IDSHS Society Rules and Operating Regulations
Member Profile Horse
If you would like to see you and your horse promoted with IDSHS (Aust) Inc., please contact committee member Jacqui Pearce with your article and photos: cammelionwdiva@hotmail.com
An Inspector's View of Classifying a Potential Studbook Horse
Breeding and Breed Standards
Breeding Objective:
To breed Irish Draught horses with conformation, movement and temperament that conform to the breed standard, and which will make good quality, sound and versatile horses.
The Irish Draught is a foundation breed which is often crossed with the thoroughbred with the aim of producing a superior riding horse with excellent temperament, athleticism and soundness. The traditional Irish Draught is a short shinned, deep-bodied compact horse which has retained quality, substance and movement.
The Breed Standard (Appendix A of the Operating Regulations found on this page) describes the characteristics of the Irish Draught. It is this standard which is used by the Inspectors to assess those horses presented for inspection for inclusion in the Stud Book.
The inspectors are very mindful of their responsibility to both the owners, breeders and the whole Irish Draught breed when they make their deliberations. Stallions have the potential to sire many offspring and thus, their influence can be significant. The inspectors must consider the benefits and/or shortcomings that each stallion may bring to the breed. Not only should each stallion excel in all the breed standard criteria but he should also have the qualities to overcome the shortcomings of the modern thoroughbred.
Inspections:
Irish Draught Stud Book
The Stud Book records information for breeding stock, thus it does not include geldings.
Eligibility:
To be eligible the horse must be the progeny of registered Draught (RID) parents OR a Registered Irish Draught stallion (RID) / mare and a Thoroughbred stallion / mare of provable (ASB registered, ASB verified or ASB passport) OR a registered SID / AID mare (Irish Draught Studbook approved) and a registered Irish Draught (RID) stallion.
Fillies must be at least half Registered Irish Draught (via RID sire/dam and ASB Thoroughbred) to be eligible for inspection. Colts will only be inspected if both parents are RID.
To be eligible for acceptance into the Stud Book, each horse must be a minimum of three years old, pedigree registered (foal identified) with the Society, be microchipped, be DNA tested, be owned by a financial member of the Society and pass a thorough veterinary soundness examination and then be presented for inspection before the panel of IDSHS (Aust) Inc. Inspectors.
Preparation:
It is essential that the candidate is relaxed when handled, will stand quietly and will move freely in hand at the walk and trot. Hoof trimming or shoeing should be completed at least one week prior to assessment.
Owners are recommended to look carefully at their younger fillies and colts and to ask themselves if they would benefit from another year or two maturing before coming forward. In particular refer to the breed standard. Inspectors have to assess the horse they see on the day, so you are not helping your horse by bringing him or her forward too soon or unprepared.
Process:
The inspection process uses the British Inspection Test to score a mark for each of Type (character and temperament), Feet, Forelegs, Hind legs, Action (Propulsion), Head & Neck, Shoulder, Barrel and Back and Hindquarters.
To arrive at a final score, the Inspectors make a thorough examination of the horse independently, including picking up its feet. The horse is expected to stand quietly during this inspection and to walk and trot freely on both reins both on a circle and on straight lines when displayed in hand. Movement and action, calm and willing temperament and sufficient athleticism that conforms to the breed standard will be assessed. Marks are allocated to each characteristic and then totalled.
The inspectors then confer to reach an agreed final mark for each characteristic and a total mark.
It is this final mark that determines whether the horse becomes eligible for entry into the Stud Book.
On completion of the inspection, the owner is provided with the result and the opportunity to discuss the outcome with the inspectors.
Stud Book Categories
Registered Irish Draught – RID
This category applies to both males and females. The sire must be RID. The dam of a male must also be RID. The dam of a female must be RID or AID.
Appendix Irish Draught – AID
This category applies only to females. One parent must be registered Irish Draught (RID).The other parent must be RID, AID and/or SID.
Supplementary Irish Draught – SID
This category applies only to females. One parent must be Registered Irish Draught (RID) and the other parent must provably have only RID and/or registered Thoroughbred blood.
The eligibility of a mare for any category on the basis of pedigree does not guarantee assignment to that category if the mare passes inspection. The category assigned is a separate decision based on both the mare’s expression of Irish Draught type and her overall assessment score.
