The Shire Horse

The beginnings of the Shire horse breed is somewhat blurred, therefore there are small variations on exactly when this breed came into being. However, many do agree on the origin of these noble horses. Shires are said to be descendants from the medieval ‘Great Horse’ that came into England around 1066 with William the Conqueror to serve in the war. They were sometimes referred to as the ‘War Horse’. The years of breeding that followed after the end of the war resulted in a horse commonly called ‘Bakewell Black’. The Bakewell Black was named as such to pay homage to Robert Bakewell, a prolific breeder of the times. Then in 1878 the name was changed to ‘English Cart Horse’ and then finally, six years later to ‘Shire’. The name Shire comes from the Saxon word ‘schyran’ that means to shear, or to divide. The midlands in England, or ‘shires’, such as Derbyshire and Staffordshire are where the modern Shire horse originated and therefore where the breed got its name.

During the Great Depression good Shire foals were called ‘the rent payers’ and proved to be very useful to many owners during those hard times. Shires were also used in WWI and WWII to pull heavy artillery through horrible conditions and then almost became extinct after WWII.

During the peak of the heavy horse population there were over one million animals worldwide. Then between the 1950’s-60’s the numbers dropped off drastically to approximately a few thousand. The determination of a handful of dedicated breeders has kept this breed going. More recently, with a small revival in numbers it is estimated that there are just under five thousand worldwide. In the UK, the Shire Horse Society processes only 500 registrations annually.   

 Shires are considered the largest of the heavy horses in the world. They are known for their substance and bone and are used in breeding with heavier hunter types. Shires were even sent to Scotland to help create the modern recognized Clydesdale.

Conformation

Shires have a powerful, muscular build with a dense and rounded body. They are short backed, with powerful hindquarters, long legs and dense bones. Their backs cannot be dipped or roached. Their heads are long and lean, roman nosed and have widely spaced eyes. Wall eyes are not acceptable.

Shires can stand from 16.2hh – 18+hh but generally average 17hh at maturity. They can weigh 1500 – 2000+ lbs. Stallions may be heavier.  

Colour

Shires can be black, brown, bay or grey. No roans or chestnuts. The trademark hairs down the backs of their legs are called ‘feathers’ and the hair over the foot is called ‘spats’. A little known fact to those not associated with the breed is that exhibitors will commonly apply talc powder to accentuate the ‘whiteness’ of the feathers and spats for showing.

Temperament

The reason this breed came into being is because during 1068 there was a great need for a ‘war horse’ that was very large in size and very strong to be able to carry a knight in full armour across the countryside. More importantly, the horse needed to maintain a calm temperament at all times despite its size and strength. It is the calm, dependable and agreeable temperament of Shires that makes them both desirable and versatile.

Present Day

 The revival and continuation of the Shire breed to this day is due largely to determined breeders, exhibitors and breweries that like to use them for promotional events. Other modern day uses for the breed can include short work hauls because they are cost effective and are environmentally friendly; especially through inner city roads in the UK where speed limits are 10-12 mph. Shires are also continually used in agriculture and timber operations. While they are not usually recognized as a riding horse one must remember that the original purpose of the Shire was to be a dependable mount that could carry the weight of a knight and his armour.

Written by Theresa Coates – 2007 ©

Sources:

All photos are courtesy of the Canadian Shire Horse Association.

 Canadian Shire Horse Association – www.canadianshirehorse.com

 Shire Horse Society – www.shirehorsesociety.com

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