Laragh Horses - Recently Updated Pages

Foals and Mares for Sale

Lurgy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:39:05 CDT

Ardattin Clasina
Clasina is out of our own Annabell and by Grange Bouncer. She is 6 years old currently in foal to Huntingfield Heathcliff. (SOLD)

Laragh Lady (out of Lismoses Lady by Mountain Diamond)

Laragh Laoch (out of Ardatin Annabell by Crannagh Hero)

We will have some of the 2008 foals for sale from mid May onwards. Here are some pictures of them.

Laragh Laoch (Loki) in the foreground

Laragh Balthier (by Rockrimmon Robusticus) and Laragh Clover (by Cloneen Clover)

Laragh Lady (below) by Mountain Diamond

Laragh Lady (left) out of Lismoses Lady by Mountain Diamond, and Laragh Laoch (out of Ardattin Annabell by Crannagh Hero)

Laragh Laoch

Laragh Clover greying out in his winter coat

Laragh Balthier at six weeks old, out of Barefield Penny by Rockrimmon Robusticus.

Laragh Clover, out of Saorise na Fodhla by Cloneen Clover

One week old colt foal, Laragh Clover, out of Saorise na Fodhla by Cloneen Clover

Laragh McSweeney (out of our thoroughbred mare Lilo) by Cloneen Clover and Laragh Clover.

Laragh Molly, a yearling Irish Cob out of Chessie and by Llewellyn

2009 Foals

Lurgy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:28:09 CDT

Laragh Colleen (out of Saoirse by Cloneen Clover) at six weeks old

Laragh Feather (out of Chessie by Llewellyn) at six weeks old

Laragh Raeltin (out of Lilo and by Cloneen Clover) at two and a half months old

Laragh Epona (out of Lismoses Lady and by Gold Link) at six weeks old
Laragh Gale (out of Barefield Penny, by Sir Stormy Breeze) at six weeks old

Saoirse and her filly foal born 4th July, foal by Cloneen Clover

Penny (our Huntingfield Rebel mare) and her filly foal born ten days early on 16th June. Sire of the foal is Sir Stormy Breeze.

Lismoses Lady (Cream of Diamonds Premium mare) and her filly foal born 19th June 09 Foal sired by Gold Link

Laragh Chessie and her filly foal, Feather, sired by LLewellyn

Filly Foal born May 16th out of our Danetime mare. The sire of this little girl is Cloneen Clover, standing in Old Leighlin, Co. Carlow.

An independent little creature venturing away from mum on her second day.

Laragh Horses - Home Page

Lurgy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:11:06 CDT

Laragh

Laragh, situated close to Kilkenny City, is home to a small herd of Irish horses, including three Registered Irish Draught mares and one AID mare, a thoroughbred mare by Danetime, and an Irish Cob mare. We have also added a Scottish horse to the herd, a Registered Clydesdale Mare called Allison.

Contact us at : paula.leyden@gmail.com or phone Paula on +353 (0) 87 2944183

Annabell (the chestnut mare) and her foal Laragh Laoch at one month old

Ardattin Annabell, featured above, is by Kildalton King out of Huntingfield Belleview. Her breeding takes her back to both King of Diamonds and Pride of Shaunlara. This year her colt foal by Crannagh Hero was born on May 10th. Annabell was bred by Willem and Anneke Savelkouls, well known breeders of champion Irish Draughts in Ardattin, Carlow.

Barefield Penny came to us from County Clare. She was previously with Fiacre Hensey and bred by Michael D'Arcy. She passed her RID inspection at the 2008 Spring Inspections in Stradbally. She is four years old and is by Huntingfield Rebel out of Silver Liss, a Silver Skip/Corry Bess mare. She had just had her first foal by Rockrimmon Robusticus (see foal pages). Like her lovely sire, bred by Suma Stud, Penny has a good step and a scopey jump.
She is seen here, on the right of the photo, with Lismoses Lady, her field mate.

Lismoses Lady and Barefield Penny

Lismoses Lady, a premier mare bred by Michael Healy in Galway, is by Cream of Diamonds out of Dangan Countess. She had a lovely filly foal this year by Mountain Diamond who came second in the RID stallion class at the RDS in 2007.