A mare with a lower assessment score may be placed in a lower category than that for which she is eligible on the basis of pedigree and/or expression of Irish Draught type.
A veterinary inspection and identification must be performed prior to the application of the Society’s Brand and inclusion in the ID Stud Book. The Inspection Panel has the right to refuse registration and branding to any horse that fails the veterinary examination.
Irish Sport Horse Pedigree Register
Purpose:
The purpose of the Irish Sport Horse (ISH) Pedigree Register is to maintain records of the pedigrees and performances of Irish Sport Horses and their progeny.
Additional Functions:
Requirements for Entry:
No formal inspection is carried out by the Inspection Panel of horses seeking entry into the ISH Pedigree Register.
Horses may be presented at any age for the Irish Sport Horse Pedigree Register.
A veterinary inspection and identification must be performed prior to the application of the Society’s Brand and inclusion in ISH Pedigree Register.
The Inspection Panel has the right to refuse registration and branding to any horse that fails the veterinary examination.
Inspections (Not a necessity to be recorded into the ISH Pedigree Register):
The number of horses requiring inspection varies greatly from year to year. This makes it difficult to realistically schedule inspections on a fixed basis. Inspections are conducted, in general, every two years in Queensland and Victoria where breed numbers are largest. Inspections in other states are conducted on a needs basis.
Where possible, owners are asked to bring horses to central points to minimise costs to the society and to maximise the effectiveness of the inspectors, the veterinary surgeon and the brander. This also enables owners and breeders to meet, chat and compare stock. However, visits have been made by the inspectors to individual properties in all states to facilitate the registration of stock in more distant areas.
Breeding Objective:
To breed Irish Draught horses with conformation, movement and temperament that conform to the breed standard, and which will make good quality, sound and versatile horses.
The Irish Draught is a foundation breed which is often crossed with the thoroughbred with the aim of producing a superior riding horse with excellent temperament, athleticism and soundness. The traditional Irish Draught is a short shinned, deep-bodied compact horse which has retained quality, substance and movement.
The Breed Standard (Appendix A of the Operating Regulations found on this page) describes the characteristics of the Irish Draught. It is this standard which is used by the Inspectors to assess those horses presented for inspection for inclusion in the Stud Book.
The inspectors are very mindful of their responsibility to both the owners, breeders and the whole Irish Draught breed when they make their deliberations. Stallions have the potential to sire many offspring and thus, their influence can be significant. The inspectors must consider the benefits and/or shortcomings that each stallion may bring to the breed. Not only should each stallion excel in all the breed standard criteria but he should also have the qualities to overcome the shortcomings of the modern thoroughbred.
Inspections:
Irish Draught Stud Book
The Stud Book records information for breeding stock, thus it does not include geldings.
Eligibility:
To be eligible the horse must be the progeny of registered Draught (RID) parents OR a Registered Irish Draught stallion (RID) / mare and a Thoroughbred stallion / mare of provable (ASB registered, ASB verified or ASB passport) OR a registered SID / AID mare (Irish Draught Studbook approved) and a registered Irish Draught (RID) stallion.
Fillies must be at least half Registered Irish Draught (via RID sire/dam and ASB Thoroughbred) to be eligible for inspection. Colts will only be inspected if both parents are RID.
To be eligible for acceptance into the Stud Book, each horse must be a minimum of three years old, pedigree registered (foal identified) with the Society, be microchipped, be DNA tested, be owned by a financial member of the Society and pass a thorough veterinary soundness examination and then be presented for inspection before the panel of IDSHS (Aust) Inc. Inspectors.
Preparation:
It is essential that the candidate is relaxed when handled, will stand quietly and will move freely in hand at the walk and trot. Hoof trimming or shoeing should be completed at least one week prior to assessment.
Owners are recommended to look carefully at their younger fillies and colts and to ask themselves if they would benefit from another year or two maturing before coming forward. In particular refer to the breed standard. Inspectors have to assess the horse they see on the day, so you are not helping your horse by bringing him or her forward too soon or unprepared.
Process:
The inspection process uses the British Inspection Test to score a mark for each of Type (character and temperament), Feet, Forelegs, Hind legs, Action (Propulsion), Head & Neck, Shoulder, Barrel and Back and Hindquarters.
