Irish Hobby

The Irish Hobby is an extinct breed of horse native to the British Isles that developed prior to the 13th Century. [http://www.tbheritage.com/GeneticMarkers/mtdnaintbdamlines3.html "mtDNA in Thoroughbred Dam Lines" "citing" E.W. Hill, et.al., "History and Integrity of Thoroughbred Dam Lines Revealed in Equine mtDNA Variation," "Animal Genetics" 33, 187-294. London: Blackwell Publishing.] ] The breed provided foundation bloodlines for several modern horse breeds, including breeds as diverse as the Connemara pony and the Irish Draught. [http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/EfabisWeb.cgi?sid=6f153dc3f59f32f1871d729c913b2bfa,reportsreport8a_50009141 "Irish Hobby/Ireland." Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS), FAO.] Web site accessed February 2, 2008]
Mares of Irish Hobby breeding may have been among the native horse breeds of the British Isles that provided foundation stock for the Thoroughbred.There is ample evidence that the Irish Hobby was imported into and used in England and Scotland for various activities, including racing, "...they be so light and swift."

This quick and agile horse was also popular for skirmishing, and was often ridden by light cavalry known as "Hobelars". Hobbies were used successfully by both sides during the Wars of Scottish Independence, with Edward I of England trying to gain advantage by preventing Irish exports of the horses to Scotland. Robert Bruce employed the hobby for his guerilla warfare and mounted raids, covering 60 to 70 miles a day. [Hyland, Ann (1998),"The Warhorse 1250-1600." UK: Sutton Publishing ISBN 0-7509-0746-0 p 32, 14, 37]

The breed is the origin of the term hobby horse.

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