Matthew McGivern, the 2025 Royal International Irish Draught judge, brings a lifelong passion for horses rooted in his childhood experiences with his grandfather and Pony Club competitions. He has a deep connection to the Irish Draught breed, having been introduced to it early on and continuing to enjoy showing and producing horses alongside his family in Pembrokeshire. Matthew has also gained judging experience at Irish Draught championships and retraining of racehorses events, and he will be assessing the ride phase of the Irish Draught class at the 2025 Royal International Horse Show.

Matthew emphasizes the importance of horses going correctly and pleasingly in the show ring, focusing on their movement and manners rather than just their appearance. He values riders who show respect for the horse and maintain control while allowing the horse to perform naturally. Matthew also highlights the significance of good horsemanship and the ability to work correctly with the horse, aiming to reward those who demonstrate these qualities in the competition.