New Page 0

Job in the USA.
Dear Sir:
I am interested in locating a young trainer/rider who would be interested in coming to the US, training and competing on my Irish Draught Stallion for this competition year (2006) Would you have any suggestions or know of someone who would like to travel to the US, stay for the summer earning a small wage and work very hard, with a serious goal to meet at our A rated show jumping competitions and perhaps travel to Spruce Meadows in Calgary Canada for an international competition if appropriate? Deborah Burksfield
Airborne Stables, LLC
www.airbornestables.com
---------------------

Letter from America. This person is clearly a buyer! Can we find them a mare to buy? Come on you ID breeders there must be a nice mare out there ( and it will be staying in Ireland).
Lets try and help.....

Charlie,

I have only (within 3 years) discovered the amazing Irish horses. I will own no other! I live in the US and am very careful when looking for a horse. I was at the Dublin Horseshow last year looking for RID mare and couldn't find one-not one! I would keep her with friends in Ireland but we couldn't find one at all! I love these horses and look forward to finding one soon. Its The Quiet Man won the stallion class, but the general consensus of friends and those in the crowd seemed to be he didn't deserve it since his progeny were not showing well if at all. Can you comment on that? Or can you tell me how to track down his progeny? In studying stallions I found that I like those with The Rakish Paddy line. Can you suggest a good sire or at least some for me to consider. Like others I prefer the true draught with the dense bone and beautiful stocky build. Thank you for your dedication and I look forward to hearing from you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This reply from the Director of the Irish Horse Board is encouraging. I accept that I was a bit hard and only counted those who could be proved to be Irish. I for one can't wait for the full report. Thanks for taking the trouble to reply Nick

Charlie,

As discussed during our telephone conversation, this is one of the issues that will be gone into in depth in the research that is currently underway as part of the work for the IHB Strategic Plan. However, some preliminary observations are:
    While your methodology is right, so far you have looked at only one generation of pedigree. The figure of 62% of ISH stallions (approved and unapproved) that are traditionally Irish bred raises to 78% if you consider all pedigree (the IHB work traces back 5 generations). This means that 78% of active ISH stallions have no foreign (non traditional) bloodlines. The average genetic composition of ISH stallions (back 5 generations) is 26.8% Irish Draught, 40.3% Thoroughbred, 22.7% Irish Sport Horse, 7.7% foreign sport horse, 2.4% other (incl. Connemara, Arab).
    In regard to the dam side, an analysis of the 10,000 (approx.) mares that have had foals registered in the IHR since 2002 shows that over 90% have no recorded foreign sport horse bloodlines and could be described as Traditionally Irish Bred. The average genetic composition of these 10,000 mares is 34% Thoroughbred, 29% Irish Draught, 28% Irish Sport Horse, 4% foreign breed sport horses and 4% other breeds. Although many ISH mares do not have more than one generation of pedigree recorded, there is no evidence that these unrecorded ancestors would have been foreign warmbloods.
    These are just some quick observations – we should await the outcome of the in-depth analysis that will be done on this before we draw any final conclusions.
Regards,
Nick
29/12/05.

--------------------------------------------------------------
I have had your email forwarded to me re above and felt I just had to add my support to your comments! I am a keen foxhunter over here in Blair's Britain and have three horses in work - all hunting regularly! Top of my heap is my 21 yr old Irish Draught/Thoroughbred followed closely by my 10 yr old Irish Draught/ Irish from which I have bred a stunning filly who we backed this summer and I intend to eventually replace my 21 yr old. My third 'Hunter' is my homebred Connemarra pony which I have as much fun with as either or my two girls!!! So as you can see, I am a fan !!!!

Best regards Jacky Davidge
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Charlie,

First of all, Just like to say I love your site and the connection you have with reporting the results on both sides of the Atlantic.

I was happy to see an ISH by Cruising was placed locally here in Kansas. If you hadn't of posted the results I would never have known.

