Irish Sport Horse
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Irish Sport Horse stallion
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| Other names | Irish Hunter |
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| Country of origin | Ireland |
The Irish Sport Horse (ISH) (US: Irish Draught Sport Horse), also known as the Irish Hunter, is the result of a cross between the Irish Draught and another breed, historically a Thoroughbred but today sometimes a European warmblood. It has been given recognition as a separate breed. It is commonly bred from parents who are also Irish Sport Horses, in addition to being crossbred from the defined parent breeds.
The Irish Sport Horse receives the sense and honesty of the Irish Draught and the athleticism, speed, and endurance of the Thoroughbred. Although the Irish Draught breed standard requires horses to be "any strong solid color", an Irish Sport Horse can be any color as it can receive dilute or broken color genes from its non-draught parent.
It ranges in height from 15 to 17 hands (60 to 68 inches, 152 to 173 cm). It has a good temperament, being calm, yet lively when needed, and is very tough.
In British show hunter and working hunter competition Irish Sport Horses are divided into three types: light-weight for carrying a rider up to about 70 kilograms (150 lb), middle-weight to carry a rider up to about 89 kilograms (196 lb), 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 sidesaddle, and usually a light-weight).
The horse has an attractive head with a sometimes convex profile (a "Roman nose"). It has a slightly-arched and muscular neck, long, sloping shoulders, a deep but not overly broad chest, a short, compact back, and a muscular croup with powerful hindquarters. The croup is often sloping and long, a trait coming from the Irish Draught, said to improve its jumping ability. The high withers of the Thoroughbred are also evident in many cases.
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