough horse, cart-horse, and mount for the occasional fox hunt. The Irish Draught’s docility, strength and substance were later used in the production of one of Ireland’s proudest exports – the Irish hunter”

Duggan, Eugene, Horse and Hand: Farming practices of the Parish of Lackagh during the first half of the Twentieth Century, Athenry, Co. Galway, 2000.

A book about farming life in a small parish includes information and customs about stock kept on farms and a chapter on the horse. It is clear that the horse played a major role on the farm, as the farmer depended on the horse for transport of goods on and off the farm, for the operation of machines for moving, threshing, cultivating of crops and often for transport of himself and his family. The horse rivaled only by the bicycle for personal transport of the era. Duggan describes how farmers used each others' horses to make a team for ploughing, locally they called this in-co (in cooperation) and the other farmer would also borrow the horse for his ploughing needs. This book received Heritage Council funding as it documents a passing way of country life. Duggan remembers that Shires, Clydesdales, and Irish Draughts were used to do work on the farm. However, the farmer favored the Irish Draught, the Draught was a multipurpose animal, able to pull a plough, to till, sow, mow, reap, and cart as well as used to drive to town and to Mass with a sidecar (juanting car) or trap. The book includes photos of many of farm machines pulled by horses.

Edwards, Elwyn Hartley, Horses: Their Role in the History of Man (Willow Books, London 1987) Scottish Television.

The author has edited over thirty books on horses and horsemanship, was also an editor of Horse & Hound. Although the Irish Draught is mentioned on briefly, it clearly played a role in transport and military uses. Many Irish Draught types were exported to the U.K. and elsewhere for military purposes.  One interesting photo in this book is of Irish draught type horses that had been abandoned by the British in Cairo during the 1930s, where the Brooke Hospital for Old War Horses was founded (now the Brooke Hospital for Animals). Otherwise, the Irish Draught is mentioned for use as an "omnibus" horse or "tram" horse, often a mare, doing work of the most severe kind with two out of three dying in service. An excellent overall book about the horse. Book is based on a Scottish television series.

Fell, Alex, The Irish Draught Horse (J. A. Allen & Company Ltd: London, 1991)

(part of the Allen Breed Series)

This has been the "book of record" for the Irish Draught horse. As part of the Allen Breed series, Fell did in-depth research and pulled together in detail an introduction to the breed, its history, pedigree of foundation stallion lines and interviewed a number of breeders of the day. It is a little book, but packed with lots of useful information. The book includes many photos not seen in other publications, including some by Ruth Rogers, who was a photographer for the Irish Horse Board, during the 1980s. The author is a life-long enthusiast of the breed, as well as judge in the UK. Sadly, this book is out of print, it can sometimes be found at used bookshops on the Internet. This book may have caused a revolution in books about the breed, as it seems to have been the first published exclusively on the topic. (Cover: Irish Draught and halfbred mares at the Defreyne stud, Devon)

Gorman, Michael, Ireland by the Irish.  Galley Press Ltd, London 1963. Chapter by Stanislaus Lynch titled, "The Irish Horse" p. 60 - 68.

Stanislaus Lynch was noted Irish writer, often writing poems and stories about hunting horses. In his chapter, in Ireland by the Irish, he describes but does not name the Irish Draught horse, instead he calls it the ..."Irish working mare...he goes on to say, This type of foundation mare which is kept by the Irish farmer, especially the samll farmer, is a good all-rounder. She can cart heavy loads up and down hilly country, plough, mow or do the endless work around the farm steadily for six days of the week and yet retain sufficient resilience to take the family in its trap or sidecar to church on Sunday. It is mares of this type - strong buy not heavy-bodied; with great bone, but not unduly rough-haired about their fetlocks; with placid temperaments and cast-iron contitutions- which are the foundation stock of the best type of Irish hunter."

The Great Debate: A Breed or A Type, Billy Cotter and Jack Powell speak out, IDHS Yearbook 1981, p. 17 – 22.

