Irish Draught Horse Resource Guide

(Irish Draught Horse Society
Memebership Card)

Contact:(circa June 2008)

Thomas J Gibbons
I.D.H.S Administrator
Levalley, Ballinrobe
Co. Mayo
Tel/Fax No:

 +353 94 9520963

In general the IDHS was created: 1)to preserve, promote and endeavor to improve all that is best the Irish Draught Horse, 2)to encourage and assist those interested in the preservation, promotion and improvement of the Irish Draught Horse especially breeders and owners 3)to establish a breed standard, definition and description for the Irish Draught Horse and to update this as the society sees fit, 4)to protect the standard of the breed by ensuring that the only inspections carried out in any part of the world for acceptance onto the studbook and register are carried out by inspectors authorised by the Society, 5)to appoint a panel of judges and inspectors selected for their interest and knowledge of the Irish Draught and its breeding standards, and to make amendments and deletion of this list from time to time, and 6)to encourage the continued improvement and upgrading of the Irish Draught Horse by advocating the careful selection of mares and stallions chosen from good lines of breeding which conform to the breed standards proclaimed by the Society from time to time.

( IDHS Life membership pin)

Irish Draught Horse Yearbook Edited by Nicholas O’Hare (Agricultural Publications Ltd., Dun Laoire, Co. Dublin, <1978 – 1985>, continued by The Irish Draught Horse Society Yearbook <1988 – present>.

Beginning in 1978 -- 1983 under the editorial direction, and more or less in conjunction with the Irish Draught Horse Society and/or Board na gCapall, of Nicholas O’Hare and published by various versions of Irish Agricultural Publications Ltd and at least once as a supplement to the Irish Farmers Monthly but all at a Northumberland Chambers, Northhumberland Avenue, Dun Laoire, Co. Dublin, Ireland address. The Yearbook had an annual marketing niche which included wide distribution to magazine subscribers. There seems to have been no yearbook published in 1984 (See entry for Irish Horse and Pony Yearbook 1984/85).

By 1985 it was produced by an editorial committee made up of Marily Power, Nigel Moore, and Noel Cawley. During this period many well written and researched articles appeared by O’Hare, Colin A. Lewis, Sally Begg, Marily Power, and others with topics covering the Origin of the Irish Draught Horse (which was first printed in 1978 Yearbook and re-printed in their 1983 Yearbook). Hunting, articles on specific Stallions, a healthcare topics, such as on shoeing, or worming, etc. and highlights of the Greenvale Year awards and Bord na gCapall incentive schemes. Early society enthusiasts endeavored to record background information on the breed and provided promotional and marketing ideas that were lacking at the time.

(Covers: 1978 Bawnlahan Beauty, 1979 Flagmount Boy, 1980 Eddie Macken on Carrolls Royal Lion, 1981 Blue Peter driven by Mrs. Dede Power, 1982 Silver Dawn, 1983 Tom Moloney's 27 year old Errigal mare Daisy, with foal Santa's Sleigh and his children Edward, Thomas and Marian, 1985 Mrs. Thatcher ridden by Susan Lanigan-O'Keefe)

Irish Horse and Pony Yearbook 1984/85 includes the Irish Draught Horse Journal 1984. (A supplement with the Irish Horse and Pony Year Book)

Could this be the missing information for the unpublished 1984 IDHS Yearbook? No other issues of the Irish Draught Horse Journal have been found. This publication seems to have been funded in part by the Irish Horse Board. It includes a list of the officers of the IDHS, information about the Kerrygold winners, a piece on Sean Walshe, breeder of Fast Woman, and a listing of Irish Draught Permium Mares for 1984.

IDHS Breed Standard and Guideline 1979

First published Breed Standard from page 4 of the Irish Draught Horse Yearbook 1979.

View current Breed Standard information on the IDHS website http://www.irishdraught.ie/rid-breedstandard.asp

Over the period 1979 – 2005, revisions to the breed standard included only slight changes in height of stallions and mares, amount of bone, and colour.

1979 from the Yearbook

-Height at 3 years old, stallion 16.0 hh. and over, mares from 15.2 hh.

-9 inches or more of clean flat bone

-Obvious Clyde markings not permitted i.e. bay with white legs above the hocks and knees

2005 from the Website

-Height stallions 15.3 to 16.3 hh.  mares 15.1 to 16.1 hh.

-Good, strong, clean bone

-White above the knees or hocks, not desirable.

