The Irish Sport Horse a Popular Breed.
The Irish Sport Horse has been revered for its stamina, athletic ability and winning temperament. For decades Eager Buyers have travelled to Ireland in search of horses for hunting, leisure and competition, favouring the Irish Horse for its bravery, good looks, and soundness. I am among the many Equestrians who love the breed and I have had many successes with my Irish Sport Horses over the years. However, what is the lineage of this winning breed, and where can we find its ancestors? Let’s take a look into the History of this popular and versatile breed.
The History of the Irish Sport Horse.
The ancestors of the Irish Sport horse are said to have begun in around 1100BC. The Celtic Horse or Hobby originated during this time with the Breeding of Stallions from an Eastern Mediterranean Subspecies, Equus Caballus Pumpelli, with mares from another subspecies located on the Iberian Peninsula, Equus Caballus Caballus. This is thought to be the first deliberate cross breeding of this sort. However the Celtic or Hobby Horse did not arrive in Ireland until around 500BC and it was then crossed with Native Irish Horses to form a New Breed the Irish Hobby, which was used for both Racing and Military activities. During this time the Irish Hobby is said to have gained worldwide recognition for its speed and athleticism and was apparently exported and used in the development or improvement of other breeds such as the Thoroughbred.
It was not until the 1700’s that the Irish Hunter was born from a genetic pool that incorporated the Irish Hobby, the Irish Draught, The Connemara and the Thoroughbred. It is these genetics that has given rise to the Irish Sport Horse as it’s known today, with the Foundation of the Irish Sport Horse Stud Book being set up in 1974.
Up until 1974 and somewhat beyond the Irish Sport Horse was known as the Irish Hunter, and it excelled in more than just hunting. These horses were successful on the Hunting Field, Showing, Showjumping, Eventing and to a lesser extent Dressage. The Irish Sport Horse also known by its Scientific Name, Equus Ferus Caballus has been renowned for its courage, stamina, and jumping ability, with many horses being exported every year to achieve the pinnacles of success in many equestrian disciplines, but how are these horses bred today?
The Traditional Irish Horse
The Traditional Irish Horse or TIH is bred by mixing the Thoroughbred, with the Irish Draught Horse or the Connemara Pony. This breeding has provided the basis of the Irish Hunter for more than 3 centuries. These horses make superb family horses due to their super temperaments, but they are also good looking with fantastic stamina and jumping ability, making them excellent competition horses. In fact it was this quality that led to the Traditional Irish Horse putting Ireland on the map for producing top Competition horses.
In more recent years there has been an Introduction of Warmblood into the Irish Sport Horse Breeding, these horses are said to mature more quickly making them ready for top competition at a young age, they also generally tend to be bigger than the TIH. The TIH would stand at anything from 15hh to 16.2hh, however in recent years there has been an increase in their size possibly due to the introduction of the Warmblood. They come in many colours, however, traditionally it would have been, Bay, Brown, Chestnut, Grey, Dun and Roan.
Both the TIH and the ISH particularly excel in the Eventing Discipline, perhaps it is their bravery and stamina that allow them to reach the very pinnacles of the Sport, while their soundness allows them longevity within it. Whatever the reason for the Irish Sport Horse’s success, let’s take a look at just a few of the Famous TIH of days gone by, in both Showjumping and Eventing.
Eddie Macken & Boomerang.
Boomerang was a 16.2hh ISH Gelding, foaled in 1966, he was out of the Irish Draught Mare, Girl From The Brown Mountain, by the Thoroughbred Stallion, Battleburn. He was the Irish Rider, Eddie Macken’s, Horse of a Life Time. The pair clocked up many victories together and perhaps their partnership is most famous for their string of victories in the Hickstead Derby from 1976 to 1979.
To Discover more about the remarkable life of Boomerang Check out Boomerang An Irish Sport Horse That Defined An Era here>>
Ryan’s Son & John Whitaker
Ryan’s Son was quite a character and a Showjumper that many will remember from the Golden Years of Showjumping. He was foaled in 1968 and was by the TB Sire, Ozymandias out of an Irish Draught Mare. He stood just 16 hands and was ridden by the great John Whitaker, who always described him as a very consistent horse,who loved a good buck, especially after the last fence in a round when the crowd would applaud.
