On a day when a Grand Prix Show had been canceled due to rain in County Kildare, the phone calls were flying to the Irish Draught Society asking whether the Thurles Show was going ahead - and the word was that it was no problem because they had seen very little rain.

On our arrival, the place was rapidly filling with Irish horse enthusiasts! This was the place to find young stock, quality mares, stallions and riding horse because the best in the country were here to show themselves off.

There were many classes and good entries. The interest for jumpingaround.com was the ridden Irish Draught class as this was the final kickout for Dublin Horse Show where, for the first time ever, there is to be a judged ridden class for Irish Draught horses - it is amazing and somewhat sad that this has never been run before.

The Irish Draught Horse is the backbone of the Irish Performance Horse and there have been many schemes over the years to encourage the breeding of the pure bred article. There has been a trend in recent times of breeding to the continental stallions, which saw a decline in the Irish component in the showjumping horse but it would appear to me that the shift has come back to the Irish Draught which can only be a good thing.

The Irish Draught is well known for its strength, soundness and exceptional trainability - bred to the Continental horse or the thoroughbred you are set to breed a horse which will perform - but to do this the pure bred animal must never be ignored or forgotten!

And today was a celebration of the Irish Horse - and there were some magnificent examples of the breed at Thurles Racecourse today. The stallion parade was magnificent with the majority of stallion so well behaved and so proud to show themselves off - for anyone heading to Dublin Horse Show, make sure that you are ringside for the judging of the Irish Draught Stallions - you will not be disappointed.

Winner of the R.I.D Mare 4 years and over without foal at foot was exhibited by Michael Greene and was bred by John Bourke. The mare, Doree View - pictured left - is by Carrabawn View out of French Hill Lady and is 6 years old. Doree has been covered by Oeh Boy. This class was kindly sponsored by Robert Gaffney.

Second place in the class went to Bernard Cummins with Beara Lady, a four year old by Fast Silver out of Autumn Gold. This class mare was