Saorise na Fodhla is our oldest mare, an AID mare by Golden Wonder II out of Rahealty Amber. Rahealty Amber was by The Galway Boy. She had a colt foal this year by Cloneen Clover. She can be seen in the picture below with some of her smaller friends.

Saorise na Fodhla

Lilo (a.k.a. 252 - her racing name) is a thoroughbred mare by Danetime, retired from racing. She has bred two thoroughbred foals by Fruits of Love but this year we took her to Cloneen Clover and she bred a lovely strong colt. She is pictured here with Winnie, her second born.

Lilo and Winnie Day 1

Laragh Chessie is an Irish Cob, she has been ridden as well as driven for many years. Laragh Molly is her first foal, by Llewellyn an elite ICS registered stallion from Cavan.

Chessie and Molly 2007

Allison and her filly foal Rosie

Ballyrock Allison, a fully registered Clydesdale mare, only came to us this year (2009) with her filly foal Rosie. Allison is by Dillars Cracker and her dame, Ballyrock Lady Rachel is by Woodend Flashman. She has, like all the Clydesdales, a beautiful temperament and we are very pleased to welcome her to the farm. Her filly foal is by Roes Hall Travis.

Ardattin Clasina, featured above, was Annabell's first foal by Grange Bouncer. She was born in 2003 and on July 25th this year she producd a beautiful filly foal by Cloneen Clover, an Irish Draught stallion identified by the Irish Horse Board as an important breeding stallion for genetic diversity within the Irish Draughts. He is standing in Old Leighlin, County Carlow at his owner's farm. Clasina has inherited her temperament from both sides, and is a curious, clever creature. This year we hope she is in foal to Huntingfield Heathcliff who stands with Jim and Margaret Buckley in Cappwhite, County Tipperary. Clasina has now moved to Cuffesgrange Sport Horses just outside Kilkenny and produced a beautiful filly foal. We wish Eamon Sheehan, the new owner, everything of the best with her.

News and Updates

Lurgy — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:35:36 CDT

August 2009

All mums and foals doing well, despite the ongoing rain. As we are giving all the mares a year off this year the summer has been quite peaceful. No driving aroun d the countryside taking them to stallions.
Annabell, as she is wthout a foal, is back under the saddle and is being ridden by Kate, pictured below. Annabell is slowly shedding some of the weight she picked up and is in great form. We wil be taking her to the Iverk Show in Piltown, Kilkenny at the beginning of September.

July 2009

New Arrival

This week saw one mare leave the farm and another arrive. Ardattin Clasina left us and went to a new home where she hope she and her new owners will be very happy. She has gone to Cuffesgrange Horses to Eamon Sheehan (Senior and Junior) and we wish them well with her. In her place we have welcomed Allison and her filly foal Rosie. Allison is a Registered Clydesdale mare and her foal is by Rose Hall Travis. Both of them lovely peaceful creatures who have settled in well.

Allison and her eight week old foal Rosie (Photo courtesy Finno)

Our AID mare Saoirse na Fodhla gave birth on the 4th July (in the middle of the day, taking us all by surprise) to a lovely filly foal - she is by Cloneen Clover who lives in Old Leighlin.

Saoirse's filly foal born 4th July

Sad news on the 2nd July, one of our old and much beloved ponies, Loco, died. She will be much missed by us and by her faithful companion Milkshake.

June 2009

A crop of fillies so far, so all is well at Laragh.
Penny our Huntingfield Rebel mare gave birth to a strong filly ten days early on June 16th - she is by Sir Stormy Breeze and has enough one on her for two horses!
Here she is

Two days later, on the 18th June, Laragh Chessie our Irish Cob gave birth to a filly that our farrier described as a Rhino. A tough little girl, she is by Llewellyn.

Laragh Chessie and her little filly on Day one of her life

Then, on June 19th, Lisomoses Lady gave birtjh to a filly foal,two weeks early. She is by Gold Link who lives just down the road from us in Kilkenny.

Lismoses Lady and Epona her filly foal (Photo courtesy of Finno)

Sad news during June was the discovery that Annabell had slipped her foal by Gold Link. She is however healthy and happy and being a good aunt to the other foals.