In this Yearbook article, Billy Cotter, Life President of the Irish Draught Horse Society, maintains that the Irish Draught is in itself a breed and that he can trace the breeding of his horses for centuries. Jack Powell, Irish Draught horse judge, says it’s a type and that the closing of the Irish Draught book was wrong. This has been a debate for many years by many people. The final answer probably lies in additional DNA research. As we have seen in Flynn’s chapter of this book, the Irish Draught is a breed in itself, distinct from the Sport Horse and Thoroughbred but this does not answer the final question about what strains really made up the breed. (Photo: Enniskeane Countess)

Hinckley, Karen,  Genetic Trends in the Registered Irish Draught Herd 1991- 1995.  IDHS (GB) Yearbook 1995.  p 90- 95.Over the years from 1987 - 1995 Karen Hinckley published a series of artilces on the genetic make-up of Irish Draught Horse herd in Great Britain, including pedigree research that covers the Irish RID stallion lines: Prince Henry(5), The Comet Line, and Young J.P.  Her work seems to have comtributed in great measure to and culminated in the creation of the Irish Draught Horse Society (GB) Genetic Counselling Service in 1991. The Service offers genetic counselling with full animal pedigree details, inbreeding values, breeding records, performance records, matching of stallions and mares pedigrees, scientific stud planning, and more.Her additional articles include:- Genetics - A Horse Breeders Guide, IDHS (GB) Yearbook, p. 56.-  Irish Draught Bloodlines, IDHS (GB) 1987 Yearbook, p. 22-28.- An Analytical Approach to Breeding Irish Draught Horses, IDHS (GB) Yearbook 1990, p. 57- 58.- Irish Draught Bloodlines - A Different View, IDHS (GB) Yearbook 1991, p. 76.- The Irish Draught Horse Society Genetic Project, IDHS (GB) Yearbook 1992. p. 6-7.

- Selection Techniques in Modern Horse Breeding, IDHS (GB) Yearbook 1993, p. 7 -10.

Horse & Hound 26 March 1998 (Sport Horse breeding special)

Which includes, Promoting an Irish native; profile of Irish Draught stud owner, Moira McKennaHorse and Hound

This magazine has a special issue in March of every year that is the Sport Horse Breeding Special. It is this issue in which I discovered, quite by accident, the Irish Draught.  In fact, it was more the photos in the article, an interview by Ruth Loney of the Irish Draught breeder Moira McKenna, “Stemming the drought” which caught my eye. These mares are impressive and piqued my interest to learn more about the breed. (Cover: Moira McKenna with Pride of Down, Roma Silver Pearl, Roma Blue Wind, and Miss Macha)

Holden, Bryan, The Long Haul: The Life and Times of the Railway Horse (J.A. Allen: London, 1985)

While most of the photos in the book are certainly not the Irish Draught, there are a few that are to the greatest probability Irish Draught type, including two-horse omnibus, express parcel and delivery vans. Nice examples of heavy and light harness for working horses. Shows a wide range of horse breeds used in work, from pit ponies that worked in the coal mines to Clydesdales that worked in the train yards. Generally interesting if not totally related to the Irish Draught, it does however present a view on the life of working horses of a by-gone era. (Cover: 'Charlie' by R.F. Wyatt)

Holly, Michele, Description of Conformation of Irish Draught Horse based on the Breed Standard and Guildelines for the Irish Draught Horse, in partical fulfillment of Masters Program, unpublished research article, (Studies in Equine Performance ASC410). (14 October 2002) Master of Applied Science in Agriculture (Equine Studies) Charles Sturt University, Australia.  Download version.(1.57 MB)As a course requirement Holly had to analyse a breed standard in terms of the resulting biomechanical properties in the living horse.  She chose the Irish Draught Horse, because of her Irish heritage.  Includes photos and references.

