The Return of the Irish Draught to the Upperville Colt & Horse Show

Written by Shayda Windle | Photos by Kira Topeka for Erin Gilmore 

Since the 18th century, the Irish Draught horse has served as the quiet backbone of Ireland’s countryside. Versatile and durable, the breed would work the farm during the week, pull a buggy on the weekend, and remain athletic enough to carry its rider across the hunt field. Just as important as its ability, however, is its temperament. With a steady, dependable nature, these creatures have long been valued as a trusted family horse.

Irish-bred horses are well represented in hunt fields worldwide. Riders who travel to Ireland to hunt often return home determined to reproduce those horses’ qualities through selective breeding or direct importation. That sustained demand has significantly influenced contemporary sport horse breeding across multiple disciplines.

In the 1960s and ’70s, tractors replaced working horses across Ireland, and the need for traditional farm animals declined. Purebred Irish Draughts were increasingly crossed with Thoroughbreds and other sport horse lines to produce modern hunters and eventers. While these crossbreeds created many of today’s competitive horses, they all trace back to one essential source: the purebred Irish Draught, now, sadly, considered endangered.

However, the Upperville Horse & Colt Show, one of the nation’s most famous horse shows, has long recognized the importance of the breed. Irish Draught classes were offered in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but dwindling participation eventually led to a temporary suspension of the category. 

In 2024, however, UHCS welcomed them back, sparking excitement among breeders, riders, and enthusiasts eager to see these storied horses in action. This year, both purebred Registered Irish Draughts, as determined by the Irish Draught Horse Society of North America, and part-bred Irish Draught Sport Horses with at least one-eighth Irish Draught pedigree are eligible to compete at UHCS, opening the door to a broad range of participants while still honoring the breed’s heritage.

Few people have been as instrumental in preserving that heritage as Brandy Greenwell, owner of Bridon Irish Draughts. Greenwell began breeding Irish Draughts with her mother in the 1990s and would maintain the largest mare herd in North America. Since then, her program has bred, produced, and imported exceptional Registered Irish Draughts and Irish Draught Sport Horses, earning numerous national championships in both breeding and performance divisions. Today, she is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on the breed in the United States.

When asked what sets Irish Draughts apart from other breeds seen at Upperville, Greenwell points first to their character.

“Irish Draughts are typically mild-mannered, fun, and amateur-friendly,” she says. “Many of the horses competing in the UHCS upper divisions are suited only for professional riders, but that’s not the case with this breed. At the heart of the Irish Draught community is a genuine passion for having fun, loving their horses, and supporting one another in a welcoming environment.”

The classes themselves reflect traditions appropriate to the breed. Ridden divisions are judged in a European style rather than the more familiar American hunter format. In Irish hunter classes, spectators will not necessarily see the slow, metronomic canter typical of U.S. hunter show rings. Instead, the pace is forward and purposeful, creating a lively atmosphere that often draws enthusiastic applause.

Upperville’s Irish Draught division also includes classes for young stock and in-hand horses, where judges evaluate entries against the breed standard. These divisions are more than ceremonial; they are essential to preserving the qualities that define the Irish Draught.

That preservation carries broader implications for the equestrian world, particularly within foxhunting, a deep-rooted tradition that defines Hunt Country. Irish Draughts have long contributed to the development of exceptional hunt horses prized for stamina, soundness, and a steady temperament. If purebred breeding programs decline, experts warn, the hunters so sought after worldwide could gradually diminish as well.

The return of Irish Draught classes to Upperville is more than a nostalgic revival; it represents a meaningful step toward safeguarding a rare breed whose influence extends far beyond the show ring. The breed is a living link between agricultural history, sport horse excellence, and the hunting traditions that continue to shape the region.

Spectators and riders alike are encouraged to support the Irish Draught division this June at UCHS, whether by bringing a horse to compete or simply by attending the show. Doing so helps ensure that this remarkable breed, and the heritage it represents, continues to have a place in Upperville for years to come. The division is sponsored by Virginia Equine Imaging, an elite equine sports medicine clinic located in The Plains, Virginia. To enter a horse, eligibility papers must be submitted to Michelle Robbins at kilronan1@yahoo.com no later than May 18, 2026. ML

Published in the April 2026 issue of Middleburg Life.