May 16th
Our Danetime thoroughbred, Lilo (252) gave birth in the early hours of the morning to a beautifulflly foal (by Cloneen Clover) No hassles with the birth, in fact she even forgot to call us. Mum and filly well. Possibly the strongest foal she has produced thus far. Annabell still quiet.

May 2009

The mares have been out on the spring grass and are all looking well. The (almost) yearlings are growing fast and in some cases greying out and losing their very thick winter coats.

From left, Loki,Thor (behind), Brenny and Lady

January 2009

Despite the wind, rain, frost and the muck, all is well. The winter coats are thick and woolly and so far (touch wood) the pregnancies are all in order. All of us looking forward to spring.

Laragh Clover (out of Saoirse na Fodhla and by Cloneen Clover) with his greying out winter coat

November 2008
Clasina doing well now. Back to her old self.
All the other foals growing and thriving which is an enormous relief. We do not wean them early so they are all still with their mothers and happy out.

October 2008
Very sad news, Clasina lost her foal Milly. She had developed Rhodococcus and despite weeks of treatment we were unable to get on top of it so we had to say goodbye to the little creature. She was a pet and we were all very sad to lose her. We left her with Clasina overnight to enable her to get used to the fact of her death and when she was ready to leave her we put the ponies and our miniature stallion into the field with her for company. She is recovering.

August 2008

So far all our mares, with the exception of Laragh Chessie, are back in foal to the stallions described below. Fingers crossed that all goes well! The foals are growing well and despite weeks of rain they seem to be thriving.

July 2008

Stallions .....

This year we have taken Ardattin Annabell and Lismoses Lady to Gold Link, who is owned and stood by Keith Hatton, Killeen House, Johnswell Road Kilkenny.
Gold Link is by Merry Gold and out of Cranny Starlet. Merry Gold is by Lahinch who is by Laughton. He is twenty years old and in fine fettle as he spends most of his free time out in the fields. He is a total outcross to both Ardattin Annabell and Lismoses Lady and we are looking forward to the results of the cross.

Gold Link, standing with Keith Hatton, Liseen House, Johnswell Rd Kilkenny Phone : 0872331734

Both Saorise na Fodhla and Lilo have gone back to Cloneen Clover as we were very pleased with the foals they produced by him.

Cloneen Clover, standing with Ian Smyth on Leighlin Ridge, Phone 0868141809

Barefield Penny was covered by Sir Stormy Breeze who stands with Jackie Corrigan in Ballon, Co. Carlow. Sir Stormy is by Heather Breeze and out of Breezy, and is a lovely traditional type of Irish Draught.

Sir Stormy Breeze, standing with Jackie Corrigan in Ballon, County Carlow.

Ardattin Clasina is now in foal to Huntingfield Heathcliff, who stands in Cappawhite, Tipperary with Jim and Margaret Buckley.

Laragh Chessie, our Irish Cob, is presently up in Meath, being covered by Llewellyn who was the sire of her previous foal Molly.

Llewellyn, standing with Dermot and Flore Ryan in Kells, County Meath. Phone 0879166010

Ardattin Clasina, who has only just foaled, is going to Huntingfield Heathcliff who is standing with Jim and Margaret Buckley at Garryfin Stud, Co. Tipperary.

2008 Foals

Lurgy — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:14:56 CDT

Loki (by Crannagh Hero) at three months old

Laragh Lady (below) out of Lismoses Lady by Mountain Diamond

Laragh Laoch (Loki) and Laragh Clover(Brenny)

Laragh Balthier now (March 2009) caught up with the other foals

From left to right: Laragh Balthier,Laragh Lady, Laragh Laoch, Laragh Clover, Winnie and Laragh McSweeney posing for the photo..

Balthier at 3 months, has got over his premature birth and filling out nicely. Very attached to his mum Penny!

Clasina's filly foal born 25th July 2008, died October 2008

Laragh Laoch (Loki) on the right and and Laragh Lady

Laragh Balthier, six weeks old.