Holdstock, Mark, The Great Fair: Horse Dealing at Ballinasloe Souvenir Press, 1993

This book describes the Ballinasloe Fair in great detail. Special chapters on the farmers’ horse and on Travellers’ horses. Holdstock believes the Irish Draught to be a cross of the Irish Hobby and the larger Norman horses that came to Ireland during the invasions. Other working horses which may have played a part are the Shire, Clydesdale, and Suffolk Punch. Good photos of the fair and historic practices how the deal was done. He recounts that horses at the fair are either half bred or three quarter bred Irish Draught, very few thoroughbred. A horse may change hands 3 or 4 times during the fair day with the price going up with each deal.

Irish Field Irish Field Directory 2000, 2005,2008

A must for everyone, includes directories of studs, stallions, trainers, jockeys, hunting, ogransations, riding centres, riding clubs, pony clubs, polo clubs, etc. An annual publication of the Irish Field. Irish Draught breeders and sellers can be found in the listings.

Irish Draught: Perfektes Pferd Fuer Sattel, Jagd, und Geschirr (Irish Draught: Perfect horse for saddle, hunting, and harness) Pegasus nr. 2, 2006, Germany, pp. 55-57 Special: Irish Horses issue.(cover photo: Its the Quiet Man at the RDS 2005)

Special issue of this German horse magazine, interesting that the German press is finally getting the historical details correct and putting photos of Irish Draughts in the story. Article includes information on the history, modern day uses, dressage, jumping, etc. details on the Irish Draught Horse Society, Ireland and Irish Horse Board. This special issue also has short articles on Irish Colored Cobs (called Tinkers in Germany), Connemaras, The Irish Hunter (Irish Sport Horse), and the Kerry Bog Pony.

Kerney, Francis. An Interim Report on the Development of a Breed Preservation Plan for the Irish Draught Horse, (IDHS breed preservation plan - Interim Report) The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, Co Cork, Ireland, December 2005. Download the report PDF

Interim report carried out by Dr. Kerney of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation on behalf of the Royal Dublin Society - Committee of Agriculture and Rural Affairs andThe Department of Agriculture. Apreservation plan for the breed will then be devised in conjunction with the Irish Draught Horse Society.  Report highlights the Irish Draught stallions in their genetic relation or non-relationship to Pride of Shaunlara, King of Diamonds, and Clover Hill. Also includes a survey of Irish Draught breeders and their responses to their use of outcross stallions and linebreeding in their breeding programs.

The Development of a Sustainable Breeding Programme for the Irish Draught Horse (RDS breed conservation final report (draft)) The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, Co Cork, Ireland, January 2007.

Download the report (WORD)

Kelly, Fergus. Early Irish Farming: a study based mainly on the law-texts of the 7^th and 8^th centuries AD, School of Celtic Studies, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1997,

Early Irish Law Series IV

This work is based on law-texts of the seventh and eighth centuries. Kelly is editor of the Series. A massive volume, 751 pages, covering law aspects in relation to all types of farm livestock, regarding the horse it includes information translated from early manuscripts. There were laws about ‘offences by domestic animals, offences against domestic animals, accidents, diseases, horse qualities, etc. There are two types of horses mentioned, the work-horse and the riding horse. Fascinating reading, sometimes difficult to follow, but a scholarly work that should not be overlooked. Interesting commentaries, stating that early Irish riders rode with a saddle cloth, but not a saddle, saddles were introduced by the Norsemen.

