Irish Draught Horses for Sale – Buyer’s Guide

Buying an Irish Draught horse isn’t like scanning a car listing; the market can feel like a puzzle of private sales, breed society pages, and general classifieds. Whether you’re looking for a bombproof companion or a competition prospect, knowing where to look and what to pay is half the battle.

Average height: 15.2 to 16.2 hands ·
Average weight: 600 to 700 kg ·
Common disciplines: dressage, show jumping, eventing, hunting ·
Typical price range: £3,000 to £10,000 ·
Lifespan: 25 to 30 years ·
Coat colours: bay, brown, black, chestnut, grey

Six key specs, one pattern: the Irish Draught combines the substance of a draught horse with the agility needed for modern sport disciplines.

Where can I find Irish Draught horses for sale in the UK and Ireland?

Online marketplaces like DoneDeal and Horsemart

DoneDeal, Ireland’s leading classifieds site, is a first port of call for many buyers. Filters let you narrow by breed — “Irish Draught” — and location. In the UK, Horsemart (UK equestrian marketplace) currently lists Irish Draught horses with asking prices visible on individual listings, including examples at £2,850, £4,500, £11,000, and £12,000.

Freeads Pets (UK classifieds platform) shows adverts from Huddersfield, Braintree, Didcot, Witney, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Doncaster, with examples including a registered Irish Draught colt at £5,500, a mare at £4,995, and a 2-year-old Irish Draught x Cob at £2,500.

Breed society directories

The Irish Draught Horse Society (Great Britain) (official breed registry) has a dedicated horses-for-sale section with listed prices such as £3,800, £4,250, £5,500, £5,800, £7,800, £8,500, and £10,000. The society also maintains a For Sale archive page (historical sale records) recording postings with dates and owner contact fields — useful for tracking market trends. For British buyers, our UK horse buying guide cross-references society listings with major marketplaces.

For buyers in Ireland, Horse Sport Ireland provides breeder contacts through its registered breeder network.

Local breeders and word-of-mouth

Local searches often yield private sales that never appear on national platforms. Searching for “Irish Draught horses for sale near me” can surface smaller breeders who sell through yard noticeboards or local equestrian networks. The Bit & Bridle specialist guide (equine editorial publication) advises prospective buyers to start with the IDHS(GB) because it maintains a register of approved breeders and hosts breed shows and inspections across the country.

“Prospective buyers should start with the society because it maintains a register of approved breeders and hosts breed shows and inspections across the country.”

IDHS(GB) via Bit & Bridle

The implication: A cross-referenced search strategy across breed societies and aggregated marketplaces yields the highest chance of finding a matching Irish Draught.

What is a bombproof Irish Draught horse?

Defining bombproof temperament

“Bombproof” refers to a horse that is not easily spooked: it can tolerate unexpected sights, sounds, and handling without bolting or panicking. In the Irish Draught context, this trait is often cited because the breed was developed for steady farm work and hunting over varied terrain.

Irish Draughts are traditionally calm and steady. Their reputation as a “gentle giant” comes from centuries of selection for docile, trainable animals that could pull a plough one day and carry a rider to hounds the next.

How to verify a horse’s temperament

Temperament varies by individual and training. A horse advertised as “bombproof” should be tested: ask to tack up in a busy yard, ride past flapping tarpaulins, and observe its reaction to dogs, traffic, and other horses. No reputable seller will object to a trial ride.

For novice riders, the calm temperament of a well-trained Irish Draught is a genuine advantage — but “bombproof” is a marketing term, not a breed guarantee.

The catch: Proven calmness in training scenarios is the only reliable metric; marketing language guarantees nothing on the trail.

Are there 17hh Irish Draught horses for sale?

Typical height range

The average height for the breed is 15.2 to 16.2 hands, but larger individuals exist. The Irish Draught breed standard allows mares from 15.1hh and stallions from 15.2hh, with no upper limit stated. Horses reaching 17hh are less common but available — especially from lines with thoroughbred or warmblood influence.