Laragh McSweeney out of our thoroughbred and by Cloneen Clover at three months old

Laragh Clover out of Saoirse our AID mare by Cloneen Clover

Laragh Laoch (by Crannagh Hero) and Laragh Lady (by Mountain Diamond)

Balthier, out of Penny by Rockrimmon Robusticus, 3 weeks old

Laragh Laoch at five days old with Annabell

Laragh McSweeney at 6 days old (Out of Lilo by Cloneen Clover)

Laragh Lady at six days old with mum Lismoses Lady

Annabell and two day old Laragh Laoch (by Crannagh Hero)

Lismoses Lady with her filly foal Laragh Lady by Mountain Diamond.

252 (aka Lilo) with her colt foal Laragh McSweeney by Cloneen Clover, born on 19th May

Clydesdales

Lurgy — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:11:22 CDT

History of the Breed (With thanks to the Clydesdale Society of Ireland - http://clydesdaleireland.com )

The Clydesdale is Scotland’s only extant heavy horse. It originated in the Clyde Valley in Lanarkshire as a result of crossing local mares with heavier Flemish stallions which were imported at the beginning of the 18th century.The breed was essentially founded between 1715-1720 by the 6th Duke of Hamilton and the breeder John Paterson of lochlyloch whose interest was in producing strong draught horses suitable for hauling coal from the newly opened mines in Lanarkshire. Consequently, great emphasis has always been given to breeding individuals with very sound legs and good feet. The feet are large, rather flat, but very open with well formed frogs, and are ideally suited to work on very hard surfaces like city streets.The Clydesdale is now distinctive in both type and appearance; Height 16.2-18hh (1.65-1.80m). Colour Bay or Brown, Black, Grey, and Roan also appear. Heavy white markings on the face and legs, and on the underside of body are general. The legs often appear long and carry an abundance of silky feather; the joints are big and the hocks broad, with cow hocks not viewed as a fault but as a characteristic of the breed. The Clydesdale is also famed for its action - flamboyant style, a flashy spirited bearing and a high stepping action that makes him a singularly elegant animal among draught horses.Never less, the Clydesdales worked the prairies of Canada and America and can claim to be the breed that built Australia. The Clydesdale is also one of the most popular heavy horses across the world and can be found in Europe, New Zealand, Russia and Japan.
Clydesdales in Ireland
The Clydesdale Horse Society of Ireland(CHSI) was founded in 2005 and is the first Society in Ireland to be established for the following purposes; 1) To establish a Stud Book for Clydesdale Horses in Ireland 2) To become area 15 in the Scottish Clydesdale Stud Register. This will help members register horses, and will give the society 3 seats on the Scottish Clydesdale Council.
The Society also aspires to achieve higher standards within traceability and documentation by utilising micro-chipping and DNA testing. The Clydesdale Horse Society of Ireland is registered as a Friendly Society.

Clydesdales in Laragh

Many years ago we had a beautiful Clydesdale mare called Molly (we named our coloured Iris cob after her). Molly sadly died in 2006. SHe was much loved. We are extremely happy to welcome Allison and her filly foal Rosie onto the farm. They came to us from Eamon Sheehan(http://www.cuffesgrangesporthorses.com/ ) which is where our own RID mare Ardattin Clasina has found a new home.

For us at Laragh the most striking thing about a Clydesdale (apart from their size) is their wonderful temperament, and Allison is no exception to this. She is quiet and kind - truly one of the gentle giants of the horse world.

Ardattin Clasina

Lurgy — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:52:10 CDT

Ardattin Clasina
Grey RID mare born 20th June 2003 - Currently in foal to Huntingfield Healthcliff, due 14th July

Clasina is Annabell's first foal and is by Grange Bouncer (out of Grange Heather and by Prospect Pride)
Clasina is 16.1hh. When shown in hand she won the Class for 1, 2 and 3 year old fillies in Laois, and was Reserve Champion at the show.

Ardattin Clasina as a four year old, with Willem Savelkouls who bred her

. Ardattin Clasina minding Laragh Molly, our coloured Irish Cob foal, and Winnie, a thoroughbred foal by Fruits of Love

Huntingfield Heathcliff, standing with Jim and Margaret Buckley in Cappawhite, Tipperary.