IDHS

The Irish Draught Horse: From Earliest Times to the Present Day, edited by Nicholas O'Hare and Michael Slavin,  (The Irish Draught Horse Society: Dublin (commonly known by the Society as the “History book”)

This publication was issued in 2 printings with different cover photos although the content of the editions is identical  (Cover:

Seane Walsche with his famous Fast Woman and other finalists

in the Kerrygold All Ireland Championship at Millstreet

1989) 3 Punt, believed to be first printing. First Edition 5 Punt, believed to be second printing.

A good reference book from the Society. Nicholas O’Hare and Michael Slavin bring together relevant information about the Irish horse including myths, early scientific data, The Irish Hobby, historical information from various sources, Government support, Dept. of Agriculture, Inspector’s report, Irish Draughts as Hunter, Remounts, Wartime needs, the New IDHS, Irish Mare Championships, The Greenvale Years, Kerrygold Winners, Early Shows, Era of Show Jumpers, Prominent stallions, opening of the Appendix for mares, 1988 IDHS Ireland, and IDHS Great Britain.

IDHS, Newsletter. (IDHS, beginning in February 1996, vol 1. no.  Frequency: quarterly, later changed to three times a year. Edited by Michael Swords. 

Covers the highlights of Annual General Meetings, council meetings, national show & results, inspections, annual sales statistics, etc. Additionally, some branches have their own newsletters distributed to branch members.

Some back issues available on their website:

http://www.irishdraught.ie/IDHSNewsletter.asp

IDHS, Irish Draught Horse Society -25 Years- (publisher, 2003)

Edited by Elizabeth Deane and Anne Loughnane. A collection of invited pieces from owners and breeders, as well as interviews with some “old timers” in the Irish Draught world. A wonderful book in itself with many photos not seen before. The interviews are of special interest as they capture the recollections of some noted figures. However, this is not the twenty-five year history of the society as the title might imply. It also includes pieces from a few of the members of the “daughter societies” in Northern Ireland, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, as well as enthusiasts in Germany, South Africa, and France. It clearly shows how the interest in the Irish Draught has become international. Available as hardcover and paperback.

IDHS, Informational Brochures

- (IDHS, circa Capt. Tommy Ryan, 1996)

-The Irish Draught Horse (brochure with Suma stud mares on the cover, circa 1998)

-The Irish Draught Horse (a horse for all seasons) printed 2002, (also PDF on IDHS website: Download the brochure

Examples of promotional materials from the Society. General breed history, membership information, pure bred and half bred performer’s pictorials. Includes contact information.

Irish Draught Horse Society, Northern Ireland (IDHS, NI), Solid Silver: Celebrating the Silver Jubilee of the Irish Draught Horse Society NI 1978-2003 (Alder Press, 2003) Editor, Moira McKenna,

Edited by Moira McKenna, this is the twenty-five year history of the Northern Ireland branch of the Irish Draught Horse Society. Filled with information and photos from the beginnings 1978 – through to the present 2002. It chronicles the winners, and some of the breeders in special pieces, Limited edition hardcover of 200, also available as paperback. Includes lists of winners over the years, as well as how to read a passport, to understand the difference between ID and RID. Very well organized and documented.

The IDHS(GB) Yearbooks

2006 Yearbook cover

The IDHS(GB) Newsletter On-line is also available

Spring 2006

Winter (interim) 2005
Autumn 2005

Summer 2005  

Spring 2005

Winter 2004
Autumn 2004
Summer 2004
Spring 2004

Winter 2003
Autumn 2003
Summer 2003
Spring 2003

Winter 2002
Autumn 2002

The Blarney Newsletter and Annual Yearbook

The Blarney is the official publication of the Irish Draught Horse Society of North America. This is the first line of communication with all members and carries important notices and announcements from the Executive Board, and other Draught Societies.

In addition, the Blarney endeavors to publish timely, educational and entertaining articles on breeding, bloodlines and the people involved in the Draught world, from the newly initiated to the seasoned horseperson. And, as any good publication, the Blarney offers members and nonmembers alike, an opportunity to advertise their stock/businesses/equipment for sale.

The Blarney is published quarterly with three regular issues and a Yearbook Issue, beginning in 1991. These publications are included with each membership and are mailed out to every IDHS(NA) member.

Some back issues of The Blarney available as PDFs on the IDHS (NA) website.

Blarney Contact:
blarney@irishdraught.com