Irish Thoroughbred History
Thoroughbreds were developed in England during the 1600s and 1700s. They were so identified with England, that when shipped over to North America, they were commonly referred to as English thoroughbreds, according to "International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds." England's next-door neighbor Ireland, with its lush pastures and fertile soil, eagerly embraced the new breed and now is second only to Kentucky in the breeding of quality thoroughbreds.
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Although famous for racing, thoroughbreds in Ireland were used for more than just flat racing and steeplechasing. They were used to pull carts, go to war and for fox hunting. When crossed with native Irish ponies, the thoroughbred in Ireland produced outstanding horses for jumping and showing. Irish thoroughbreds are still used in all of these fashions, but they also can be slaughtered for meat in continental Europe.
Derivations
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Ireland produced a new breed based on adding thoroughbreds to the native horses and back again to the thoroughbred. They needed to create a horse that was physically stronger than the original Thoroughbred. The result was the Irish hunter, also known as the Irish sport horse. The latter is especially in demand, a cross between the Irish draft horse and the thoroughbred. The breed registry became managed by the Irish Horse Board in 1993.
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Speculation
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The sport of steeplechasing is commonly thought to have originated in Ireland. It got its name from the legendary original race in 1752, where two contestants, Cornelius O'Callaghan and Edmund Blake, raced their Irish hunters from one church to another four miles away. That church's steeple could just be seen in the distance. They went in a straight line, so their horses had to jump over many gates and fences. It is unknown whether this legend is true.
Racing
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Thoroughbred racing was well established in Ireland by 1791 when England produced the first "General Stud Book" for the thoroughbred breed. Ireland became the third leading producers of thoroughbreds, behind America and Australia, according to the UK Times. The most famous breeding stud farm is Coolmore in County Tipperary, which began in 1975. It would go on to open branches in Australia and America. The premier horse race is the Irish Derby, open only to 3-year-olds, held at the Curragh racecourse. It began in 1866.
Fun Fact
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The most famous thoroughbred foaled in Ireland was Red Rum (1965 to 1995), a bay gelding who three times won the world's most difficult steeplechase race, England's Grand National, in 1973, 1974 and 1977. "Rummy" also went on to appear in television, in parades and charity appearances after he retired from racing.
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