Post by mckenzie on Nov 23, 2010 9:17:57 GMT -5
Irish Draught Breed Standard
Type & Character The Irish Draught Horse is an active, short-shinned, powerful horse with substance and quality. It is proud of bearing, deep of girth and strong of back and quarters. Standing over a lot of ground, it has an exceptionally strong and sound constitution. It has an intelligent and gentle nature and is noted for its docility and sense.
Height Stallions: 15.3 h.h. to 16.3 h.h. approx. Mares: 15.1 h.h. to 16.1 h.h. approx.
Color Any solid color, including greys. White leg markings, above the knees or hocks are not desirable.
Irish Cob
Type & Character The build is powerful and compact, with a short neck and back. There is no height limit in the registry. The cannon circumference can range from 8" to 12". The chest is broad with well sprung ribs, the hips are heavy, they have short backs, strong shoulders, and the withers are rounded. The hair should be straight and silky, kinky hair is a fault. Their legs should have heavy bone set on large hooves, their hind legs should not be too straight. Gypsy Cobs must also have excellent endurance, and be able to go long distances without tiring.
Height The Gypsy Cob is heavy boned, the typical horse measuring between 14 and 17 hands.
Color There is no set color standard for Gypsy Cobs, although the two most common are piebald and skewbald, two variations of pinto coloring.
Irish Sport Horse
Type & Character The Irish Sport Horse receives the sense and honesty of the Irish Draught and the athleticism, speed, and endurance of the Thoroughbred. It has an excellent temperament, being calm, yet lively when needed, and is very tough. The Irish Sport Horse tends to fall into three types: light-weight for carrying a rider up to about 70 kg, middle-weight to carry a rider up to about 89 kg, and heavy-weight for riders exceeding 89 kg. Carrying a rider according to this classification includes being able to participate in hunting or other strenuous riding activities. Nowadays, most Irish Horses are middle-weights, and it is uncommon to find a true heavy-weight or a Lady's horse (trained for sports in side-saddle, and usually a light-weight).
Height 15 to 17 hands.
Color The Irish Sport Horse can be any color, although it used to be rare to find piebalds and skewbalds
Connemara Pony
Type & Character Connemaras are strong and sturdy with a short back and sloped, muscular croup. The hindquarters are powerful. The shoulder is sloped and long. Their legs have short, strong cannons and hard feet and a good stride length. The breed has a fine head with small ears and usually a slightly dished profile set on a well-arched neck. The Connemara is considered hardy and agile, with good jumping ability. The Connemara has a lively but eager and trainable temperament, tends to be long-lived and is described as intelligent. They are hardy and are excellent mounts for children.
Height 13 to 15 hands
Color Grey, black, Bay, Brown, Dun with occasional Roan & Chestnut, Palomino and Cremello, called Blue Eyed Cream.
Kerry Bog Pony
Type & Character The breed has a reputation for gentle temperament and versatility, originally used as a small draft animal during the week but also to drive a family to church on Sunday. It is smaller and distinct in appearance from Ireland's more widely known Connemara pony.
Height mares 10 to 11 hands , stallions and geldings up to 11.2 hands
Color commonly black, bay, or brown, but may be any whole color including chestnut, dun, and grey. Tobiano, sabino and rabicano colorations are also known to occur in the breed though are rare.
Thoroughbred
Type & Character Although the Thoroughbred is primarily bred for racing, the breed is also used for show jumping and combined training because of its athleticism, and many retired and retrained race horses become fine family riding horses, dressage horses, and youth show horses. The larger horses are sought after for hunter/jumper and dressage competitions, whereas the smaller horses are in demand as polo ponies.
Height 15.2 to 17.0 hands high, averaging 16 hands .
Color They are most often bay, seal brown, chestnut, black, or gray. Less common colors, recognized in the United States include roan and palomino. White is very rare, but is a recognized color separate from gray. The face and lower legs may be marked with white,
Information gathered from the following places;
Wikipedia
The Irish Draught Horse Society
Horse Channel