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Shire Draft Horse History & Origin

The massive Shire horse was developed in the United Kingdom's Fen counties and in the Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Staffordshire. This is quite obviously how it got its name. These horses can be traced back to the English Great Horse of the Middle Ages, and also to the primitive Forest Horse. Throughout the 17th century, many Flanders Horses and Friesians were brought over to England by the Dutch contractors, who were employed to work on the land reclamation going on in the Fens. Both of the previously mentioned breeds had a considerable effect on the development of the Shire.

Interbreeding between the Great Horse, the Friesian, and finally the Flanders, produced the English Black, so named by Oliver Cromwell. This new breed was much larger than the Great Horse, although it exhibited many of the features of the Flanders horse and the predominantly black coloring passed down from the Friesian. The Shire's foundation sire is believed to be Packington Blind, who sired the first Shires to appear in the studbook of 1878.

Shire Draft Horse Population & Evolution

The Shire Horse Society was formed in 1884. Until World War Two, an incredible number of Shires were registered every year during that time period. They became very popular horses, mainly due to their extreme pulling power. This has not yet been surpassed by any other horse breed. These horses are used for all different kinds of agricultural tasks. After the second World War, the number of Shires decreased dramatically, although recently there has been an interest revival. This is partly due to the support of beer breweries, who continue to use the Shire throughout the country for demonstrations and shows.

Shire Draft Horse Breed Standard
- Courtesy of The Shire Horse Society, England

Stallions
A good Shire Stallion should stand from 17.0 hands (173 cms) upwards, and weigh from 18 cwt (900 Kg) to 22 cwt (1100 Kg) when matured, without being overdone in condition. He should possess a masculine head and a good crest with sloping, not upright, shoulders running well into the back, which should be short and well coupled with the loins. The tail should be well set up and not what is known as “gooserumped”. Both head and tail should be carried erect. The ribs should be well sprung, not flat sided, with good middle which generally denotes good constitution. A Stallion should have good feet and joints; the feet should be wide and big around the top of the coronets with sufficient length in the pasterns. When in motion, he should go with force using both knees and hocks, which latter should be kept close together, he should go straight and true before and behind.

A good Stallion should have strong character.

Mares
A Mare should be on the quality side, long and deep with free action, of a feminine and matronly appearance, standing from 16 hands (163 cms) and upwards on short legs; she should have plenty of room to carry her foal.

Geldings
A Gelding should be upstanding, thick, well-balanced, very active and a gay mover; he should be full of courage and should look like and be able to do a full day’s work. Geldings weigh from 17 (850 Kgs) to 22 cwt (1100 Kgs).

*References:
- The Shire Horse Society, England
- The Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. Tamsin Pickeral.

Shire Draft Horse Breeders

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