THE IDHBA National Irish Draught Breed Show is taking place today, Saturday, September 2nd at Punchestown Racecourse in Co Kildare.

“The annual National Breed show is an IDHBA flagship event which promotes and showcases the improving quality and popularity of the Irish Draught breed,” said Robert Draper, IDHBA National Chairperson.

Aligned with the association’s strategic plan, the National Show raises the breeds profile and promotes breeding, showing and the ridden Irish Draught across the spectrum of equine disciplines. Judging will commence at 9.30am with this year’s show boasting an impressive €11,300 in prize money and a very strong number of entries across all classes.

National Show Chairperson, Anthony Gillespie, commented: “Up for grabs on the day, there will be massive 37 national titles in addition to ridden and in hand championships.”

New to this year’s schedule is a stallion parade which gives stallion owners an opportunity to bring out and promote their horses and to give recently approved stallions exposure to the many breeders in attendance on the day.

Another new initiative for 2023 provided by the IDHBA will be the option to get professional sales and promotional videos taken of horses at the show which can be used by the owner as required.

A Traditional Irish Horse (TIH) foal class has also been added this year to support the influence and scale of the Irish Draught breed in the success of the TIH.

Entry to the show ground is free and all are welcome to come along. Additional information and detailed criteria are available from the IDHBA Office.