ALIGNED with the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association’s new strategic plan, the association have launched an innovative showing point system to encourage and promote breeders and producers to bring out their Irish Draught Horses to shows.

The official launch will take place at the IDHBA Dublin Branch Show which takes place in the National Horse Sports Arena, Abbotstown on Sunday, June 25th.

The points system will provide a fair and transparent competition to establish and promote some of the best performers from the showing and ridden Irish Draught circuit. Points gained by a horse during a showing season or over a number of seasons will be available and can be used to promote and market the animal or its progeny. The potential to add new categories and expand the format for 2024 will be assessed based on demand and support in its inaugural year, according to IDHBA chairman Robert Draper.

Criteria for points:

  • Open to pure bred Irish Draught horses with passports in the owner’s name
  • Points will be awarded for shows run in each calendar year.
  • Horses must be registered prior to the date of attending their first qualifying show.
  • Results should be submitted via Its Plain Sailing to the IDHBA within 14 days of show date.
  • Results must be verified by show secretaries or judge’s signature.
  • Points are tallied after the last qualifying show of the calendar year.
  • It will be the responsibility of each owner to record, submit and provide proof of points earned for each Irish Draught registered.
  • Points will only be awarded for classes confined to pure bred Irish Draughts.

    • The initiative includes a range of categories of in-hand and ridden classes. Awards will be presented for the highest verified points in each category at the end of each showing year. Additional information and detailed criteria are available from the IDHBA Office.

    Entry per horse is only €10 for IDHBA members with Non IDHBA members charged €30.

    Registration, applying for a showing card and registering verified results can be done via itsplainsailing.