The Age of Parade

This project is concerned with The Irish Draught Horse. These particular images – The Age of Parade is part of a wider series on the breed that I am working on.

There is a saying in Irish ‘capall le ceansacht’, meaning that a horse should be handled with gentleness. I’m very interested in the horse-human connection and all the work that is put in to preserve this breed.

The Age of Parade was shot at the annual Dublin Horse Show which takes place in the RDS in the capital every year. I’ve been visiting the show since I was a child and started bringing my camera in 2018 in an effort to capture this very special display.

A man wearing a bowler hat and covered in a long coat is standing behind a white fence at a horse race event, watching two horses and handlers in the race area. The background shows spectators, trees, and event banners.
Close-up of a black horse's back and hindquarters in a field, black and white photo.
A black and white photo of a man in a suit with a tie and a hat, and a woman with long hair, with a white horse in between them, outdoors with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
A line of horses standing on grass, some with braided manes, at an outdoor event or show, with trees and buildings in the background.
A horse being led by a person in a suit and gloves, with rings on the person's belt, in black and white.
A man in a suit, hat, and gloves leading a white horse at a fairground or parade, with a crowd in the background.
A person reading a booklet while watching a horse at an outdoor horse show or competition.
A man dressed in a suit and bowler hat holding the reins of a horse on a grassy field, with other people and horses in the background.
A horse with a light-colored tail standing on grass, with people and horses in the background at what appears to be a horse show or event.
A man in formal wear and a bowler hat holding a horse on a lead at an outdoor event, with trees and a fence in the background.
A horse is being led by a handler in a horse show arena, with two men walking in the background and a crowd watching from behind a fence. The scene is in black and white.
A person in a suit and bowler hat leading a large horse at an outdoor event, with a number 35 on their back, in black and white.
A person dressed in a suit, wearing a hat and gloves, is holding a white horse by the bridle at a racetrack. The horse has the number 444 on its bridle and saddle pad.
People watching a horse during a horse show or competition at an outdoor venue with trees and buildings in the background.
A man in a suit and tie holding a police helmet and a chain connects to a dog, with a person in black clothing standing nearby. They are outdoors on a dirt surface, with a metal barricade on the left side and a dark backdrop on the right.