Shire | Draft Horse, Heavy Horse, Gentle Giant | Britannica
Shire, draft horse breed native to the middle section of England. The breed descended from the English “great horse,” which carried men in full battle armour that often weighed as much as 400 pounds. Shires were improved as draft and farm animals in the latter part of the 18th century by breeding mares from Holland to English stallions.
Shire horse - Wikipedia
The Shire is a British breed of draught horse. It is usually black, bay, or grey. It is a tall breed, and Shires have at various times held world records both for the largest horse and for the tallest horse.
Hermann Farm's Black Shires — HERMANN FARM
Here at Hermann Farm we are dedicated to the preservation of the Shire horse which is making a comeback from near extinction. The Kallmeyer family, who owned the farm from 1908 to 2006, played a vital role in breeding, raising and training mules and draft horses to be shipped overseas to assist in both World Wars.
Shire horse - Horse Canada
The “Packington Blind Horse” of Leicestershire, which stood at stud from 1755-1770, is the individual animal most often recognized as the foundation stallion for the Shire breed, but he wasn’t alone in contemporary adoration as there were other draft horses celebrated in contemporary books and print.
Shire Horse - The Livestock Conservancy
The breed is believed to be a descendent of the “Great Horse” of medieval England, a large, strong mount that could carry a knight and armor weighing up to 400 pounds with swiftness and agility. These native English horses were crossed with Flemish stallions in the 1200s and Dutch Friesians in the 1500s.
The Shire Draft Horse: All You Need To Know About This Gentle Giant
What Is The Shire Draft Horse? The Shire is a draft breed that originated in the country of England. These horses are known for their tremendous size, pulling ability, and gentle temperament. The Shire is a breed that is classified as coldblooded and has a …
Shire Horses | Oklahoma State University
"The Shire horse is the purest survival of an early type which was spoken of by medieval writers as the 'Great Horse.' If this horse did not originate in England, this country at a very early date acquired a widespread reputation for producing it.
Shire Draft Horse - Draft Horse Breeds - artbycrane.com
The head of the Shire horse is medium in size, with a slightly roman nose. The forehead is wide between the eyes and the eyes are large and docile in expression, indicating the lovely temperament of this breed. For a draft horse, the neck is relatively long, running back into a deep shoulder, wide enough to carry a collar easily.
Shire - The Horse Guide
The Shire became the largest and most powerful draft horse in Britain. It is used by brewers in cities in stylish teams to pull beer wagons, in weight-pulling competition and in plowing competition. Physical Description: The Shire is a horse of great size: a mature stallion stands between 16.2 and 17.2 hands and weighs up to 2200 pounds. Mares ...
The Versatile Shire - American Shire Horse Association
The American Shire Horse Association offers National and Regional Shire Shows throughout the country to allow Shire owners to exhibit their horses with and against other Shires. Classes are offered for registered halter, cart (mare, stallion/gelding), team, 4-horse hitch and 6-horse hitch.