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photo by KYM Ketcham |
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Debbie Stephens on Pallas |
Irish Sport Horse Breeding Philosophy
by Jess and Sharon Sweely
Acorn Hill Farm's breeding philosophy has been to cross the Irish Sport Horse (ISH)
stallion with an American Thoroughbred (TB) mare. The Irish Horse Board's definition of an
ISH is " a cross between the Thoroughbred and the Irish Draught Horse, the later being derived
from a light versatile farm horse."
Our preference is for the ISH stallion to be 1/2 TB and 1/2 Irish Draught. Crossing with full
TB mares produces a horse that is 3/4 TB and 1/4 Irish Draught. We believe that this combination
makes an ideal jumping horse, event horse or general purpose horse.
The backbone of the Irish Breeding Program in Ireland is the small farmer with a few mares.
Because of economics, the Irish farmer breeds to sell and does not generally refine the ISH.
Most ISH's are half TB and half Draught. The Dublin Horse Show has always been a main outlet
for the sale of the farmers horses. In the past few years other outlets include other venues
such as Millstreet and Cavan as well as auctions such as Goresbridge.There is a movement to
further refine the ISH but this is generally only accomplished by some of the larger operations.
The Irish Horse Board is the governing agency that is responsible for maintaining the Irish
Sport Horse Studbook. They are also charged with promoting and marketing the Irish Sport Horse,
creating plans to improve the quality of the Irish Sport Horse and promote equestrian tourism and
education.
Based upon information in the "Irish Sport Horse Studbook Approved Stallions 2000-2001", there
are a total of 632 approved stallions. Thoroughbred's account for 125; ISH's 67; Registered
Irish Draught's (RID) 95 and Connemara's 218. The remaining 127 are spread between foreign breed's,
riding ponies, Arab's and stallions abroad using AI.
The approval process for stallions is still being formalized. It is not as structured as in
Germany or Holland. Stallions are inspected in the Spring at three years of age. Those selected
for performance testing can either choose to enter a twelve week central testing program or an
open competition. Those choosing the open competition are reevaluated in October of their five year
old year.
In 1999, foals registered with the Irish Horse Board from approved stallions totaled 3,979.
This included 1,493 TB's; 971 RID's; and 952 ISH's. Foreign Breed stallions accounted for 469
foals and the remaining 94 foals were by Arab's and pony sires.
These are very small numbers when compared to the warmblood breeds of Germany or Holland.
This makes the successes of the Irish Sport Horse in International Competition even more
remarkable.
Our program is to breed quality into the ISH through crossing the American
thoroughbred with the ISH stallion. We stood our first ISH at our VA operation
in 1995. We purchased Ballingarry View as a yearling in Ireland. He was
by Carrabawn View (RID) out of a TB mare, Red Lighting by Red God. He
stood to a limited book of mares in 1995 and his first and only foals
were born in 1996. We lost him to colic in late 1995. His foals began
their show careers in 1999 as three year olds.
In late 1995 we acquired Pallas Digion, an ISH stallion that was standing in Ireland. Pallas
Digion is by Cerredigion (TB) out of an ISH mare, I'm a Lady 2. Pallas was born in 1989 and won
the Irish Grade E Show Jumping Championship as a 4 year old in Ireland. Although we purchased him
as a breeding stallion, we put him into training in 1996. He was shown lightly in schooling jumper
classes at West Palm Beach in early 1997 by Debbie Stephens, a former member of the United States
Equestrian Team. He advanced to the International Speed Classes under Debbie, consistently placing
in the ribbons at shows in West Palm Beach, Upperville and Kentucky. His first offspring arrived
in 1997 and are just beginning their show careers. The are impressive youngsters with good bone
and great minds.
In 1995 we also purchased two young colts in Ireland , Carrig View and Carlow Clover. Both of
these were imported in 1996 and began their show jumping careers in 2000.
Carrig View is also by Carrabawn View (RID) out of an ISH mare.He was born in 1994 and showed
in the 6-Year old Jumper Championships in 2000 with Debbie Stephens. He has great scope , wonderful
jumping technique and a keen mind. His first foals arrived in 1999 and are wonderful youngsters.
They are showing athleticism, good bone and great minds. Carrabawn View is out of the Mountain
View line of RID's. Carrabawn View's dam is by Ballinvella (TB), one of the greater sport horse
sires in Ireland. Carrig View also has Clover Hill in his lineage. His dam's mother is by Clover
Hill.
