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DRY CREEK MACHA
Approved RIDSH Stallion



Quality Irish Draught Sport Horses

"Irish Talent - Montana Tough"

Greg & Christy Lovegrove
PO Box 80425
Billings, MT 59108
406-252-9137
406-652-9696
e-mail

About the Irish Draught

There is no limit to what this versatile breed can do! With their soundness and saneness they make ideal pleasure and family horses. Known as fast learners, they are ideal for the amateur who simply wants to get on and have fun...maybe trail riding one day and fox-hunting the next, with a combined training event thrown in for good measure.

A Brief History

The Irish Draught Horse has been in existence for a century or more, though it has been nearly lost on several occasions. During periods of poverty and famine in Irish history, many breeders gave up registering their animals and it took many hours of work by breed enthusiasts and the Irish Horse Board to get a new stud book started.

While having the strength and placid temperament of the working horse, the name may be misleading in that the breed is a lighter, more free-moving animal than the traditional image of the heavy horse.

The Irish Draught (pronounced 'Draft') evolved on both the small and large farms of the Irish countryside where the farm horse doubled as both riding horse and hunter as well as pulling the dogcart into town. The horse had to be docile and strong because it was often worked by the women and children. It had to be economical to keep and sound so as not to incur veterinary bills or lose time in the fields. Only mares and stallions that remained sound under these spartan conditions were used for breeding, resulting in a breed that is known for its hardiness and soundness.

Today the Irish Draught is sought after for its breeding qualities, being used more and more to get extra bone and substance in the progeny of the lighter type mare. When crossed with the Thoroughbred, the Irish Draught is the basic ingredient for the famous Irish Hunter and of the ideal show jumping competition Irish Sport Horse. (In Great Britain and North America, this is referred to as the Irish Draught Sport Horse to distinguish it from Irish bred sport horses with no Irish Draught blood.)

Ever since show jumping had its birth in Ireland and went on to become an international sport at the end of the 19th century, the Irish Draught Horse has played a major role. The even temperament, durability and athleticism of the Irish Draught, upgraded in crosses with the Thoroughbred, has created a potent mix which is well up in the demands of modern day show jumping and eventing.

Some registered Irish Sport Horses include Mill Pearl, for the US Equestrian Team; Special Envoy for Brazil; the stallion Cruising on Ireland's resurgent side that won three major Nations Cup events in 1995: Aachen, Kerrygold Dublin and Calgary. Virtual Village Hopes Are High recently won the Kerrygold Dublin Grand Prix for Great Britain as well as several other major events. Also in 1995 there was the unique double at the Royal international at Hickstead when Marion Hughs won the Queens Cup on Flo Jo and Robert Splaine took the Kings Cup on the late Heather Blaze. And, the winner of Individual Olympic Gold in 3-Day Eventing in the year 2000, Custom Made, (ridden by David O'Connor) is one-fourth Irish Draught.

In Great Britain there are several Purebred Irish Draught Stallions competing in upper level dressage, at least one at Grand Prix, as well as a host of Part-breds showing successfully at various levels.