Lewis, Colin A.,

Professor Lewis has published widely on the Irish Horse and the Irish Draught. Being one of the early authors in the Irish Draught Horse Yearbook he contributed a series of articles on the height of mare, the distribution of stallions, (etc) which were later published as Irish horse breeding and the Irish Draught Horse, 1917-1978, in The Agricultural History Review. Vol. 31, 1983, Part I. He provides a unique perspective on the Irish Draught horse with his geographers’ hat on, which plots out the data in map format. His best work by far, is his award winning title, Horse Breeding in Ireland, which won the National University of Ireland’s prize for Irish Historical Research. The book deals primary with the half-bred horse and the Royal Dublin Society breeding schemes 1886 - 1903 and includes some details and distribution maps on the Irish Draught. This book is out-of-print. Professor Lewis also published a series of articles in the Irish Draught Horse Yearbooks about the development and distribution of the Irish Draught, which can be found in the original IDHS Yearbooks as well as the Society website under Reports, Distribution and Development.- Horse breeding in Ireland and the role of the Royal Dublin Society's Horse Breeding Schemes 1886-1903 J. A. Allen Company Ltd: London, 1980.- Hunting in Ireland, published by J.A. Allen and Company, 1975.- The Agricultural History Review, Vol 31, 1983 Part 1, Irish Horse breeding and the Irish Draught, 1917-1978 by Colin A. Lewis, pp. 37 - 49.- The Horse Breeding Industry in Ireland by Colin A. Lewis and Mary E. McCarthy from Irish Geography Vol. 10 (1977) pp. 72 - 89. 

-Origins and development of the Irish Draught Horse published by Geography Publications: Dublin, 2004. 

Maguire, Desmond, Horses are my life: The story of Ned Cash King of the horse dealers, published by AgriBooks,(1985) ISBN 0950600814

A fun read with reminiscences about the life and dealing of Ned Cash, who was by all accounts, a real Irish character in the horse buying and selling world. Irish Draughts were prominent in his early trading. Interesting photos at the fairs and on farms. Maguire was a news editor for the Irish Farmers Journal and by way of interviews and conversations was able to assemble a collection of short pieces that conjure up what it must have been like to walk in Ned’s shoes. Ned Cash’s second wife, the many time winning rider, Frances Cash, is also mentioned.

McGahern, Angela M., ; Edwards, C. J. +; Bower, M. A. ++; Heffernan, A. [S],[P]; Park, S. D. E. *; Brophy, P. O. *; Bradley, D. G. +; MacHugh, D. E. *; Hill, E. W. *  Mitochondrial DNA sequence diversity in extant Irish horse populations and in ancient horses.  Animal Genetics. 37(5):498-502, October 2006.
Can be found in Google Scholar

McGahern, Angela, Patrick Brophy, David MacHugh & Emmeline Hill,  Genetic diversity of the Irish Draught Horse population and preservation of pedigree lines. (Report to The Irish Draught Horse Society, Ireland) (unpublished, pre-print, circa 09 Feb 2006) Animal Genomics Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin. Download the report PDFThis is a breakthrough piece of research on the Irish Draught Horse. It sets in place one more piece of the genetic puzzle that up until now has only been partly confirmed via pedigree and historical information. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) presented here, shows the sharing of maternal lineage sequences. It seems to indicate that 55% of the founder Irish Draught population originated from eight common maternal lineages. The report also compares mtDNA sequences with other horse breeds and suggests the highest proportion of shared sequence with Caballo de Corro 93%, Andalusian 83%, Clydesdale 80%, Scotish Highland 75%, Orlov 72%,TB 68%, Connemara 67%, and so on, this alone confirms the most expected outcomes as well as some interesting possible additional breeds.

This book brings together a collection of essays by a number of scholars and experts. Each contributor provides a unique perspective on the horse covering a wide range of knowledge including Irish culture, economics, agriculture, folklore, geography, art, genetics, equine science, archaeology, and history. The book is illustrated with over 160 photographs and has an annotated bibliography.

Moore, Charlotte, Irish Draught Mares 1918-1992 (C. Moore, July 1993) and Irish Draught Stallions 1911-1993 (C. Moore, 1993)

Moore has created a valuable pedigree research tool, which were assembled over a number of years and from a number of sources. In these two volumes, she has compiled relevant data on the RID stallions of Ireland and the UK, as well as the Irish RID and AID mares. Using these indices it is possible to trace the "back breeding" of an animal by using its Irish Horse Register (IHR) number and Registered Irish Draught (RID) number. She records the animal name, sire, dam, year of birth, colour, height, county of breeder, and owner. Moore is a life-long enthusiast of the breed, as well as breeder. Books are available from the author but in limited supply. (Cover: Mares - Silver Dawn with April Storm,  Stallion - Pride of Shaunlara)

...postscript. It appears there was also an 1911-1991 edition of the Irish Draught Stallions book, also with photo Pride of Shaunlara on the cover and Susie Lanigan-Okeeffe on board.

