Irish Draughts to the fore at Hoys

Loughkeen Dancing Lord

The famous Horse of the Year Show is the ultimate finale for equestrians in Britain and Ireland each year. To alone qualify for the event is a great achievement which attracts the champions of champion horses from many disciplines. In the ridden showing classes there was cause for celebration for Irish Draught supporters when three Irish bred full Irish Draught geldings took honours at the famous HOYS.

Loughkeen Dancing Lord by Crosstown Dancer out of Loughkeen Young Lady by Carrabawn View and bred by Hugo Perdue in Co. Offaly started the ball rolling when he won the TopSpec HW Show Hunter of the Year and that makes it his fifth win at HOYS in six years.

With 26 in each division of the cob classes it was the lightweight winner The Comedian by Welcome Flagmount out of Liskillen Harmony by Pride of Glenogra and bred in Co. Meath by Aidan Travers that was crowned Virbac 3D Champion Cob of the Year.

For the third consecutive year Hallmark IX won the Leeman Family Maxi Cob Championship. Bred in Co. Donegal by Martin Howley, the 158.5 cm chestnut is also by Welcome Flagmount his dam being Rebel Rose by Glenagyle Rebel. The nine-year-old Hallmark IX is no stranger to HOYS either and he subsequently added the title of Supreme Horse of The Year 2013 to his other four consecutive wins at the venue.

Irish Draught horse breeders should be much encouraged by the outstanding successes of these horses proving that quality will win out in the long run.