| rish Horse, also known as the Irish Hunter, Irish | | | | eventing. The Irish Draught Sport Horse is globally |
| Sports Horse or Irish Draught Sport Horse is the | | | | renowned for being one of the best fox hunting |
| result of a cross between the Irish Draught Horse | | | | mounts in the world and has a tremendous gallop |
| and the Thoroughbred. It has not yet been given | | | | with plenty of speed. While there have been other |
| recognition as a separate breed, but it is | | | | crossbred combination that are showing promise, |
| commonly bred from Irish Sport Horse parents, | | | | it is still the Irish Draught Horse with |
| as well as being bred from crossing the definitive | | | | Thoroughbred cross that has achieved world-wide |
| parent breeds. | | | | recognition in the Grand Prix circuit and in the |
| In North America, this cross is called the Irish | | | | eventing world. This cross is not only a top caliber |
| Draught Sport Horse and in Europe it is known as | | | | international athlete, but is a perfect novice mount |
| the Irish Sport Horse, and there is a reason for | | | | that can boost the confidence of a lower level |
| the difference in names. | | | | rider. |
| The Irish Draught Sport Horse as recognized in | | | | The Irish Draught Horse Society of North |
| North America by the Irish Draught Horse Society | | | | America was established in 1993 to assist in the |
| (IDHS-NA and IDHS-Can) is a crossbred animal | | | | conservation and appreciation of the Irish Draught |
| with a portion of registered Irish Draught in the | | | | Horse and its successful crossbred: Irish Draught |
| pedigree. Only the cross with a registered Irish | | | | Sport Horse throughout the world and it maintains |
| Draught horse is classified as an Irish Draught | | | | the studbooks for qualified Irish Draught and part |
| Sport Horse. | | | | Irish Draught horses in North America. |
| The Irish Sport Horse as recognized by the Irish | | | | With over a century of selection in shaping the |
| Horse Board (IHB) in Europe is a horse of any | | | | original Irish Draught Horse, a very sound, sensible |
| breeding which may or may not have any Irish | | | | animal with good bone and substance, great |
| Draught blood in its pedigree at all. As an example, | | | | stamina and an uncanny jumping ability was |
| an Arabian crossed with a Thoroughbred; a | | | | produced. It is these qualities that, when crossed |
| Thoroughbred crossed with a Connemara; a pure | | | | with the Thoroughbred, produced the world |
| Thoroughbred or the Irish Draught and | | | | renowned Irish Hunter that is now known as the |
| Thoroughbred combination may all be classified as | | | | Irish Draught Sport Horse. |
| being an Irish Sport Horse, even when there is no | | | | The Irish Draught Sport Horse has the sense and |
| Irish Draught Horse blood in the animal at all. | | | | honesty of the Irish Draught with an excellent |
| Ireland produces a large number of these Irish | | | | temperament of calmness, yet lively when |
| Sport Horses each year, many of them selling for | | | | needed. This even temperament, durability and |
| high dollar amounts in the United States and | | | | power of the Irish Draught when crossed with |
| Europe. | | | | the speed and athleticism of the Thoroughbred |
| The Irish Draught Sport Horse is not a special | | | | creates a horse that can handle the demands of |
| breed, and it is not just a product of an American | | | | modern day competition. Some Connemara is also |
| breeding program but rather it is just a new | | | | found in the pedigrees of some Irish mares. |
| name to be used for educating the public about | | | | The Irish Draught Sport Horse stands 15 to 17 |
| the Irish Draught Horse that is becoming so | | | | hands high and comes in any color. It has a large |
| common in many of the top performance horses. | | | | attractive head with a convex or Roman nose |
| The Irish Horse is traditionally an all-purpose equine | | | | profile and a slightly arched, muscular neck. The |
| and has been used for transportation, riding and | | | | back is short and compact and the high withers |
| working the land. Its natural athletic ability and | | | | of the Thoroughbred are sometimes seen. |
| fantastic jumping talents means that it is | | | | Whether the cross is known as an Irish Draught |
| becoming increasingly popular as a competition | | | | Sport Horse or an Irish Sport Horse if there is |
| riding horse. It excels in the show jumping arena, | | | | Irish Draught in the pedigree, it's likely to be a |
| as well as competing at the highest levels of | | | | great horse. |