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Angus and Anna Sprecher explore around Kinsale Farms Tuesday morning. Photo by Jean Farley

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When equine eyes are smiling

By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

Angus beef is a Bland County staple.
Angus horse? That’s another matter.
Don’t worry, though, no majestic equines are headed to the slaughterhouse.
“Angus” is the nickname of the Irish Draught (pronounced “Draft”) stallion at Kinsale Farms, located about two miles down Virginia 42 West after its split from U.S. 52.
Lionwood Kinsale’s Lad, Angus’ given name, came to Bland County more than three years ago as an eight-month-old after owner Ken Haley purchased him from Flying Harp Farm in Iowa.
Haley, originally from the Baltimore area and now with residences in Florida and at Kinsale Farms, bought Angus to start his own breeding and show business.
“My Irish heritage drew to me to visit Ireland on several occasions where I became familiar with this unique and wonderful breed of horse,” Haley stated in an e-mail message regarding his interest in Irish Draughts. “After learning just how rare they are and about their natural athletic ability and great temperament I knew I wanted to own one of these beautiful creatures.”
During a tour of the farm Monday afternoon, trainers Anna Sprecher and Jenny Fisher gushed about the temperament of Angus, 4, and the other Irish Draught and Irish Draught Sport horses that Haley owns.
“Angus has been an absolute doll,” Sprecher said. “They’re very affectionate and they’re so willing to work.”
The Irish Draught horse developed in Ireland in the early 1900s as a horse that could be used for a variety of farm work.
“[The Irish farmer] needed an animal that could work the land throughout the week, go fox-hunting all day Saturday, jumping anything he faced, and then be ready to bring the family trap to church on Sunday morning,” states an article on the Irish Draught Horse Society of North America’s Web site.
Although the Irish Draught has a long history in Ireland, the breed has only recently been introduced in the United States. The IDHS of North America was established in 1993.
Haley said that there are only about 200 purebred Irish Draughts registered in North America.
“Prior to coming here I had never even heard of the Irish Draught,” Sprecher said, despite her 15-plus years of riding experience.
Irish Draught Sport horses also have helped bring more recognition to the Irish Draught in recent years. Irish Draught Sport horses are crosses between an Irish Draught and a thoroughbred and excel at top-level eventing and show-jumping events.
Sprecher said the Irish Draught Sport horse has the unique combination of “athleticism and speed and finesse” coupled with “durability, soundness and strength.”
In addition to Angus, Kinsale Farms also has a thoroughbred mare, Bankonarebel, or “Vixen,” and an Irish Draught mare, Ardvarnock Gem, or “Gemmy,” who arrived on the farm in January 2007.
Vixen is off the farm right now as she is due to have an Irish Sport Draught foal later this month.
The foal due to be born in a few weeks was not sired by Angus, but Vixen and Angus produced Kinsale’s Irish Rebel, or “Tardy,” who was born in 2006 and remains for sale at Kinsale Farms.
Gemmy also is pregnant and is due to give birth in June to a purebred Irish Draught sired by Angus.
“It will be the farm’s first homebred, purebred foal,” Sprecher said.
Sprecher came to Kinsale Farms two years ago following her graduation from Averett University in Danville with a degree in equestrian studies.
As the full-time trainer at the facility, she broke Angus and rode him in his first dressage competitions last year. Angus raked in a number of awards at both national and regional competitions to go with the honors he won during “in-hand” (non-riding) competitions in 2005 and 2006.
“He really likes blue,” Sprecher said, referring to the color of first-place ribbons.
Sprecher said the landscape at Kinsale Farms has been beneficial in getting Angus and the other horses exposed to different kinds of terrain.
“The property has been really valuable because it’s so varied,” she said. “Anything that you would want to expose a young horse to, we have.”
Haley explained that he picked the nearly 300-acre property for precisely the reasons Sprecher cited.
“My criteria in selecting my farm was plenty of land, creeks/ponds running into all pastures, backing into National Forest (for riding/trail hiking) and near interstates for going to shows,” Haley said. “The farm in Bland fit this criteria to a fault.”
Fisher, who graduated in 2005 from Michigan State University with a degree in animal science, just joined the farm’s staff last month and will be taking over Sprecher’s role when Sprecher leaves for another job in Delaware in two weeks.
Sprecher will keep ties to the Irish Draught breed, though, and actually will be working with one of Angus’ half-brothers.
“First thing I did was ask, who’s got an Irish Draught?” Sprecher said about her move north. “I think I’ll end up owning one eventually.”
Fisher also said she’s enjoyed the few initial sessions she’s had riding Angus and getting to know more about the breed.
“He’s been nothing but fun,” she said.
Although the farm’s emphasis will continue to be on breeding and competitions, Haley said he plans to expand in the next few months to offer lessons, clinics and educational opportunities to local residents.
The riding style the farm plans to teach will be English as opposed to the more common Western style practiced in the area, Fisher said.
Anyone interested in signing up for lessons, from beginner level to advanced, or taking a tour of the farm can call (276) 688-0051 or e-mail Fisher at .
In addition, the farm sells hay and Haley also said he is looking to bring on a Bland County student interested in the equine industry as an intern in the coming months.
More information about Kinsale Farms also can be found at http://www.kinsalefarms.com.
Nate Hubbard can be reached at 1-800-655-1406 or .