Links

Lurgy — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:26:57 CDT

	horse for sale Pferdemarkt Chevaux a vendre
horse-topsite

Barefield Penny

Lurgy — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:16:05 CDT

Barefield Penny

A grey RID mare born 2nd April 2004

Barefield Penny is by Huntingfield Rebel out of Silver Liss. Silver Liss is by Silver Skip and out of Corry Bess. She passed her RID inspection this year in Stradbally.
Penny's first foal is by Rockrimmon Robusticus who is standing in Clare with Michael Feeney at Kealderra Stud. Rockrimmon Robusticus is by Castana out of Western Dawn by Western Light (RID).
She is back in foal this year to Sir Stormy Breeze, standing with Jackie Corrigan in Co. Carlow, and is due at the dn June 2009.

On 15th June 2008 Penny gave birth to a colt foal by Rockrimmon Robusticus - almost three weeks early! Apart from an initial scare the foal is doing well - he has never looked like a premature foal !

Here he is with his mum on Day 4

And here he is at three weeks old taken on the day he should have been born...

And a month later

Penny (on the right) with her field mate Lismoses Lady

Rockrimmon Robusticus shpwing his paces in Clare and Sir Stormy Breeze with Jackie Corrigan

Lilo (252)

Lurgy — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:27:47 CDT

Lilo (252)
Lilo, a.k.a. 252, is by Danetime, the great shuttle sire who died prematurely in September 2005 after rupturing an artery. Her dam Brigadina is by Brigadier Gerard. Her first two foals were by Fruits of Love. Tutti Frutti, pictured above, has been sold. Her second foal, a chestnut filly named Winnie, is still with us. Lilo produced a colt foal by the Irish Draugh stallion Cloneen Clover this year on 10th May. So far he is looking good, he steps out like his mother and has the temperament and strength of his father.

Lilo at the Curragh in 2005

Lilo and a young punter at Naas in 2005

Laragh MacSweeney out of Lilo by Cloneen Clover

Tutti Frutti her first colt foal by Fruits of Love

Cloneen Clover

Lilo and her colt foal by Cloneen Clover on Day 1, 19th May 2008.

Ardattin Annabell

Lurgy — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:23:24 CDT

Ardattin Annabell

Chestnut RID mare born 24th May 1999

Annabell sleeping in the sunshine
Annabell is by Kildalton King out of Huntingfield Belleview.
Huntingfield Belleview is by Mountain View out of Proud Mary.
She has had one filly by Grange Bouncer, Ardattin Clasina born 20th June 2003. She foaled this year on 10th May and produced Laragh Laoch, a colt foal by Crannagh Hero. Crannagh Hero is owned by Francis Healy from Birdhill, Co Tipperary. Annabell is back in foal now to Gold Link, owned by Keith Hatton in Kilkenny.
Annabell won the Potential Hunt Masters Horse Class at the IDHS National breed show in 2007. In previous years she has won many prizes in shows around the country, in Laois, Tinahely, Gorey and Wicklow.

Annabell ridden by Willem Savelkouls, next to Clasina's sire Grange Bouncer at the IDHS Show 2007
Crannagh Hero at the IDHS Breed Show in 2007

His son, Laragh Laoch, at three months old

Colt foal born to Annabell on 10th May 2008

Lismoses Lady

Lurgy — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:21:23 CDT

Lismoses Lady

Grey RID Premier mare, born 1998

Lismoses Lady was bred by Micheal Healy in Tuam, County Galway. She is by Cream of Diamonds out of Dangan Countess, who is by Crannagh Hero. She is a Premier Broodmare and on June 13th this year gave birth to a beautiful filly by Mountain Diamond, who came second in the RID stallion class in the RDS in 2007 . This year we have put her in foal to Gold Link and she is due on the 2nd July 2009. Her foal Laragh Lady is growing well and has a beautiful temperament.

A very pregnant Lismoses Lady
And the result .... Laragh Lady born 13 July 2008, seen here on the right of the photo with her mum and her friend Laragh Laoch.

Lismoses Lady (a.k.a. Mosy) pictured here with her field mate Barefield Penny

13th May 2008 - Laragh Lady a few hours old with her exhausted mum.

Gold Link, owned by Keth Hatton in Kilkenny. The calmest stallion I have yet come across as he lives out most of the time and when he is in he has a large open house.

