Class 43 was the Irish Draught class which had huge interest in the lead up to it - this was the first time in the history of the Dublin Horse Show that there was a ridden class for Irish Draughts. Prior to this there had only been in hand classes which is not only surprising but in fact quite shameful!

The Irish Draught is the National breed of Ireland and the numbers of pure breds are rapidly dwindling - this must be stopped! For the breed to continue and grow it must be exhibited under saddle for the wonderful trainability and ability of this breed to be seen.

As someone who has been passionate about the Irish Draught for some 20 years I would caution the breed society and judges to be careful to adhere to the breed standard and to not be tempted to see the pure bred Irish Draught change to be more like it's continental cousins - this would destroy the foundation stock of the Irish horse and this will put responsibility on Judges of future ridden classes!

The National Irish Draught Show was held the week prior to Dublin Horse Show and the numbers were excellent with many excitedly looking forward to displaying their pure breds at the prestigious Dublin Show. You can see the report on the National Show by clicking here .

So to the class - listed to start at 5.20pm on Thursday evening it did not end up starting till 7.30pm after an accident in the Side Saddle class put everything back. Unfortunately the heavens opened up just prior to the class starting which did put some spectators off but most stayed to watch this historic class.

The Judges for this class were Mr. J. Poole from Worcestershire in the United Kingdom and Mr. D. McAuley - pictured below - pictured below - from County Cork in Ireland.

The breed standard taken directly from the Irish Draught directive is as follows:

Type and character:
The Irish Draught Horse is an active, short-shinned, powerful horse with substance and quality. It is proud of bearing, deep of girth and strong of back and quarters. Standing over a lot of ground, it has an exceptionally strong and sound constitution. It has an intelligent and gentle nature and is noted for its docility and sense.

Height:
Stallions: 15.3 h.h. to 16.3 h.h. approx.
Mares: 15.1 h.h. to 16.1 h.h. approx.

Bone:
Good, strong, clean bone.

Head:
Good, bold eyes, set well-apart, long, well-set ears, wide of forehead. Head should be generous and pleasant, not coarse or hatchet-headed, thought a slight roman nose is permissible. The jaw bones should have enough room to take the gullet and allow ease of breathing.

Shoulders, neck and front:
Shoulders should be clean-cut and not loaded, withers well-defined, not coarse; the neck set in high and carried proudly. The chest should not be too broad and beefy, the forearms should be long and muscular, not caught in at the elbow; the knee large and generous, set near the ground; the cannon bone straight and short, with plenty of flat, clean bone, never back of the knee (calf kneed), i.e. not sloping forward from knee to fetlock. The bone must not be round and coarse. The legs should be clean and hard, with a little hair permissible at the back of the fetlock as necessary protection; the pastern strong and in proportion, not short and upright nor too long and weak. The hoof should be generous and sound, not boxy or contracted and there should be plenty of room at the heel.

Back, hindquarters, body and hind legs:
The back to be powerful, the girth very deep, the loins must not be weak but the mares must have enough room to carry the foal. The croup to buttocks to be long and sloping, not short and rounded or flat topped; hips not wide and plain; thighs strong and powerful and at least as wide from the back view as the hips; the second thighs long and well developed; the hock near the ground and generous, points tot too close together or wide apart but straight, they should not be out behind the horse but should be in line from the back and the quarters to the heel to the ground, they should not be over bent or in any way weak. The cannon bone, etc., as for the foreleg short and strong.

Action:
Smooth and free but without exaggeration and not heavy or ponderous. Walk and trot to be straight and true with good flexion in the hocks and freedom of the shoulders.

Colour:
Any strong whole colour, including greys. White leg, above the knees or hocks, not desirable.

Picture below - the lineup after the first ride by riders - chestnuts and greys were definitely the colours of the day!

The final placings were:

1st - CABRA WEST - owned by Mrs S. Kingham from the UK and bred by Mrs S Roche from the UK this very tall and upstanding 6 year old chestnut gelding by Skippy Too out of Warren House Princess. This horse came to Ireland especially for this class which shows the respect the class demanded from its inception.

 
2nd - SHESKEEN PRIDE - owned by Mr Michael Hayden and bred by The Principal, Agricultural College, Co Cavan. Again a tall horse, this 10 year old grey gelding is by Mountain Pearl out of Annaleg Ann. Michael - pictured below right - was very excited about being in the ring at Dublin Horse Show and couldn't help but take his own photos from within the ring!

3rd - BANNERMAN BREEZE - owned by Deborah Terns was bred by Joe O'Toole from County Galway. Another 10 year old grey gelding, this time by Springpark Easy Breeze out of Springpark Banner Girl.

4th - IVANHOE V an 11 year old grey gelding owned by Lesley-Ann Horner is by Blue Henry out of Iona. Unfortunately no information is given about the breeder of this gelding but he is for sale.
5th - MY GEORGINA - the highest placed mare in the class - bred by Fintan Flannelly from County Kildare this 16hh, 10 year old mare would without doubt be the best traveled mare in the class. My Georgina is owned by Celtic Winners Australia and we must declare ourselves as the owners. The mare is by Silver Granite out of the Skippy mare, Huntingfield Skipping Lass. She was bought as a 2 year old from Fintan Flannelly and moved to Australia where she excelled in Dressage and then returned to Ireland as a 9 year old and while in Australia she traveled from her base in Victoria to Sydney and Canberra. This mare is for sale - for further details email Jan Heine

Maryann Casey has been campaigning My Georgina since her arrival back in Ireland and she was delighted with her placing at Dublin Horse Show - pictured left.

6th - BLUE PETERS PRIDE - a 14 year old grey gelding bred by Adam T Quinsey from County Wexford is by Prospect Pride out of Blue Dawn. Louise Somers owns this lovely gelding.

Pictured below: Michael Hayden's Sheskeen Pride.
Winner of the innaugural Ridden Irish Draught class - pictured left during the gallop - was the very tall and handsome chestnut gelding Cabra West.
Pictured left - not placing in today's class but another of the chestnut entries Silken Schwarzenegger is owned by Mrs H Troughton and was bred by Eileen M THompson from County Armagh. Silken Schwarzenegger is by Western Light out of Skipping Lara and is also for sale.
It was such a shame that the rains came but being Irish competitors, used to the weather, the horses were quickly dressed in their raincoats - pictured left - between rides to protect the saddlery and keep the horses looking their best under what were definitely trying conditions.
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