Irish Sport Horse Studbook

Ireland is well known as being the birthplace of world showjumping and with the country’s long equestrian tradition it is not surprising that the Irish Sport Horse breed developed with an innate ability for the equestrian sports of showjumping and eventing.

The main composite breeds of the Irish Sport Horse are the Irish Draught Horse and the Thoroughbred.

In recent generations there has been an infusion of continental Warmblood (WB) breeds and there is now a considerable amount of crossbreeding with these breeds in the Irish Sport Horse studbook.

However, traditional Irish Sport Horses are still being bred and further information on them can be found under Traditional Irish Horse Category (http://www.horsesportireland.ie/breeding/traditional-irish-horse-tih-category/).

6 August 2024; Shane Sweetnam of Team Ireland riding James Kann Cruz in action during the Jumping Individual Final at the Château de Versailles during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Irish Sport Horses compete successfully at the highest level of every equestrian discipline. For generations Irish horses have dominated the eventing circuit and the Studbook has been the leading eventing Studbook in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) Studbook rankings every year since the conception of the rankings in 1994 with the exception of 2010 when they finished in 2nd and in 2011 when they took 3rd place.

Apart from its success at international level the Irish Sport Horse is an ideal leisure horse. Its ability to look after and help its rider in any situation makes the breed a safe and popular choice for the amateur rider.

Breeding Advice / Stud Service Contract

As part of our commitment to assist our breeders, Horse Sport Ireland is provides comprehensive breeding guidelines via the preparing to breed webpage, providing breeders with some Breeding Advice to be considered when breeding their horses.

This includes pre-breed screening, use of artificial insemination and the rules surrounding the importation of semen. We have also included a sample Stud Service Contract, which should help to avoid any confusion in relation to the desired stallion for the mare, the stud, keep and veterinary fees and the dates upon which these fees are to be paid.

A copy of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Breeding Programme is available HERE.