Throughout December 2025, we featured heavy breeds and heavy breed crosses on YourDressage, finding out just how beloved these Heavy Hitters are to our community – so much so, we couldn’t fit all the stories into one month!
Here, a Region 1 rider tells us about the extra “luggage” she brought back from vacation – a draft horse dressage partner with a heart of gold!
By Madeline Piplico
In 2017, I took a trip to Ireland with two close friends, one of whom hailed from the Emerald Isle, and was excited to share the beauty of the country with us. His wife and I were on the cusp of a new adventure; in one month, we would officially start Afton Stables, opening a new business in the frequently challenging horse world and hoping to create a unique space for dressage riders.
As part of our vacation, we visited a local fox-hunting barn in Galway, Flower Hill. We were shown around the property by several working students, eager to get us on a horse or two. They brought us into a shed-style barn full of Thoroughbred and Connemara types, munching on hay in chest-height stonewall day stalls.
One head stood out above the rest – literally. His kind eye and affable face made him look like the perfect husband horse for our farm, so I asked if I could try him.
Eoghain was 17 hands, and four years old, and only sort of broke. He didn’t exactly steer, and definitely didn’t pick up his big feet. However, he tried to do what I asked of him and even let me pop him over a few crossrails. We flew him home, with the intention of fox-hunting him with our local club. We did so for two seasons, and Eoghain was a star! He would hunt in the front or back of the field, jump everything, and he was good with the hounds. Then, as so often happens, life got in the way.
After Eoghain’s fox-hunting career became too time-consuming, he became our default lesson horse, getting occasional dressage training rides from me, during which I would try out new techniques. At one point, I had a clinic with the late, great classical master, Francois le Mer de Ruffieu. His simple training method of “Divide and Conquer” was easy to use on Eoghain, and I started practicing it every ride. In time, I watched Eoghain develop new (huge) muscles, and gain gymnastic athleticism. Soon, he became my favorite ride.
At the time, I was competing with two talented Dutch Warmbloods, but Eoghain was my playtime. Everything he gave was a bonus, and there was no pressure for him to perform.
Eoghain soon showed that he would try harder than any warmblood, even though he wasn’t bred for dressage. He easily picked up on laterals, although holding them in the canter is really hard for his big body. I focused on developing his canter with quality over quantity, and in time, I felt he was ready to show.
Our groom at the time loved Eoghain, so we decided to show him together. I would show him at First Level, and she would take him out at Training Level. I received such kind and encouraging comments from the judge in our first test that I knew I had to keep taking him out.
My challenge as Eoghain’s trainer is balancing his willingness to learn with his physical capability. Despite his lovely conformation, his hocks are a weak point, so I have to listen when he tells me he is done cantering for the day. I have to back off training altogether in the summer, as his great size makes him heat-intolerant. This means we can only show him at the beginning and end of the hot Virginia show season.
If you see us out there, please come say hi, and bring a treat for Eoghain. He is Afton Stables’ brand ambassador, the gentlest giant of all, and my ultimate joy ride for the lower levels.
