I have had during the last year the opportunity to vault on a handsome Irish Draught horse named Shakespeare. But I had no idea until I began researching endangered horses, that these beautiful horses are indeed in need of conservation. Shakespeare, the only Irish Draught I've ever known, is a gentleman. He's carried both me and my daughter with great care during our vaulting practice. I have to literally reach over my head to grasp the handles of the vaulting surcingle. He is one tall boy. I know he's my vaulting coach's treasure.

Irish Draft Horse Society of North America. "The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations classifies the Irish Draught (ID) horse as an endangered breed due to the declining population size. Falling purebred numbers, combined with a serious threat of genetic erosion, suggest that the ID population is in urgent need of conservation. Genetic diversity is an important component in the consideration of conservation strategies and measures of genetic diversity are becoming widely used in breed management systems. The Irish Draught Horse Society must now identify and preserve its rare bloodlines and explore the genetic resources available to preserve the broadest possible genetic base."