Irish Draught Horse

PatjS

Hi lads, Why are Registered Black Irish Draught Horses 16.2 or over so hard to get. I have kept an eye on done deal, been to Goresbridge etc and i still find it hard to put up a jet black Irish Draught.

Any ideas

Base price

Maybe because Grey and Chestnut are more common with Bay's making up the number.

Genghis Cant

Knowing nothing about horses, I shall hazard a guess though that it's linked to dominant and recessive genes!

Mad4simmental

Beef.... Oh no sorry it's horse meat.

Miname

It's not that they are hard got it's just that they seem to be only sold within certain circles . There's a group of lads round here that only have draughts and if you were to even mention anything else you have to listen to an hour of arguing. They are all bought and sold privately, with a few big sales between here and the uk. I can pm a number for a lad if you want. There's not a draught in the country that he doesn't know about.

gozunda

There are a couple of breeders that specialise in breeding Irish Draughts. I would suggest going to source if you are seeking colour specific draughts. The Irish Draught associations may be useful for contact details.

TheClubMan

PatjS wrote: »

Hi lads, Why are Registered Black Irish Draught Horses 16.2 or over so hard to get. I have kept an eye on done deal, been to Goresbridge etc and i still find it hard to put up a jet black Irish Draught.

Any ideas

We sold them to the Dutch and Belgians.

Midlandsman80

It's not a common colour for RID's, show winners that end up being the top stallions are generally white, gray dun or a steel grey.
You would buy a chestnut RID a lot cheaper than a white one.
I would think you will need to go for a sport horse to find something jet black

PatjS

I see nothing wrong with a chestnut getting Stallion Class 1, or as I said a black getting Class 1 if the have the body shape and pedigree. But i feel the Irish Draught Judges are breeding the strength, colour, small head, short back and short cannon out of the breed. Other countries are buying the best of our stock. Coolmore has the right idea, buy the best for breeding not for selling. The last true place to get an Irish Draught in Ireland is the west in my opinion. More ISH then Draught here in Munster. Still I've picked up a black Irish filly so my journey starts here. Lovely traditional type. Wish me luck

fits

PatjS wrote: »

I see nothing wrong with a chestnut getting Stallion Class 1, or as I said a black getting Class 1 if they have the body shape and pedigree. But i feel the Irish Draught Judges are breeding the strength, colour, small head, short back and short cannon out of the breed. Other countries are buying the best of our stock. Coolmore has the right idea, buy the best for breeding not for selling. The last true place to get an Irish Draught in Ireland is the west in my opinion. More ISH then Draught here in Munster. Still I've picked up a black Irish filly so my journey starts here. Lovely traditional type. Wish me luck

breeding on the basis of colour might not be the best strategy

PatjS

Totally agree fits, I only came onto this site in October as i was searching the country for months. I found it near impossible to find a Black Irish Draught as good a quality as a Gray irish Draught. I have nothing against other Colours i have Gray Irish Draughts but i feel the country is full of them.

fits

There is a breeder in westmeath, I'll have to check who they are and will get back to you.

PatjS

thanks fits, the more breeders i meet and chat to the better

Kovu

A neighbour of mine is a judge for the society, he'd be all round Ireland and even England at it.

Major knowledge of the breed and its history as he's up on 80 years old. Would he be of any use to you?

eeeee

There are a good few tall black RID stallions about. Penmerryls rhythm and blues for one, echo king, heigh ho dubh, there's a young stallion too and a few more I can't think of right now. If you want to show grey is the way to go though, some judges can be very old fashioned and sticky.
I know one older breeder who contends an RID that isn't grey isn't an RID...:rolleyes: type, quality, confirmation, athleticism and presence stand out way before colour I think...

PatjS

Thanks Gadetra, I know Echo King & Heigh ho Dubh as well as their breeder Micheal Green from Upperchurch in Tipperary (I know Liam O'Meara owner of Heigh ho Dubh as wel ....l riding Dawn Lux for Meagher in Cahir). If my Black Filly passes I might go down the route of breeding.

But my problem was with the availability of solid black Irish Draughts. Be it Mares, fillies or geldings, When i'm out talking about Irish Draughts all i ever hear is Gray, you need a Gray as it looks the part and it sells. I'm not anti the Gray Draughts here i love the irish Draught in any colour, i just think everybody is heading down the same avenue with breeding.

PatjS

Hi Kovu, where is you friend based

Kovu

PatjS wrote: »

Hi Kovu, where is you friend based

S.Leitrim, middle of nowhere

eeeee

Black is way easier to keep than grey! Although they can get 'dusty'. Nothing worse having washed, rugged and plaited the day before to turning up looking at a massive shyte stain on a grey. Number 1 reason for not having a grey for me! Plus the melanoma issue if it's a broody or an animal you're going to have for a long time.