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‘These are Irish Draughts, not Valegro – don’t try to make them look like something they’re not’: 2025 Royal International Irish Draught judge on what he’ll be looking for
In the next of our exclusive articles for H&H subscribers on what the judges will be looking for in specific classes at the Agria Royal International Horse Show, Irish Draught judge Matthew McGivern shares details about his equestrian background, how he became involved in showing and what he will be prioritising as the ride judge at Hickstead
Last season, the inaugural British Horse Feeds and Irish Draught Horse Society (IDHS) of Great Britain supreme ridden Irish Draught championship at the Agria Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) welcomed top-class competition. 2025 Royal International Irish Draught judge Matthew McGivern will be assessing the ride phase of the class, and gives insight into his background and what he will be looking for on the day…
Who is Matthew McGivern?
Matthew’s passion for horses began with his grandfather, who was heavily involved in the South Pembrokeshire Hunt, and “took no encouragement” to keep Matthew home from school so that they could follow hounds. As well as hunting, Matthew spent his childhood competing in an array of Pony Club competitions.
“It was a ‘learn to stay on until you can’ sort of childhood experience,” recalls Matthew.
His first love was eventing, and Matthew travelled and worked on eventing yards until his career was interrupted by a back injury, which prompted a shift towards showing.
“I had a couple of young horses coming through, and wondered what else they could do,” he explains. “So I fell into showing in a way but hit the ground running and enjoyed it.”
Matthew believes that you can learn a great deal from observing professionals, and cites the late greats, Robert Oliver and Allister Hood as two inspirations.
Matthew now works for the NHS, but continues to enjoy showing and producing alongside Pembrokeshire based breeder, Sarah Baker.
He led Heronsmill Tiger Lilly – whose dam, Copybush Eye Of The Tiger is a full sister to Sarah’s 1994 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in-hand supreme champion Copybush Catchphrase – to win the Price Family In-Hand Supreme at HOYS in 2019. He also led Copybush So Fashion to qualify for the same prestigious final last term.
Judging experience
Matthew – typically laid back – fell into judging, too.
“It was purely by accident. I had a horse for Sarah Whitfield, who was a quirky, beautiful, pure Irish Draught that I fell in love with – he was my first introduction to the breed,” says Matthew. “When it came to selling him, I found him a lovely home, and his new owners, who were fans of the breed, suggested I try for the Irish Draught panel.”
Matthew has since thoroughly enjoyed judging at the Irish Draught championships among other appointments, and he has also been appointed to the Retraining of Racehorses panel.
What will Matthew be looking for on the day?
Matthew is “absolutely” looking forward to his appointment to assess the 2025 Royal International Irish Draught class alongside conformation judge, Sue Deakin.
On the go-round, Matthew will be looking for a horse that “is mannerly, covers the ground and has free-flowing movement appropriate for its breed.”
He explains: “Traditionally, the Irish Draught is a jack-of-all trades; they worked the farm, went hunting on a Saturday and pulled a cart to church on a Sunday, but this doesn’t excuse their way of going in a showing class. They should go correctly and give a pleasant ride.”
Once on board, manners are again going to be important to Matthew, and his winning mark will be awarded to a horse that “knows its job” and is “light in the hand.”
Nevertheless, “I don’t want anything that’s ponderous,” says Matthew. “I don’t want anything that you’ve got to be booting along or driving like a tractor. I’d like to get on, and be able to appreciate the work someone has put into its ride.”
As for pet hates…
“There’s nothing worse than when you see a big horse that is getting rushed out of its rhythm to try and make it look like something is not. I would much rather see something go correctly, than a rider trying to force something that is unnatural to an animal. These are Irish Draughts, not Valegro!
“Also, I don’t like anything that either snatches the bridle or won’t accept a contact. I would like to think that I’ve got quite light but guiding hands, but believe anything you ride, regardless of what type it is, should be able to accept a contact and be able to work correctly from leg to hand.
“Neither do I like a manufactured contact. It needs to be something that works correctly from behind and goes up into your hand, rather than something that’s pinned down at the front.”
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Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.
