Irish Draught Horse - Lionwood Stud

irish draught about us

Established in 1998, our small farm lies on the limestone-rich bedrock of an ancient Silurian seabed that is now a river basin between the Mississippi and Cedar Rivers. We live in the region of Iowa American artist Grant Wood called home. The goal of our breeding program is the conservation of the rare, traditional purebred Irish Draught horse.

Our motto is "quality not quantity". We breed from a very small nucleus of top class, proven, R.I.D. broodmares. We strive to maintain the phenotypic and genotypic heritage of the breed through working to ensure that elements of the traditional Irish Draught horse are sustained in our small herd. Specifically, we emphasize true native character and substance, boldness, natural jumping ability, and the springy cadenced movement typical of the purebred Irish Draught. We maintain a carefully chosen combination of bloodlines known for producing strong native type, while introducing lines from lesser-known, outcross Irish Draught families to strengthen the genetic foundation of our herd. All of our horses have been bred to possess the intelligence and generous nature that have made the Irish Draught horse famous the world over.

Registered Irish Draught gelding, Easter Rebellion (Grey Macha ex Bonnie Belle Supreme)

Here at our farm, our horses live as a herd, outside 24/7 with field shelters even during our cold Iowa winters. We believe this management system is critical to maintaining their overall well-being and helps produce the strong bone and healthy immune system that contribute to the breed's native hardiness. Our herd is fed a forage-based diet that emphasizes the correct mineral balance that is so important for proper structural development during the in utero period, through foalhood, and beyond. The foals are handled daily to complement the education they receive from members of their herd family. They are taught to be respectful of humans from a very young age. When they leave our farm to venture out into the world, our youngsters lead, tie, stand quietly for veterinary procedures and hoof trimming, and load readily onto a horse trailer. They are well on their way towards becoming solid equine citizens and ready to embark on their lives with their new families.

As you explore our website, keep in mind that while some may view native breeds like the traditional Irish Draught as anachronisms that are no longer relevant to modern horse breeding - we embrace them as glorious ambassadors for the ancient horses who literally carried the history of mankind on their backs. Native breeds are vital for their ability to replenish the genes for hardiness and productivity that are so important for sustaining the genetic health of the horse as a species. And, they are able to turn their hoof to most any equine endeavor - if you can dream it, they can do it! Purebred Irish Draught horses fill niches as talented showjumpers, charismatic driving horses, unique and capable eventers and dressage horses, handsome and highly prized field hunters, and cherished family members...and they form the breeding foundation for the crossbred Irish Draught Sport Horse, which continues to be the mount of choice for many riders at the elite levels of international jumping sport.

This website, and our breeding program, is our attempt to honor this long history of utility and close partnership with man, and to protect the crucial genetic reservoir the Irish Draught and horses like them represent. It is our most heartfelt wish that these enchanting horses will be around for many years to come, providing their future families with the enjoyment their sires and dams have given us.