To arrive at a final score, the Inspectors make a thorough examination of the horse independently, including picking up its feet. The horse is expected to stand quietly during this inspection and to walk and trot freely on both reins both on a circle and on straight lines when displayed in hand. Movement and action, calm and willing temperament and sufficient athleticism that conforms to the breed standard will be assessed. Marks are allocated to each characteristic and then totalled.
The inspectors then confer to reach an agreed final mark for each characteristic and a total mark.
It is this final mark that determines whether the horse becomes eligible for entry into the Stud Book.
On completion of the inspection, the owner is provided with the result and the opportunity to discuss the outcome with the inspectors.
Stud Book Categories
Registered Irish Draught – RID
This category applies to both males and females. The sire must be RID. The dam of a male must also be RID. The dam of a female must be RID or AID.
Appendix Irish Draught – AID
This category applies only to females. One parent must be registered Irish Draught (RID).The other parent must be RID, AID and/or SID.
Supplementary Irish Draught – SID
This category applies only to females. One parent must be Registered Irish Draught (RID) and the other parent must provably have only RID and/or registered Thoroughbred blood.
The eligibility of a mare for any category on the basis of pedigree does not guarantee assignment to that category if the mare passes inspection. The category assigned is a separate decision based on both the mare’s expression of Irish Draught type and her overall assessment score.
A mare with a lower assessment score may be placed in a lower category than that for which she is eligible on the basis of pedigree and/or expression of Irish Draught type.
A veterinary inspection and identification must be performed prior to the application of the Society’s Brand and inclusion in the ID Stud Book. The Inspection Panel has the right to refuse registration and branding to any horse that fails the veterinary examination.
Irish Sport Horse Pedigree Register
Purpose:
The purpose of the Irish Sport Horse (ISH) Pedigree Register is to maintain records of the pedigrees and performances of Irish Sport Horses and their progeny.
Additional Functions:
- Serves as a holding register of purebred Irish Draught colts and fillies prior to their inspection for the IDSHS (Aust) Inc. Stud Book
- A holding register of fillies of Irish Draught and Thoroughbred breeding which are eligible for inspection for the IDSHS (Aust) Inc. Stud Book
- A register of all horses with breeding other than Irish Draught and Thoroughbred
- The final and ONLY register for ALL geldings, regardless of pedigree
Requirements for Entry:
- Have at least provable 1/8th Registered Irish Draught blood for fillies and geldings and at least 1/4 Registered Irish Draught blood for colts and stallions
- Have met the pedigree registration requirements
- Have been DNA tested and microchipped
No formal inspection is carried out by the Inspection Panel of horses seeking entry into the ISH Pedigree Register.
Horses may be presented at any age for the Irish Sport Horse Pedigree Register.
A veterinary inspection and identification must be performed prior to the application of the Society’s Brand and inclusion in ISH Pedigree Register.
The Inspection Panel has the right to refuse registration and branding to any horse that fails the veterinary examination.
Inspections (Not a necessity to be recorded into the ISH Pedigree Register):
The number of horses requiring inspection varies greatly from year to year. This makes it difficult to realistically schedule inspections on a fixed basis. Inspections are conducted, in general, every two years in Queensland and Victoria where breed numbers are largest. Inspections in other states are conducted on a needs basis.
Where possible, owners are asked to bring horses to central points to minimise costs to the society and to maximise the effectiveness of the inspectors, the veterinary surgeon and the brander. This also enables owners and breeders to meet, chat and compare stock. However, visits have been made by the inspectors to individual properties in all states to facilitate the registration of stock in more distant areas.
Upcoming Inspection Dates
If you have a horse that is eligible to be studbook inspected, please contact the secretary/registrar for Inspection dates in your area.
The following dates and venues are a possibility for 2024.
(Subject to numbers)
The following dates and venues are a possibility for 2024.
(Subject to numbers)
QLD
- Far North QLD - TBC
- Please notify interest to Secretary / Registrar
- Victorian Inspections - TBC
- Please notify interest to Secretary / Registrar
- Please notify interest to Secretary / Registrar
- Please notify interest to Secretary / Registrar