O’Donovan, Sara. Horses of County Cork. Printed by Inspire Design and Print, Cork, Ireland. 2005.

While the Irish Draught is not the main focus of the book, it is of special interest to Irish Draught enthusiasts as it follows many breeders and horses of County Cork, including a wonderful piece on the legendary John McCarthy and his families long tradition with the Irish Draught, Paddy McCarthy and his wife Susan and their Meelin Stud, Elizabeth Deane and her horses, a bit on the Garda who ride RID geldings and the National Ploughing Championships. Nice photos, including Draughts: Red Hackle, Welcome Diamond, Ben Purple, Glenlara, I'm a Lady, Fast Silver, Penmerryl's Rhythm and Blues, Heather Breeze, and Mill Hollow Queen.

O’Hare, Nicholas,

Nicholas O'Hare is probably better qualified than most to author this series of books on the Irish Draught/Irish Sport Horse, having been an equine correspondent and journalist for many decades as well as the editor of the Irish Draught Horse Yearbook (1978-85). He has also contributed numerous newspaper articles over the years. In each of these books, O'Hare points out the significance of thoroughbred blood in the back breeding of the Draught and clearly has a viewpoint on the way forward for the breed. Books are available from the author. Only disappointment here is the lack of photographs. New website for Mr. O'Hare's publications, circa April 2006, http://www.nicholasohare.com/index.htmPillars of Irish Horsebreeding (Harkaway, 2005)Many Irish Draught supporters featured in these profiles of 100 people who have contributed to the Irish Sport Horse Industry in a meaningful way over the past thirty five years, it features more than 35 enthusiasts, breeders and stallion owners identified with the Irish Draughts. These include such well known names as the O'Neills of Slyguff, Billy Cotter, Sally Begg, John McCarthy, Hugh Hennigan, Elizabeth Deane, Moira McKenna, Chantal Deon and many others. The Irish Sport Horse: The 21^st Century Performance Horse,  (Harkaway, 2002In terms of providing an overview of the political landscape related to the Irish Sport Horse and Irish horse breeding in general, this book really hits the mark. Unlike the King of Diamonds and Modern Irish Draught, O'Hare digs deep in his knowledge to ponder the horses that have made their names in Irish horse breeding in the twentieth century and sets the stage for the twenty-first century. He brings together his vast knowledge of the thoroughbred, the half-bred horse, the Irish Draught, and the newcomer on the scene, the European warmblood. (Cover: Crusing)King of Diamonds: An Irish Showjumping Dynasty (Harkaway, 1997) revised 2002 King of Diamonds - O'Hare details the role of the RID stallion, King of Diamonds, said to be one of the key sires and grand-sire of show jumpers. Although, this stallion was essentially a half-bred horse himself, nevertheless he was RID. He sired more than forty registered sons both pure-bred and half-bred. The book details all of his progeny, first, second, third and forth generations, primarily the stallion lines and a few special mares that breed some of his best sons. Although some of the entries only list the pedigree, which can be found elsewhere, other entries have much commentary from O'Hare, these begin the most interesting as his insights go along way to describe these animals.(Cover: King of Diamonds)The Modern Irish Draught: A special breed for a special purpose (Harkaway, 2002)

The breeding of the modern Irish draught is traced in what O'Hare considers to be the most influential Draught lines: King of Diamonds, Clover Hill, Pride of Shaunlara, Ben Purple, Laughton, and Slievenamon. He provides brief sketches on the offspring of these stallions as well as his usual commentary on the horses and some of the owners. He also includes a section on Mares, and reports on a number of them covering the last quarter of the twentieth century. (Cover: Crosstown Dancer)

O’Hare, Nicholas, continued

Origin of the Irish Draught, article in Irish Draught Horse Yearbook 1978, p. 6 -14.   (reprinted in 1983 Yearbook.)