There are very few Irish horses in our area and we are doing all we can to help promote them here in Kansas with our Irish Draught stud farm Manu Forti Farm.

I enjoy your site and would be very grateful if you could add our link on your site.

Thanks!

Simone Mackay

Manu Forti Farm

Kansas

U.S.A
Link is now up on the LINKS page.

I sent the introduction to British Eventing who have been so kind and helpful with the breeding of Irish horses competing in UK.

Sounds great Charlie – I’ll forward it to our PR & Comms Manager but I’ll certainly log on to read it. I’m prejudiced, I have a ¾ bred mare and think that it’s the best cross in the world. I’ve bred and ridden the various continental warmbloods but find they can go cold on you under pressure whilst the nearest UK cross is the Cleveland Bay but it just hasn’t got the mental or physical scope of the ID.

Carolyn Simm
Training and Safety

British Eventing Limited
Stoneleigh Park
Kenilworth
Warwickshire
CV8 2RN
Tel. +44 (0)2476 698856

Hi Charlie,

just a quick note on the details of the 6 year old winner of the "Search for a Star" competition for Working Hunter horses at last week's Horse of the Year Show at the NEC, Birmingham "Jobar Slipper"..

I bought him as a raw 4year old from Co. Clare, a grey gelding by the TB sire "Autumn Slipper". He continued his education on the Hunting fields of Co. Meath behind Johnny Henry and the Meath foxhounds, coupled with training shows at Broadmeadow and Cavan Equestrian centres.

He was sold last February to Mr. John Brown of Hartbury, Glos and won some novice Working Hunter classes throughout the season, (won novice WH at Royal Berkshire, Newberry, Three Counties showground and Worcester Lodge), and Qualified for HOYS "Search for a Star" Championship at Minehead, Somerset. Mr. Brown who is in is eighties and couldn't attend the HOYS due to ill health, was delighted to win the class said it was a dream come true for him to win at such a famous Show and that he was really proud of "Slipper". He hopes he will be back next year to try to win the Open Working Hunter Title of 2006 !. I hope these details are of some interest to you.

Speak to you shortly,

Regards,

Paul Gilsenan, Kells, Co. Meath. 25/10/05

Thanks Paul, great to see Irish breds doing well.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Charlie,

I e-mailed Camie as part of my ‘spreading the word’ effort, (I have contacted all the USA registered packs with e-mail addresses,) she kindly forwarded my introduction to the I H&H to her friends thus!

Hunt friends,
I know a good bunch of you have hunted in Ireland. I thought those that did, or even those that think those that did are crazy, might find this e-zine as interesting as I do.
Peace,
Camie J. Stockhausen

Man I love Ireland. My husband and I and some friends hunted with the Golden
Vale and the North Tips. Had a lovely time hunting and learning how to really
enjoy life as only the Irish do. Thank you and best of luck in your new endeavor.

Hello Charlie,
Your notice was forwarded to me by Liz Freeman, Flying Harp Farm here in the USA . I'd love to add your link to my website, and will do so the next time I sit down to tackle updates. Please add me to your mailing list.
While we in my area are somewhat insulated from the hunt scene, it's our fervent hope to produce a few good horses who will be of the type to do this work - using good RID stallions owned by others at this point, and our own good young colt in the future.
Thanks for your efforts, they are much appreciated!
All the best,
Kate Triplett

Dear Charlie,

May I congratulate you on the website - it is fabulous ! I'm sure as
the hunting season gets into full swing you'll will be overwhelmed with
hunting tales.
Kate Tobin

I enjoyed your report on the Scarteen Puppy Show. I think you caught well the atmosphere of 'fun' we enjoy at Scarteen. There is a serious job of work to be done in the running of a hunt but it can be and must be fun for all concerned.

E-mail from Kate Horgan, Chairman of the IMFHA and vice Chairman of the Irish Horse Board

Thank you for your kind words, I think Maggie Thatcher eat your heart out!!! Anyway thank you.

I would add that I think your web site is a great innovation for the Irish Equine Industry.