Finding taller horses

Horses at 17hh are more likely to appear on specialist platforms. Whickr’s Irish Draught marketplace (cross-platform listing aggregator) shows listings from about £2,850 to £14,000, with taller horses typically at the higher end. For British buyers, Right Horse Right Home (specialist equestrian brokerage) lists Irish Draught horses at prices including £3,000, £4,500, £6,500, £9,750, £11,999, and £13,999.

Why height matters

Height matters for discipline suitability. A 17hh horse will have a bigger stride for dressage and more scope over fences in show jumping, but may be less agile for hunting through tight country. Buyers should match height to the rider’s leg length and the intended work.

The pattern: Demand for 17hh+ horses creates a premium that reflects their scarcity across open market listings.

How to use DoneDeal to find Irish Draught horses for sale?

Creating effective searches

DoneDeal is Ireland’s leading classifieds site for equestrian sales. The breed search field accepts “Irish Draught” and “Irish Draught x” — using both terms catches crossbreds that often inherit the breed’s temperament without the studbook price.

Filtering by breed and location

Use the category “Horses & Ponies” then filter by breed. Location filters help narrow to your province or county — DoneDeal shows adverts from all 32 counties of Ireland. Setting the maximum price filter between €3,000 and €12,000 captures the bulk of genuine offers.

Contacting sellers safely

Always arrange a viewing before committing. The IDHS(GB) and the Bit & Bridle guide (equine buying advice) both stress that a pre-purchase veterinary examination is essential — never skip it because the horse looks sound in a video.

1. Use the category “Horses & Ponies” then filter by breed.
2. Narrow by location using province or county filters.
3. Set a maximum price filter between €3,000 and €12,000.
4. Contact the seller and arrange a viewing before committing.
5. Conduct a pre-purchase veterinary examination — never skip it because the horse looks sound in a video.

What this means: A well-filtered DoneDeal search reduces noise, but the risk of undisclosed issues remains until a veterinary check confirms soundness.

What should you consider before buying an Irish Draught horse?

Health and vetting

A pre-purchase vet exam is essential. Irish Draughts are generally hardy but can be prone to conditions such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and arthritis, especially in older or heavier individuals. A five-stage vetting including flexion tests and trot-up on hard ground is the minimum.

Temperament and training

Consider discipline suitability. Irish Draughts excel in dressage, show jumping, eventing, and hunting. Horsemart show-jumper listings (UK competition horse sales) include examples at £4,950, £7,500, and £16,500, illustrating the premium for proven competition horses. Explore more Irish horse breeds on our site.

Price negotiation

Prices vary by age, training, and registration. A specialist guide from Bit & Bridle states that typical UK prices for Irish Draught horses range from £3,000 to £20,000+ depending on age, breeding, grading, and competition record. Unbroken youngsters typically sit around £3,000–£8,000, while backed or competed adults can be £8,000–£20,000+ in the UK.

“Typical UK prices for Irish Draught horses range from £3,000 to £20,000+ depending on age, breeding, grading, and competition record.”

Bit & Bridle specialist guide

Transport and stabling

Factor in transport costs — a horse costing £5,000 may require £500–£1,000 for a professional courier within the UK, or more from Ireland to mainland Britain. Stabling should be arranged in advance; Irish Draughts can live out year-round with adequate shelter, but many owners prefer a stable for winter months.

Confirmed facts

• Irish Draught is a native Irish breed developed for farming and riding Horse Sport Ireland
• Average height 15.2–16.2 hands; weight 600–700 kg Horsemart breed standard
• Used for dressage, jumping, hunting, and pleasure riding Bit & Bridle discipline guide
• Registered horses available through IDHS(GB) (official breed registry)
• Market prices from Horsemart, Freeads, and Whickr range £2,500–£16,500

What’s unclear

• Exact number of bombproof-trained horses available in UK/Ireland
• Current average market price due to seasonal and economic volatility

What’s next

For British and Irish buyers, the smartest next move is to cross-reference at least three platforms: the IDHS(GB) registered sales page, Horsemart, and either DoneDeal (Ireland) or Freeads (UK). Set a budget range, book a vetting before viewing, and always test-ride in realistic conditions. Prospective buyers who exercise patience and vetting rigor consistently beat those rushing into higher-priced purchases.

Frequently asked questions