Mary Allen
It really doesn’t get more impressive than one: Horses with a height of over two meters at the withers, long manes, lots of goats on their legs – Shire Horses are truly impressive. This makes her gentle, people-loving manner all the more fascinating.
Origin and History
Really heavy and powerful horses were needed early on, both in the war and in agriculture. In the 18th century, for example, the so-called “Improved Black Cart Horse”, also called “Bakewell Black”, was bred – named after its breeder, the farmer Robert Bakewell. The Shire Horse emerged from these horses. Unfortunately, many Shires were crossed with Clydesdales, so that in the 1960s breeding was practically on the ground and there were only a small number of pure-bred Shire Horses left. It is thanks to a few dedicated breeders and the breweries who continued to breed the gentle giants that the impressive Shire Horses did not become extinct. Fortunately, the population is no longer endangered today and there is a real show scene in which the gentle giants are presented. In the meantime, Shires are not only shown traditionally decorated in front of brewery wagons, but also under the rider at various horse shows. Its impressive size amazes viewers everywhere to this day.
Interior
Shire Horses are also called the “Gentle Giants”. Her gentleness is almost legendary and is widely praised. In addition, the large, but sociable animals are still very intelligent and willing to learn. They are hardworking and yet have enough rest to become safe workhorses and draft horses.
Exterior
Shires are simply huge: the minimum size of stallions and geldings is 168 centimeters at the withers and 163 centimeters for mares. But there are said to have been Shire Horses with a height at the withers of over two meters. The Australian stallion Noddy is given with a height of 2.05 centimeters and 1500 kg weight. That’s an unusual amount, even for the Shire. But most gentle giants actually weigh more than a ton.
The long neck with the lush hangings and the large head of the horses also emphasize the size of the horses. The shackle hangings, which start quite high up in the Shires, are also typical. Many Shires are dark – bay or black – with a broad blaze and four white legs. The massive horses stand out from this drawing alone. Her compact body reinforces the impression of standing in front of a large mass of horses.
Suitability / Use
Shire Horses are suitable for all types of driving: whether brewery trucks or agricultural work, their strength is sufficient for heavy work and their imposing appearance is perfect for presentation purposes. Care must be taken that the horses do not have to work too young, Shire horses are late-developing.
Of course, you can also ride Shire Horses. In the leisure area, they make their owner a lot of friends through their willingness to learn and their gentle nature. It goes without saying that their talent in the field of show jumping has clear limits, and even in dressage a rider who is enthusiastic about tournaments needs a horse with more sporty movements. Long galloping, as one would expect from a long-distance horse, is not the specialty of the cold-blooded horses, but trail riding through terrain that is not too mountainous is definitely for them.
Attitude
A large horse needs a large box, of course, so keep in mind that the minimum requirements for a box size are based on the horse’s height at the withers: The box must be twice the square at the withers. For a 1.70 meter horse, that means a minimum floor space of twelve square meters. Better, of course, more!
In addition, the box equipment of a Shires Horses should have certain stability – otherwise, a wall may be dented quickly or a hay rack broke. When feeding, caution should be exercised when feeding too much-concentrated feed. The Shires, who are traditionally fed with hay or straw crochets in England, are not fed too nutritiously. Furthermore, the heavy cold-blooded animals do not find it so easy with steep slopes – flat pastures are more suitable for them. And in general, species-appropriate keeping with exercise and horse contact should be a matter of course, as with all horses.
Diseases Typical of the Breed
Unfortunately, as with other horse breeds with dense fetlocks, malaise is one of the diseases typical of the breed. A diet that is too high in protein or nutrients can promote the development of metabolic diseases. The ankle hangings must always be well cared for.
It is also important for the large Shires that they absolutely need sufficient time for their growth. Before the musculoskeletal system is exposed to greater stress, it must be reasonably mature. Otherwise, it threatens to be damaged.