O’Hare hits all the high points of information about the possible origins of the Irish Draught horse in his early work from the 1978 IDH Yearbook. These high points include information from Scharff, the Brehon Laws, Irish horse mythology, Thomas Blundeville, Duke of Ormonde, Sir William Temple, Carden, Department of Agriculture, Irish Draught Horse Book, up to and including the missing Registers which supposedly disappeared in 1972. This is undoubtedly the first best overall view on the Irish Draught horse. (Photos included in the article: Clareman, Kildare, Barna, Merrion, Bellevue, Cambridge Blue, Easter Light.)

O'Molloy, Desmond Art. Power unit of the future: the Irishmen who stick by their native draught breed, Heavy Horse World, 12, 1, England 1998 pp. 18. 

This is a one page commentary on two Irishmen who continue to use Irish Draughts as their ‘power units’ on the farm. This article is certainly in support of the ‘green dream’ farming profile to reduce reliance on fuel consumption and stop environmental damage by utilizing horse power. There is a trend in Ireland and indeed in Europe to use the horse instead of the tractor to do small jobs and, increasingly, work related to forestry.

O'Toole, Helen, The Characterisation of the Irish Draught Horse Population in Ireland (thesis submitted in fulfullment of the degree of Master of Agricultural Science M.Agr.Sc. National University of Ireland, Dublin. Faculty of Agricultural. Department of Animal Science and Production, November 2001)

A master degree in Agricultural Science, student at the time of publication, since then employed by the Irish Horse Board and currently Dept. of Agriculture, O'Toole studied the decline in the number of pure-bred foals from 1990-1999 as well as past breeding practices and their effects on the genetic composition of the breed. The study looks at data from 1997 - 2000. Interesting that the study showed an increase in foals by RID parents, but a decrease in foals by AID parents. However, the statistics clearly show that RID mares do not reproduce themselves with enough "pure-bred filly foals" in their breeding life span. A conservation plan is proposed. The thesis is available at University College Dublin, Library and limited reprints available from the author.

Quarton, Marjorie, Breakfast the Night Before: Recollections of an Irish Horse Dealer (Andre Deutsch, 1989) and reprinted Liliput Press revised and with additional material from her publication, Saturday’s Child (1993).

A real tear jerker for anyone who likes to read horse stories. Quarton writes with clarity and recollects her life of horse dealing and farm life in county Tipperary. Untypical as she was, a woman in a man’s world, she brings her experiences to life with vivid and interesting accounts. Irish Draughts and half-bred horses played a large role in her buying and selling of horses. A book not to be missed. A best seller when first published, one of a rarity of horse books to be reprinted.

Royal Dublin Society, RDS Committee of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,An Interim Report on the Development of a Breed Preservation Plan for the Irish Draught Horse by Francis Kearney, ICBF, December 2005,  press release from the the RDS and full interim report.  See also entry for Kearney, Francis (above in this list)   The Development of a Sustainable Breeding Programme for the Irish Draught HorseFinal Report (draft) January 2007    Irish Draught Horse Breed Development Project 2005   ...from their website...

"As part of its commitment to the preservation of native Irish species and to retain the basis of what was the Irish Sport horse type, the Committee of Agriculture and Rural Affairs have instigated and funded a study of the Irish Draught Horse population.