Cruising & Trevor Coyle.
The Stallion Cruising was foaled in 1985. He was by the Irish Draught Stallion Sea Crest out of the Irish Army Competition ISH Mare, Mullacrew. Internationally Cruising was most notably ridden by Trevor Coyle and the pair clocked up many victories together with Grand Prix Victories in Aachen, Dortmund and Lucerne to name a few.
Cruising is also the only ISH Sire to be rated 5* for his own jumping performance along with his progeny rated as 5* for both Showjumping and Eventing. Flexible, a son of Cruising was crowned United States Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year in 2012, while in the same year, another son of Cruising, Mr Medicott was crowned United States Eventing Association Horse of the Year. Just a year later in 2013 another of Cruising’s progeny, Mr Cruise Control, topped the British Eventing Rankings.
Coolcorron Cool Diamond & Robert Splaine.
Coolcorran Cool Diamond was ISH Stallion Foaled in 1989. He was by the Irish Draught Stallion Glidawn Diamond and out of the ISH Mare, Bonmahon Belle. He was ridden by Irish Rider Robert Splaine from 1995 until the horse’s retirement in 2009. The pair had many victories together and they were instrumental in helping Ireland to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Flexible & Rich Fellers
The Irish Sport Horse Stallion Flexible (1996) was bred by Catherine and Edward Doyle. He was the son of the International Stallion Cruising(ISH) and the International Showjumping Mare, Flex(ISH). Flexible was sold to America and was paired with Rich Fellers from the USA. The combination had huge success together, with many Grand Prix Victories, along with World Cup Finals 2012, while finishing in 8th place in the London Olympics the same year. Due to his achievements he was awarded the title of United States Equestrian Federation Horse of the year 2012. Flexible is an approved stallion in the Irish Sport Horse Stud Book and has 5* status for his show jumping career.
Mr Medicott
Mr Medicott (1999) is an ISH Gelding by Cruising. He started his career with Francis Connors, before heading off to Germany with Frank Ostholt. The horse went on to have numerous successes in the Eventing arena competing in 2 Olympic Games, coming 25th in 2008 with Germany’s Frank Ostholt and later finishing in 9th place in London 2012 with Karen O’Connor for the USA. He was later awarded the title of United States Eventing Association Horse of the Year 2012. At the ripe old age of 18 Mr Medicott had a 4th Place finish in the Rolex Kentucky CCI4*.
High Kingdom & Zara Tindell
High Kingdom (2001) was bred by William Micklem. The horse was sired by Thoroughbred Sire, Master Imp, out of the ISH mare High Dolly. High Kingdom was ridden by Zara Tindell of Great Britain. The pair had many great International successes together with individual 8th Place finish in the London 2012 Olympics, while also taking team Silver. In 2014 at the World Equestrian Games in France, High Kingdom went on to finish 10th individually, while also taking team Silver at the event. He went on to finish in 3rd place in the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* at the age of 16, a fact that again illustrates the longevity of the competitive sporting career of the Irish Horse.
Shear L’Eau & Leslie Law
Shear L’Eau (1991) was a TIH by the TB Sire, Stan the Man out of the ISH Mare, Starry Night II. Shear L’Eau was ridden by Leslie Law of Great Britain and became his horse of a Life Time. The pair had many International successes in the Eventing Arena but most notably they took Individual Gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, while also taking team Silver at the Event.
In Conclusion.
The success of the Irish Horse I believe is a combination of it’s Lineage and Genetics, which have proved to be the secret sauce in producing an Equine Athlete with tremendous Athletic Ability, Bravery and Stamina, all with a Temperament to die for. This success will continue, due to the diligence of the Irish Breeders who put their all into producing top quality horses. The influx of Warmblood into the breed has been a necessary part of ensuring that the breed remains competitive in the modern sporting arena. However, preserving the Traditional Irish Horse also has an important place in Irish Breeding, as these horses are perfect for both the Leisure and Competition market, while having special place in every Equestrians Heart.
This Article was originally published in the November 2020 Issue of Irish Sport Horse Magazine.