Frequently Asked Questions
We know many people have questions when it comes to the ins and outs of breeding and raising horses. Below are just a few of the most common things we're asked about ours.
Is an Irish Draught a type of draft horse?
Irish Draughts are their own breed, unrelated to the heavy drafts such as Clydesdales, Percherons, and Shires. They have been developed in Ireland for generations as an all-around family horse, capable of working on the farm, riding to hounds, and driving the family to church on Sundays. They are talented jumpers, and are often crossed with Thoroughbreds and other light breeds to produce sound, sane, equine athletes.
How can you predict your foals' mature height? Isn't it a guess?
It actually is possible to predict a foal's adult height. Because the length of the lower leg, measured from mid-carpus (knee) to coronet band, is 98% of its adult length by 3 months of age, measuring this distance in inches correlates to the height in hands of the horse when it's grown. This is one of the reasons foals' legs look so long; they are!
If you don't believe this, go measure every adult horse you can. You'll find the 16 hand horses measure 16"; 16.2 hand horses measure 16 1/2"; and 15.1 horses measure 15 1/4". It's not as accurate for ponies and heavy draft breeds, but for the average size horse breed it is very useful!
Other "string" test methods aren't as accurate, so this is the method we like to use for gauging how big our horses will be.
What is an Irish Draught Sport Horse?
Is that the same as an Irish Sport Horse?
Irish Draught Sport Horses (IDSH) must have at least 1/8 Irish Draught in their pedigree and are bred outside Ireland. Irish Sport Horse (ISH) refers to a horse bred in Ireland, registered with Horse Sport Ireland, and who may or may not have any actual Irish Draught ancestors. Nowadays ISH are primarily warmblood breeding, some with little or no Irish Draught blood. An American-bred horse cannot be an ISH, as only horses born in Ireland are registered with Horse Sport Ireland.
This 6 month old foal is expected to reach 16.3 to 17.0 hands at maturity.