The study is funded through the RDS Committee of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and is being conducted by geneticists from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). The study was supported in response to the RDS Committee of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' perceived need to implement a preservation plan for the breed, which is now a recognised endangered species. The aim of the project is to ensure that the breed can remain pure by broadening its genetic base and serve as a foundation breed for the Irish sport horse industry. The findings of a preliminary study of the Irish Draught Horse (IDH) herd have indicated that the number of Irish Horse Board approved out-cross Draught Stallions available to Irish breeders is decreasing at an alarming rate. The study also found that inbreeding in the IDH population has been increasing at the rate of 0.04% per year since 1979. 38% of the registered Draughts born between 2000 and 2003 were inbred at levels ranging from 1 to 14%. A breakdown by status showed that 36% of stallions (22), 39% of male foals (516) and 37% of all females (801) born in this period were inbred. The study will be completed in mid to late 2005 and a preservation plan for the breed will then be devised in conjunction with the Irish Draught Horse Society and the project partners, ICBF, and the Department of Agriculture. "

Sixty-five years of ploughing for progress, 1931-1996 edited by Larry Sheedy, (Athy: National Ploughing Association of Ireland, [First published 1981, second edition October 1996]. Substantial contributions from Prof. Seamus Sheehy, Sean McConnell, Charlotte Brenner, Denis Murphy.

There have been national ploughing championships in Ireland since 1931. Originally done with horse and plough, mainly today it is tractor and plough. Today the competitions have 21 classes, 3 of which are horse ploughing, including a prize for the "best presented pair of Irish Draught Horses". An interesting view on the a popular farmers event. The book is available from the Association. A number of IDHS members also involved with the National Ploughing Association, including Eiline Brennan PRO who was “Queen of the Plough” on a number of occasions.

Slavin, Michael, Showjumping Legends Ireland 1868-1998  Wolfhound Press, . 1998

Showjumping book- Slavin has until recently been the voice of the Irish equine on RTE radio and also written and spoken widely on the Irish horse and Irish Draught. He brings his vast knowledge of the sporting world to this book which follows the showjumping world for over one hundred years. Primarily speaking about the half-bred horse, he brings the legendary animals and riders to life. The Irish Draught is mentioned, but only slightly, rather as the sire or dam of a famous showjumper. Well written, well researched, provides an excellent historical perspective. Slavin also owns and operates the Tara Hill Bookshop where some of the books in the bibliography were found. Well worth the visit. Slavin still contributes articles to local newspapers on equine topics. (Cover: Jessica Chesney Kuerton on Diamond Exchange)

Smith, Brian, The Horse in Ireland Wolfhound Press, 1991

A truly wonderful book about Irish horses. Smith a former Education Officer with the Horse Board, pulls out all the stops and writes on every aspect of the Irish horse from earliest times, Celtic times, through Christianity, sporting horses of the eighteenth and nineteenth century, treatment in folklore, the development of racing, showjumping, eventing, to the present day. The Irish Draught horse is mention, but only on a few pages in the section about native horses and current uses. The book contains many photographs, some full page colour and black and white. Nothing new here about the Irish Draught, but a nice big book, 366 pages, on the Irish horse.

Teagasc, Sport Horse Production, Alternative Enterprise Booklet no. 4, c June 1997.n revised edition,  (published earlier as, Non-thoroughbred Horse Production circa 1990, different cover photo)

A resource for the small farmer. Teagasc provides a number of useful booklets on horse breeding. This booklet is a generalists’ view on selection of type of horse to breed, (show jumper, show horse, event horse, Irish Draught, or riding), management of the yearling, grassland management, nutrition, financial aspects, for those who see horse breeding as a secondary activity on the farm.

Watson, Mervyn, The Role of the Horse on Irish Farms Chapter 10 …in "From Corrib to Cultra"  pp. 122-135. Publisher: The Institute of Irish Studies, Queens University, Northern Ireland c. 2000.

Watson gives an overview of the various horse breeds native to Ireland; Celtic pony, Hobby, Connemaras, CushendalL pony, Kerry Bog pony, Irish Draught, and the imports Shire and Clydesdales from the UK.  Interesting that the Connemara, Kerry Bog, and Irish Draught were all used as multipurpose animals, doing riding, carting, ploughing, hauling, etc. but the Irish Draught had the unique role as serving as the foundation breed for the Irish Hunter.