Gentle Giants
The largest of all horses,
the Shire remains a breed of mysterious origins and promising
future.
By
Lydia Boenig
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Their
ancestry stems to the Great War horses of Britain’s
age of knights, battles and conquests, where a horse’s
valor and strength determined victory. Yet these gentle giants’
docile personality and versatility have allowed them to springboard
from the legends of old into today’s equine society.
History
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| The
Shire is believed to have originated in the Midlands of
England although his origin is shrouded in veils of legend.
Most likely, the breed descended from heavy cob type horses
and possibly the English War Horse, or Great Horse. Julius
Caesar, upon landing in England, commented on the courage,
aptitude and strength exhibited by the Shire’s ancestors.
During the early 13th century, the era of knights in armor,
close to 100 large stallions were imported from Scandinavia
to be crossed with local cob mares.
A
knight in full armor could weigh up to 400 pounds, placing
horses of great strength and docility in high demand.
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The
Shire most likely originated from the Great War horses of
ancient England’s knights in armor.
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A
long succession of kings, beginning with Henry II, outlawed
the export of these massive horses in order to preserve
the supremacy and numbers of the Great Horse. King Henry
VIII first attached the name Shire to the horses in the
early 1500’s and continued the tradition of banning
their export.
Late
History
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| The
Shire became key to commerce in the 1800s.
With the expansion of the British Empire, countless ships
anchored in English harbors were built, loaded and unloaded
with the Shire in charge of ensuring each load was successfully
moved. Once the cargo was off-loaded, Shire
geldings transported the heavy loads on poorly paved roads
of the city and countryside. Demand was high for these reliable
horses of immense strength. The English Cart Society was formed
in 1878; the name of the organization changed to the Shire
Horse Society in 1884. |
A classic Shire conformation consists of a long neck, broad
chest, deep shoulders and strong hindquarters. |
America
received her first Shires during the mid-1800s. The American
Shire Horse Association was formed in 1885. Four thousand
Shires were imported during the first quarter of the 20th
century, but farm mechanization eventually caused a decrease
in demand for Shires and other draft horses in this country.
Yet, recently, enthusiasts, breeders and owners have rediscovered
the king of draft breeds. Shires are now used for showing,
pulling carriages, farm work, logging, and some are used as
riding horses.
Breed Characteristics
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Docile and kind, Shires have personality to spare and form
genuine bonds with their handlers. From the chrome of the
show hitch to the mud in the furrow, this breed has proven
its competency
in completing the task at hand.
The heavy hair on a Shire’s legs, called feathering,
began being selected for during the 17th century. While working
in heavy mud and marshes common in England, feathers were
essential for draining water off the leg in order to prevent
fungal infections of the skin. Also critical for these working
conditions were well-formed, large, wide hooves that are open
at the heels. Feathers and good feet are still desirable in
today’s Shire. |
Hercules proves the Shire’s
versatility as he competes in a Western class. |
Large, prominent eyes are set on a long, lean head with
a slightly roman nose. A long, slightly arched neck ties
in nicely to a broad, muscular chest with a deep shoulder.
A sloping croup with strong, well-angled hindquarters for
leverage complete a classic Shire look. Black, brown, chestnut,
bay and gray are accepted colors. Excessive white markings
and roaning are undesirable, though blazes and stockings
are common.
Most Shires range from 16.2 to 19 hands, weighing up to
2,500 pounds. The current Guinness Book of World Records
lists Samson, an English Shire gelding as the world’s
largest horse. He stood 21 hands high and weighed close
to 3,000 pounds. He has passed on now, but his full brother,
Hercules, is still growing and may be the next record holder!
Today’s
Shire is a complex creature – layered with the courage
of past battles won, the strength garnered from harsh working
conditions as farm laborers, and the pristine conformation
suited for survival. As each century passes, a new talent
is unearthed as they adapt to their current surroundings
without ever losing the kind nature that has endeared them
to their handlers throughout history.
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Shires
in the South East |
The
New England Shire Centre, located just outside of
Ocala, FL is home to Hercules and over forty other
Shires. Candy and Carl Moulton have run in the draft
horse circles for over twenty years. Carl began his
relationship with draft horses at the young age of
eight. He helped his grandfather skid logs down the
slopes of the White Mountains. After some time of
being in pulling contests with Belgian horses, the
Moultons focused their attention on the Shire horses.
The original farm was in New England, but the limestone
in the soil and mild winters of Florida held a particular
draw for Candy and Carl. |
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They moved their operation full time to Ocala in 1999.
Always searching for individuals to better their herd,
Candy and Carl make several trips to England each year.
The Moultons believe that the English breeders are producing
horses that are most true to type and more closely fit
into their own operation. Once a horse is selected,
they fly it over the Atlantic to America; all six of
their show hitch geldings and their new stallion are
from England. Candy and Carl’s horses thrive on
a balanced diet of Seminole feed and straight alfalfa
hay. A visit to the New England Shire Centre consists
of viewing and interacting with most of the horses on
the farm: stallions, geldings, mares and foals! For
group tour reservations, please call 352-873-3005 or
visit them online at www.newenglandshirecentre.com. |
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Lydia
Boenig is a graduate of Texas A&M University and
is an Equine Nutrition Consultant for Seminole Feed.
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