Ireland's only native horse is embroiled in a breeding crisis, writes Eileen Battersby. The threat to the draught horse means a once vital source of our best showjumpers is threatened
Inconsistency in judging requirements, confusion about breed specification, the absence of a defined breeding programme and a dwindling gene pool are threatening the survival of the Irish draught horse, according to a new report.
Once a working horse in the farms and fields of Ireland, the Irish draught, a type of horse which became a recognised breed, evolved into a capable riding horse, particularly effective on the hunting field before finding its place as the foundation stock of Irish showjumping, a position it has now lost.
The report, which was commissioned by the Royal Dublin Society and compiled by Francis Kearney of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, underlines the chaos now surrounding Ireland's only native horse, caught in a crisis most accurately described as living heritage at risk.
Ireland's native pony, the Connemara, is far more secure, particularly as the Connemara pony studbook recognises pure-bred animals born abroad. At present, an Irish draught horse must be bred in Ireland in order to be recognised and approved for breeding by the Irish Horse Board. However, there are inconsistencies.
Attending a conference in the RDS last week on the issue, Tony Hargreaves, a British breeder of Irish draught horses, pointed out to The Irish Times that this rule was often subverted.
"An Irish draught horse which has failed the inspection on this point of birthplace may then go to Ireland, earn showjumping points, and then be approved by the Irish Horse Board."
It is vital that if an animal is a good enough example of its breed, it should be recognised as an Irish draught regardless of what part of the world it was bred in, the conference was told.
Under an EU directive - 96/78/EC - all pure-bred animals have to be recognised and registered regardless of country of origin. At the centre of the dilemma threatening the Irish draught is the reluctance of Irish breeders to look beyond Irish-bred Irish draughts for breeding purposes. This is limiting the breed to descendants of three core bloodlines; King of Diamonds, Pride of Shaunlara and the less dominant Clover Hill - the last-named remains most identified with showjumping.
With such a small gene pool inbreeding is a problem and increased genetic diversity vital. Because of the aging stallion population, Mr Kearney urges the immediate establishment of semen banks.
JP Finnegan, chairman of the rare bloodlines committee, in an address to the conference, was critical of both the Irish Draught Society and the Irish Horse Board. He emphasised that breeders must be allowed use rare bloodlines extinct in Ireland which still exist in Britain and North America where Irish draught horses are very popular. He said it was time to "abandon restrictive practices" such as performance-testing young horses before they are sufficiently developed.
Mr Kearney's findings also suggested the introduction of linear scoring as a way to improve judging consistency, which is too often based on personal preference. An animal should be allowed realise its potential, he said. "Breeders should look beyond the stallion to its offspring as the best test of the stallion."
Irish breeders must also address the growing issue of size - many Irish-bred Irish draught horses are simply too big; big mares are producing oversize horses and the breed is losing is traditional medium-size and compact shape, his report notes.
There is also the tension with showing requirements, with its emphasis on preservation of breed versus performance - always the defining commercial factor with horses. Yet in an effort to preserve the breed through in hand showing competitions of the finest specimens, breeders now find themselves producing horses of a minority specialist interest.
Nicholas O'Hare, an authority on the breed, has stressed the difference between the traditional Irish draught and the modern, lighter Irish draught.
Breeder Elizabeth Deane, owner of a leading Irish draught stallion and 13 Irish draught approved mares and fillies, told The Irish Times, "we need both types to get the best of the breed and to preserve its characteristics such as good bone".
Current lack of a coherent breeding policy is disturbing, according to Mr Kearney. The Irish sport horse, traditionally a draught/thoroughbred cross, is becoming a rarity.
Many Irish draught geldings, up to now purchased by the Garda Síochána, are being exported as reliable leisure horses. Among the many qualities of the Irish draught horse were its versatility, intelligence, temperament and bone.
Top Irish riders are consistently looking to Europe for professional showjumpers. Cian O'Connor won the individual showjumping final in the Athens Olympics on a German-bred gelding, Waterford Crystal. He has indicated his concern about the lack of top Irish horses. But it is not only the elite international Irish riders who are buying abroad. Keen amateurs are increasingly buying German, Dutch and Belgian horses for domestic competition.
Whatever about the limits of the show ring and in hand classes, it is the surest lifeline at present for the Irish draught horse in Ireland. The British Irish Draught society, with 800 members, is highly organised and committed to breeding Irish draught horses conforming to the breed's specification and size. It is ironic that unless an immediate rescue plan is agreed upon, the future of the Irish draught horse may well be in England.