Yes, Irish Draught horses are considered suitable for beginners due to their calm, friendly, gentle, and intelligent nature, which makes them reliable and steady mounts. However, their large size and strength require confident handling and proper training to ensure the safety of novice riders.
Irish Draught horses are versatile and excel in a variety of activities including hunting and fox hunting, showing and show jumping, leisure and pleasure riding, eventing and dressage, as well as driving and general farm work, reflecting their heritage as solid and reliable working horses.
The Irish Draught is a pure draft breed known for strength, calmness, and versatility, while the Irish Sport Horse is a crossbreed, typically between an Irish Draught and a Thoroughbred or warmblood, bred for sport performance such as eventing and show jumping. Irish Sport Horses tend to be lighter and more athletic, whereas Irish Draughts are more general-purpose and steady.
The price of Irish Draught horses varies widely depending on factors such as age, training, and quality; prices can range from a few thousand pounds to tens of thousands for well-trained or competition-ready horses. For specific sales, it is best to consult breeders or specialised sales listings.