Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has introduced a pioneering “genomic grade-up rule” for the Irish Draught Horse Studbook (IDHS), allowing horses without recorded pedigrees to be genetically tested and potentially included in the studbook’s supplementary section. By submitting a hair sample for genomic analysis (€200), breeders can demonstrate if a horse carries the core genetic makeup of a pure-bred Irish Draught. Approved horses will be designated “genomic grade up,” and their offspring, when bred with registered Irish Draughts, can enter the main studbook. This initiative aims to restore rare or lost bloodlines, strengthen the breed’s future, and could be extended to other native rare breeds.

The move has been welcomed as a scientifically robust and forward-thinking step to conserve genetic diversity in the Irish Draught, which is on the Rare Breed Survival Trust watchlist. While some breeders emphasize the need for careful inspection and limited initial use, experts highlight the potential of genomic tools to protect breed integrity and support conservation efforts where pedigree records are incomplete or lost. The Irish Draught Horse Society of Great Britain is currently reviewing the implications of this new rule for their own breeding programs.