Saorise na Fodhla

Lurgy — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:00:46 CDT

Saorise na Fodhla

Chestnut AID mare, born 1992

Saorise is an AID mare by Goden Wonder II out of Rahealty Amber who was by The Galway Boy. She has bred two Irish Sport Horses and one filly foal by Diamond Mine. Her filly foal, Kito (meaning Precious Jewel in Swahili) died last year. We are hoping that everything goes well for her this year.

Saorise with her foal Laragh Clover. At the rate he's growing he will soon be bigger than his mum, and he is greying out fast.

Update 9th June 2008 Colt foal by Cloneen Clover born this morning - all well with mum and foal. Pictured below at an hour old.

Saorise and her 2007 foal Kito on Day One

Saorise excercising

Laragh Chessie

Lurgy — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:26:35 CDT

Laragh Chessie and her 2007 foal Laragh Molly

Llewellyn - ICS Elite Stallion and sire of Laragh Molly

Laragh Molly April 2008
This year we have taken Chessie back to Llewellyn as he is producing lovely foals. He is owned by Dermot and Flore Ryan in Crossakiel, Kells, County Meath.

Other Equines Past and Present

Lurgy — Mon, 19 May 2008 05:59:42 CDT

Over the years Laragh has been (and still is) home to a variety of horses and donkeys. Here are some of them.

Mrs. Mac with her two offspring, Speedy and Sirrius Dilbert Black.

Tansy a miniature Shetland Mare and her first foal, Lurgy. Lurgy is now our resident teaser stallion.

Lilo with her first colt foal Tutti Frutti now sold.

Briar, Miniature Shetland, Sire of Lurgy

Thoroughbred Horses

Lurgy — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:47:48 CDT

Today's thoroughbreds gracing the race tracks around the world can be traced back to three foundation sires : Byerly Turk, Godolphon Arabian and Darley Arabian.

In an article published in New Scientist in 2005 it was stated that : 'Virtually all 500,000 of the world’s thoroughbred racehorses are descended from 28 ancestors, born in the 18th and 19th centuries, according to a new genetic study. And up to 95% of male thoroughbreds can be traced back to just one stallion, Darley Arabian.'.

Today Ireland is the third largest producer of thoroughbreds in the world, after the U.S and Australia, and accounts for 42 per cent of total EU output. Part of that domination stems from the Charles Haughey tax break introduced in the Eighties which led to the growth of, among other, the massive Coolmore operation. Seventy per cent of the world's top stallions have been located in Ireland.

The thoroughbred in Ireland has also played a major role in the production of the Irish Sport Horse when crossed with the Irish Draught. Varying proportions of these breeds result in the production of Irish Sport Horses. The Irish Draught and Thoroughbred has proven to be a very successful cross and gives the Irish Sport Horse its unique, and much sought after, characteristics. The Irish Draught Horse gives our sport horses strength, intelligence and a kind temperament, which are reflected in their performance and ability. The Thoroughbred blood brings athleticism to the breed and enables them to compete successfully at the highest level of every equestrian discipline.

This year we have crossed our own thoroughbred mare Lilo with an Irish Draught stallion and are looking forward to the result.

For more information on the Irish Thoroughbred Industry as well as the Sport Horse industry, please refer to the following sites

Sport Horse Ireland

The National Stud

The Irish Horse Board

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing

Byerly Turk, ridden as a charger Godolphin Arabian
in 1690 at the Battle of the Boyne
before retiring to stud

Darley Arabian

Godolphin Arabian

Irish Draught Horses

Lurgy — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:10:17 CDT

The Irish Draught has a long history in Ireland and developed as a versatile light draught animal, capable of farm work including ploughing, riding, carriage and trap work and producing Irish hunters (and later show jumpers) both in their own right and when crossed with thoroughbreds. During times of war in the pre- motor era they were also much sought after as military horses in Europe and Britain. As far back as 1517 the Bishop of Armagh reported to King Henry ViIII that Ireland 'produces absolutely nothing but the best oats and the most excellent, victorious horses, more swift than the English horses.' [Quoted in Colin A Lewis's excellent book The Origins and Development of the Irish Draught Horse ]

