Irish Hunter


Irish Hunter



For Sale Irish Hunter ...more


For Sale Irish Hunter ...more


Irish Cob

Connemara Pony

For Sale Connemara Pony ...more

Ireland is known the world over as the land of the horse. The Irish limestone soil produces the strong bones that make the Irish horse superior to any other. The mild Irish climate and high rainfall produce the abundant grass on which the Irish horses thrive.

Irish horses have an excellent temperament, they are kind and easy to handle and ride. Irish horses have a natural jumping ability and plenty of courage, which makes them easy to train.
The horses on the Horse Holiday Farm are very healthy, well-groomed, trained, surefooted and unspoilt.

We can offer you to test "your" horse on the countryside, on the cross country course, on the beach and on our cross country course. If you wish you can spend a week for horse riding holidays with "your" horse.


Irish Hunter
Conformation: A riding horse of substance, with clean, sound limbs and good bone.
The hunter, as its name suggests, developed as the horse of the chase. It is, of course, a 'type', not being of any particular breed, but usually a combination of Thoroughbred and something else, often Irish Draught. Its first use is in hunting and its second, derived from the first, is in show hunter classes, which are the foundation of the British Summer show Scene.
It is unfortunate that show ring fashions have dictated that the animal produced for showing must be so perfect in presentation that blemishes acquired through honest hunting use are frowned upon. Luckily, however, the trend towards overweight show hunters has been recognized to be damaging to the horse.
Many Cross-breeds are used to produce hunters, which for showing are divided into three weight classes, plus divisions for small hunters and ladies hunters. The light-weight hunter will have a large percentage of Thoroughbred blood and is expected to be an upstanding, elegant horse; the middleweight must be capable of carrying up to 89 kg (14 stone) all day in the hunting field and is therefore more substantial but should still show quality and refinement; the true heavyweight, carrying up to more than 89 kg (14 stone), yet still a powerful and athletic jumper, is a difficult horse to find today.

Irish Cob
The Irish Cob is Ireland's oldest recognized breed.
For centuries the Irish Cob has been bred for its unique combination of gentleness and it’s ability to be a working horse. It is a extremely patient and gentle horse, ideal for children, pony clubs, etc.
It has also proven to be an excellent breed for multiple disciplines, from jumping to hunting and from driving to dressage.
The Irish Cob is compact and powerful, ample both in muscle and bone, yet, with an ability to perform as a good all-purpose animal. Some Irish Cobs tend to be more "stocky" than others. The Irish Cob is well-balanced and proportioned, standing straight and square and offering an imposing appearance.
The head, which should be held proudly, should be carried on a powerful and arched well "set on" neck. The neck should appear to "carry on" through good withers and to finish at the start of the back (this feature should be particularly evident in stallions).
The back which should be short and straight should slope gently upwards to a well muscled croup (the back bone/spine or the hip bones should not be apparent). The croup which is quite high and generous should have both croup muscles well defined, the top of the quarters being exceptionally well muscled, broad and ample.
The angle of the spine from the croup to the tail should slope gently downwards and should not be exaggerated, this allows for a high, well "set on" tail and contributes to good well rounded quarters .
Irish Cobs with their unique action, luxuriant hair and feathering and the large range of colours available, combine to present a beautiful and varied sight to see when turned out at their best, particularly when in motion.
The Irish Cob should possess a docile and willing nature, with a friendly disposition towards humans and other animal species.

Connemara
Colour: Grey, block, bay, brown, dun, occasional roans and chestnuts.
The exposed western seaboard of Ireland, with its mountainous bogs and moorland north of Galway Bay, is the home of the Connemara Pony. It is an environment that has encouraged the characteristic qualities of hardiness, agility and intelligence attributable to this popular breed. Subsisting on the rough mountain herbage, the ponies were once indispensable in the struggle for survival of the local farming population, carrying out all the duties of the farm horse.
In the days of Spanish commercial trade with Ireland, it is thought that imported Spanish Barb and Andalusia horses exerted a beneficial influence on the breed, and as late as the mid-19th century Arab blood was being judiciously introduced. In 1891, further influence was exerted by the importation of Welsh Stallions.
The Connemara Breeders Society was founded in 1923. Since then, many Connemara Ponies have been exported and breed societies have been formed in many countries, including England and America. Its jumping ability is renowned and, when used as a Cross, the breed has produced some notable Stars, such as the show jumper Dundrum, dressage horse Little Model and, more recently, the evener The Done Thing. Despite its 'riding' conformation, the Connemara tan equally well provide a keen and agile, yet calm, driving Pony, up to FE1 competition level.

...more about "buy an Irish Horse"

Tilman and Colette Anhold
Horse Holiday Farm Ltd.
Grange County Sligo Ireland
Telephone : (071) 9166152
Fax : (071) 9166400
From Europe Telephone : 00 353 71 9166152
Fax : 00 353 71 9166400

E-mail: hhf@eircom.net

Form: HORSE SALES CONTACT

The Horse Holiday Farm is Bord Fáilte (Irish Tourist Board) approved and
a member of A.I.R.E., the Association of Irish Riding Establishments.