Breed of the week - Irish Draught

[fofo]

Lets start a weekly thread about a particular breed :D:thumbsup:

So the breed of the week is Irish Draught.

Post all your stories, pictures, memories of IDs you have known and loved or not.

Stan's next door neighbour when I first got him was a lovely chestnut ID mare called Mouse. She was very pretty.

When I mucked out she used to run her teeth up and down the bars that separated her and Stan.

She was also deep littered and as the winter progressed she got higher and higher up as her bed got thicker and thicker. :lol:

We all did our jobs very quickly the day her owners did the spring muck out. :sick:

[fougere]

My, or should I say, our (I had to share her with my sister) first pony was an Irish Draught cross.
She was 6 years old when we got her and had been used for showjumping but had got bored with the ring.
She had huge hairy feet, a big roman nose and was the most genuine horse you could hope to meet. She'd jump anything you aimed her at and we even did a bit of dressage on her. She won all the races we did with our friends and their horses. She even beat Ginger who was a legend in our area.
She'd try her heart out for you. Be lively for an experienced rider and a plod for a novice.
There was a lovely woods we could ride in but the path to it was only really passable by pedestrians. It came down a steep hill , then a jump across a deep ditch with a sharp right hand bend between two trees on the other side. Impossible to do mounted because the trees were too close together. I'd leave Magic loose, get across the other side and give her a call. She'd come down the hill, jump the ditch and squeeze between the trees. Rather like a big dog.:)
She also learnt to ground tie and neck rein.
She was a dream horse and that's why I've not had a cobby sort since because I know I'd always compare them to her. Lovely, lovely horse.
This is her in 1976
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s133/fougere9/lynnonmagicbigger.jpg

[CityLights]

this is Ross an ID i was riding for someone, he is 18.3hh a real big soppy boy, proper wuss but a nice lad, unfortunately i kept telling the owner he was unsound and she didint listen so now he is undergoing lots of scans and steriod treatment into his stifle and is having to have a camera inserted to check him out, thats what happends to large young horses that are over weight over worked and always in a small school and soft surface

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/IMadeTheWholeWorldShineForYou/VID00111.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/IMadeTheWholeWorldShineForYou/VID00112.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/IMadeTheWholeWorldShineForYou/VID00113.jpg

I loved riding him though and was hoping i would be able to take him to a few HOYS hunter qualifeiers but as he is lame and i pointed it out, his lameness is obviously down to me, no idea how i got the blame for it i just noticed it and advised it was investigated, somehow im the bad guy

[fofo]

Lovely posts both. Aren't they a fantastic breed?

My friend has one called Paddy. He is 17.2hh and as soppy as anything. He's a flea-bitten grey and absolutely brilliant at dressage. He always gets placed 1st or 2nd.

[Hairy Fairy]

My friend has an ID x Hackney. He's a chuffing great (almost hitting the 17hh mark I'd say) blue roan chap. A complete sweetie though and very soft and soppy. Gorgeous lad!

[micki]

My horse is an IDxTB. He is a very cheeky chap and very loving to me but he hates strangers. He is 16.1hh and only 4 years old. I bought him as a 17 month old colt, unhandled. He is out of Barracaberry Orbit and an ex racer mare.
http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo347/Micki_m/shiny.jpg

[daytona]

My friend has a gorgeous IDxTB called Ben who she does a lot with. He's a super lad dapple grey and is 16.1.
He is fun to ride gets very giddy but is never dangerous. He was Beckys boyfrined when she kept him at Beckys old place for a while. Will try dig some piccies out.

Yes Jane I love ID's they have so much presence and most tend to be nice big softies.

I want to meet Paddy xx

[fougere]

Seems to be a leaning towards greys here.

[fofo]

My friend has a gorgeous IDxTB called Ben who she does a lot with. He's a super lad dapple grey and is 16.1.
He is fun to ride gets very giddy but is never dangerous. He was Beckys boyfrined when she kept him at Beckys old place for a while. Will try dig some piccies out.

Yes Jane I love ID's they have so much presence and most tend to be nice big softies.

I want to meet Paddy xx

I will wave my magic wand then and make your wish come true ;)

[fell lover]

I love the breed but never ridden one!
What is the next breed Jane??
x

[sianhorse]

I have a idxcob she is called sian and is 15 hands

http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac285/bertdog/DSC02399-1.jpg

http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac285/bertdog/DSC02293.jpg

http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac285/bertdog/DSC02255.jpg

http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac285/bertdog/wowsian.jpg

[fofo]

She is lovely. Aren't they such a versatile breed.

Hmm have to do another breed of the week. Coming up shortly. :)

[sianhorse]

You should have shetlands as the next breed of the week

[Susie]

This is Duke, a 17hh Irish Draught ex-policehorse I had on loan for a while. Very bargey with a tendency to bite! He had terrible sweetitch too. But he was almost bombproof except with rustling birds in bushes when he would spook LOL. Fantastic horse to ride. Only ever came off him once and it was more of a slide out the side door :o

http://i923.photobucket.com/albums/ad71/clip-clop2/Photo0190.jpg

[WeeB]

awww, dukesy!!

Sian - I love your horse, she is so pretty!

[clippi]

Lovley horses. This is a breed of horse my hubby really likes