Bridon Belfrey, RID, Irish Draught Stallion

The Irish Hobby is an extinct breed of

horse The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million yea ...

developed in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

prior to the 13th century. The breed provided foundation bloodlines for several modern horse breeds, including breeds as diverse as the

Connemara pony The Connemara Pony ( Irish: ''Capaillín Chonamara'') is a pony breed originating in Ireland. They are known for their athleticism, versatility and good disposition. The breed makes excellent show ponies. History The Connemara region in C ...

and the

Irish Draught The Irish Draught horse is the national horse breed of Ireland which developed primarily for farm use. Today, they are especially popular for crossing with Thoroughbreds and warmbloods, producing the popular Irish Sport Horses (also called ...

Palfrey A palfrey is a type of horse that was highly valued as a riding horse in the Middle Ages. It was a lighter-weight horse, usually a smooth gaited one that could amble, suitable for riding over long distances. Palfreys were not a specific breed ...

s were known as ''haubini'' in France, which eventually became ''hobbeye''. These animals eventually found their way to Ireland where the Irish Hobby developed. The breed was mentioned in 1375 by the poet John Barbour, who called them ''hobynis'' in his poem, ''The Bruce.'' He also mentioned them in his work ''Reliquiae Antiquae'', noting their speed.

And one amang, an Iyrysch man,
Uppone his hoby swyftly ran...

Mares of Irish Hobby breeding may have been among the native

horse breeds This article is a list of horse and pony breeds with articles on Wikipedia, and also includes terms for types of horse that are not necessarily standardized breeds but are often labeled as breeds. While there is no scientifically accepted defin ...

of Ireland that provided foundation stock for the

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

. There is a great deal of evidence that the Irish Hobby was imported to England and Scotland for various activities, including racing, "...they be so light and swift." Horses were traded in Ireland at the

Cahirmee Horse Fair Cahirmee Horse Fair is held on 12 July every year (except 1915–1918, 1940–1945 & 2020-2021) in the town of Buttevant, County Cork, Ireland. The ancient horse fair was originally held at the Fair Field of Cahirmee, some two miles to the east o ...

near the town of

Buttevant Buttevant ( or ''Ecclesia Tumulorum'' in the Latin) is a medieval market town, incorporated by charter of Edward III, situated in North County Cork, Ireland. While there may be reason to suggest that the town may occupy the site of an earlie ...

, reputed to be one of the oldest horse fairs, since medieval times. This quick and agile horse was also popular for

skirmish Skirmishers are light infantry or light cavalry soldiers deployed as a vanguard, flank guard or rearguard to screen a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They are usually deployed in a skirmish line, an i ...

ing, and was often ridden by light cavalry known as ''

Hobelar Hobelars were a type of light cavalry, or mounted infantry, used in Western Europe during the Middle Ages for skirmishing. They originated in 13th century Ireland, and generally rode hobbies, a type of light and agile horse. Origins According ...

s''. Hobbies were used successfully by both sides during the

Wars of Scottish Independence The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. The First War (1296–1328) began with the English invasion of ...

, with

Edward I of England Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he ruled the duchies of Aquitaine and Gascony as a vas ...

trying to gain advantage by preventing Irish

exports An export in international trade is a good produced in one country that is sold into another country or a service provided in one country for a national or resident of another country. The seller of such goods or the service provider is an ...

of the horses to Scotland.

Robert Bruce Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventuall ...

employed the hobby for his guerrilla warfare and mounted raids, covering a day. Hyland, Ann (1998),''The Warhorse 1250-1600.'' UK: Sutton Publishing p 32, 14, 37 The breed is the origin of the term

hobby horse The term "hobby horse" is used, principally by folklorists, to refer to the costumed characters that feature in some traditional seasonal customs, processions and similar observances around the world. They are particularly associated with May Da ...

. A common Irish phrase associated with the term is "go get on your hobby horse", which is an idiom to complain about a subject, topic, or issue in which one is excessively interested.

References

See also