Ireland has been renowned for its horses for hundres of years and today Irish horses in the form of Irish Draughts, Connemaras, Irish Cobs, and the Irish Sport Horse are much sought after. Defining characteristics of all these animals are their temperament, athleticism and courage.
Much has been written on the Irish Draught, and books worth investing in are the following:

The Irish Draught Horse - a History by Mary McGrath and Joan C Griffith
The Origins and Development of the Irish Draught Horse by Colin A Lewis (Available sometimes through Abebooks.co.uk and Amazon)
The Modern Irish Draught by Nicholas O'Hare

There may well be others that people know of, please send in references if you do. The Irish Draught Horse as a type is an athletic, powerful horse with substance and quality. It is proud in its bearing, deep of girth and strong of back and quarters. Standing over a lot of ground, it has an exceptionally strong and sound constitution. It has an intelligent and gentle nature and is noted for its docility and sense. It is the foundation of today's Irish Sport Horse. The Irish Draught Horse Society was founded in 1976 and has been of enormous importance for the development of the Irish Draught as a breed. For more information on the Society and its work, you can go to their website at The Irish Draught Horse Society. Also see :
Horse Sport Ireland and Irish Horse Board.

King of Diamonds 1962 - 1991 bred by Slyguff Stud (O'Neill) and Pride of Shaunlara 1969 - 1993 (courtesy Suma Stud)

Clover Hill

Irish Cobs

Lurgy — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:11:53 CDT

The Irish Cob is Ireland's oldest recognised breed and has been bred for centuries for its gentle nature, strength and versatility. Traditionally it has been the horse bred by the travelling community and this long history has been recognised by the Irish Cob Society, now entrusted with the responsibility of issuing passports for all Irish Cobs entered into the Irish Cob ICS Stud Book.

The ICS state the following on their website:

The ICS does not take credit for establishing the Irish Cob as a distinctive breed, but aims to preserve and protect the breed, in it's traditional form and type, as originally bred and established over many generations in Ireland, by the Travelling community, who did not keep written records of breeding (a stud book), but who passed the breeding pedigrees and lineages on verbally from generation to generation.

More information on the Irish Cob can be found on the following sites:
http://www.irishcobsociety.com/ (The Irish Cob Society)
http://www.theirishhorse.com/

Breed Description

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 Irish Cobs with their unique action, luxuriant hair and feathering and the large range of colours available, present a beautiful and varied sight to see when turned out at their best, particularly when in motion. The most striking aspect of these animals is their temperament - kind, intelligent and gentle.

(thanks to Cairnview)

Laragh Horses - Recently Updated Pages

Foals and Mares for Sale

2009 Foals

Laragh Horses - Home Page

Laragh

News and Updates

2008 Foals

Clydesdales

Ardattin Clasina

Links

Barefield Penny

Barefield Penny

A grey RID mare born 2nd April 2004

Lilo (252)

Lilo and a young punter at Naas in 2005 Laragh MacSweeney out of Lilo by Cloneen Clover Tutti Frutti her first colt foal by Fruits of Love

Ardattin Annabell

Ardattin Annabell

Chestnut RID mare born 24th May 1999

Lismoses Lady

Lismoses Lady

Grey RID Premier mare, born 1998

Saorise na Fodhla

Saorise na Fodhla

Chestnut AID mare, born 1992

Laragh Chessie

Laragh Chessie and her 2007 foal Laragh Molly

Llewellyn - ICS Elite Stallion and sire of Laragh Molly

Laragh Molly April 2008This year we have taken Chessie back to Llewellyn as he is producing lovely foals. He is owned by Dermot and Flore Ryan in Crossakiel, Kells, County Meath.

Other Equines Past and Present

Thoroughbred Horses

Irish Draught Horses

Irish Cobs

Lilo and a young punter at Naas in 2005

Laragh MacSweeney out of Lilo by Cloneen Clover

Tutti Frutti her first colt foal by Fruits of Love

Laragh Molly April 2008
This year we have taken Chessie back to Llewellyn as he is producing lovely foals. He is owned by Dermot and Flore Ryan in Crossakiel, Kells, County Meath.