Carlow Clover was also born in 1994 and began his show jumping career in 2000 in the 6-Year
Old Championships ridden by Debbie Stephens. Carlow Clover is by the great Irish sire , Clover
Hill (RID) out of an Appendix Irish Draught mare, Clonard Diamond. Carlow's dam is by Diamonds
are Trumps who is by another legendary Irish stallion, King of Diamonds. Although Clover Hill is
considered an RID, his sire, Golden Beaker, is actually a TB. Clover Hill surpassed King of
Diamonds as the most prominent performance horse sire in Ireland and his progeny have surpassed
the great King of Diamonds progeny in performance winnings. Carlow's first crop arrived in 1998.
He is also producing elegant, athletic youngsters with great minds and dispositions.
USA Cruising was purchased as a yearling in Ireland and is by the international show jumper
Cruising out of Silver Lady (ISH). USA Cruising was born in 1995 and began his show career
in 2001. His first foals arrived in 2000 and appear to have the same characteristics of their sire.
USA Cruising is showing exceptional talent for a young horse and show appeal to not only the show
jumper but the eventer as well.
These are stallions that we believe will produce an outstanding performance
horse when crossed with quality TB mares. The mare is considered by many
breeders as being at least 50 to 70% of what you end up with. There is
an affinity between the Irish Draught and the TB which does not appear
to be equaled by crossing the TB with any other farm horse. The Irish
Draught was bred to have stamina, athleticism, strength and obedience.
The Irish Draught was used to till the fields, pull the family buggy or
cart, and ride in the hunt field. The TB's main qualities are stamina,
speed and refinement. The Irish Draught also contributes soundness, sense,
strength, power and jumping ability. The crossing of these two types produce
progeny that are superior to either of their parents. A further crossing
brings more of the TB's refinement.
The result is an animal that has the soundness and saneness of the Irish Draught with more bone
than that of the typical TB but with the stamina, speed and refinement of the TB an ideal Sport
Horse. The top world event horses have been Irish Bred, many with 3/4 TB and 1/4 Draught. In Europe,
many of the top show jumpers are also Irish Sport Horses. We believe that we can produce a similar
result. The 3/4 TB 1/4 Draught combination is a lighter more suitable Sport Horse for today's amateur
and professional equestrians.
We welcome your visit to our farm so that we can show you the results of our Irish Sport Horse breeding program.
Warmblood Breeding Philosophy
As we have developed our breeding program, we saw a need to have a European influence in addition to an Irish influence. The European bloodlines appeal principally to those breeders attempting to breed a show jumper or dressage prospect. As a result we looked for classic bloodline stallions that could cross with not only warmblood mares but also thoroughbred mares.
In 1995 we acquired Freedom Z from a br eeder in Germany. Freedom Z is classically bred. He is by Furioso II out of Roxan Z by Ramiro Z. He was bred by Leon Melchior of Zangersheide fame and is approved as an elite stallion by the American Hanoverian Society. He is also approved by the Oldenburg Association, and the German Hanoverian Verband. He acquired 118.62 points in his 100 day test and has sired two approved stallions in Europe.
On the mothers side, Roxan Z is a full sister to Ludger Beerbaum’s great Grand Prix show jumper, Ratina Z. Freedom Z has shown his ability to transfer his super movement to his get. Freedom Z's son, Nearly Dark, has been the Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion the past season and is continuing his winning ways again this year. “Free Wheeling”, another of Freedom’s get is winning on the line as well as in the Hunter Ring. Freedom Z crosses well with warmblood mares and with thoroughbred mares.
In 2001, we purchased Coming Star, in Germany, as a four year old. As a three year old he had completed his 100 day test with a score of 130 points. He is one of the last approved stallions by the outstanding Holsteiner stallion, Cor de La Bryere. His first foals arrived in 2005. He has shown in the Young Horse Championships in the United States and in 2004, he placed 13th out of 120 horses invited to the 7 Year Old World Championships held annually at Zangersheide in Belgium.
He was approved by the American Holsteiner Association at their October 2004 Stallion Inspection at Millbrook, New York. He was the high score stallion.
He is refined and producing quality youngsters from both Holsteiner and thoroughbred mares. His offspring should be able to compete in show jumping, dressage and the new short format of eventing.
In 2002, we purchased Tinka’s Lad from Mrs. M. Marsh of Heathcroft Stud of Croft, England. Tinka’s Lad is by Tinka’s Boy, the number two stallion in the world in 2002 and third in 2003. Tinka’s Boy is owned and ridden by Marcus Fuchs of Switzerland and was originally ridden by Nick Skelton and stood in England .
The first foals by Tinka’s Lad arrived in 2005. They have substance and character and great dispositions.
Tinka’s Lad is approved by the Anglo-European Stud Book of England. Tinka’s Lad has shown in the young Jumpers Classes in the United States and placed 2nd in the 2003 – 6 Year Old East Coast Championships.
These three warmblood stallions, when crossed with either thoroughbred or warmblood mares, should produce quality youngsters for any discipline. We welcome visitors to Acorn Hill Farm to view our stallions and their offspring.
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