Shire is a breed of heavy draft horses (draft horses), whose homeland is England. Shires confidently hold the palm among the "giants" of the equestrian world and are the tallest horses on the planet. It is the representative of this breed that holds the world record for growth among horses. In the 19th century, in the small English town of Bedfordshire, lived a "baby" 2.2 meters tall and weighing 1.52 tons. His name was very symbolic "Samson".

Admiring these powerful creatures, you experience a slight dissonance. It does not fit in my head how these qualities and amazing grace, sweet beauty and kind disposition can coexist in such large, strong and muscular giants. When you look at these horses, it is breathtaking, and when you sit on them, you feel dizzy. They are majestic, beautiful and very strong.

origin of name

The name of the breed comes from the English word "shire", which translates as county... So, in many names of the counties of England, for example, such as Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire and others, the word "shire" is used in the second part of the name.

If we analyze the etymology of the name of the breed in more detail, it turns out that the “progenitor” of the word “shire” is an ancient Saxon term, which implied a certain boundary or division.

And today in England there is a slang term denoting the central part of this state. In particular, the central counties of England are called "Shires".

At the same time, it is believed that "the horse from the central counties" got its current name thanks to King Henry VIII. If you believe the story, it was this king, nicknamed the "copper nose", who was the first to call the giant horses shire.

History of the breed

The origin of the Shire, as one of the most ancient breeds, is lost in the mists of time. Historical evidence (documents and archaeological finds) suggests that even in 1st century AD... the conquerors of Britain, the Romans noted the presence of giant and majestic horses on the island. Also, the mighty bodies of horses are depicted on ancient coins and dishes.

There is every reason to believe that the Shire are direct descendants of the so-called medieval "big horse", which was used mainly for military purposes and came to the British Isles along with the Norman conquerors.

In the future, the breed of large horses only gained popularity in England. "Big horse" successfully coped with serious physical activity. She could easily carry on her a knight in armor, whose weight sometimes reached 200 Kg... Strength and courage, combined with its beauty, became the reason for the use of the horse in knightly tournaments.

The choice of horses for their valiant knights in England was very sensitive. So, a royal decree of 1541 approved a ban on the use of stallions in breeding below a certain height and build. For violation of the decree, the strictest punishment was established.

From big to English and black

Later, with the growth of industry and agriculture, it became necessary to move large volumes of cargo. It was for such transportation that "big horses" began to be used.

The "big horse" gradually turns from a knightly into a harness. The chronicles of the 16th century testify that on the broken roads of England in the downpour and cold there are often horses capable of moving a load weighing more than three tons. Along with the growth of industrial and agricultural production, the number of "big horses" grew.

It was during this period that Frisian, Flemish and German horses were brought to England. And, as it turned out, in the end, not everything German is of high quality and effective.

So, the "blood" of German stallions did not have a significant impact on the formation shire breed... On the other hand, the Frisian and Flemish strong men made their contribution to what is now called "Shire". The Frisians added some lightness and flexibility in movement to the image of the "big horse", and the Flemings finally formed the appearance and character.

In the 17th century, thanks to the black color of Flemish horses, which was passed on during crossing, the "big" ones began to be called the "English crow". According to sources, the famous English statesman and commander Oliver Cromwell became the author of this name.

But it is still believed that the founder of the entire Shire genus and the first of this breed was a stallion named Packington Blind Horse (Blind stallion from Packington), who lived in the second half of the XVIII century. in the small village of Packington, Leicestershire.

It is not known for certain why the stallion received this specific nickname. Was he really blind or just his masters had such an original imagination.

In the 19th century, the Shire became the most popular and famous heavy draft breed in England. Such popularity could not go unnoticed by foreign professional horse breeders and just amateurs.

At the end of the 19th century, a massive import of horses to the North American continent began, and at the beginning of the 20th shire appeared in Russia.

Studbook

In 1878, the Old English Society of Pedigree Horses was formed and the first studbook was created. In the comments to the first edition, Sir Walter Gilbay writes about the courage, strength and beauty of the breed, which conquered the great Roman politician and military leader Julius Caesar.

In 1884 the Old English Breeding Horse Society was renamed the Shire Horse Society. Today the studbook is divided into three sections. In the first section, absolutely purebred horses are registered. The following sections include horses born as a result of "misalliance".

Breeding records are kept very strictly and controlled at the very high level ... For registration in any of the sections of the studbook, a mandatory confirmation of paternity is required. Previously, blood tests were carried out to determine paternity, but with the development of high technologies, DNA is already being tested.

Exterior

Shire is a large harness horse breed. The body parts are proportionally developed. The back is broad, short and strong. The croup is long and muscular. The head is massive with a wide forehead. The ears are pointed. The tail is set high and fluffy. Powerful and muscular legs. The hooves are large and strong. On the lower joints, fluffy brushes - "friezes".

• Height at withers: 165 - 185 cm.
• The weight: 800 - 1225 kg.
• Suit: black, bay, karak, gray; white markings are often found on the legs and head.

Photo

Character traits

The character is balanced and stable. Easy to control and train. Of all the existing gaits, the gait is best suited for the shire. Enough effort is required to bring the horse into a canter, as well as stopping it afterwards. So, if you are not confident in your strengths and skills, it is better not to take risks and enjoy your gait.

Care and nutrition

Shire, being agricultural horses, very unpretentious in care therefore do not need any special care.

However, regular attention must be paid to friezes (hands on the legs). They need to be thoroughly cleaned, washed and dried. Otherwise, the horse may develop biting midges (a form of dermatitis that affects the horse's legs in the frieze area).

As far as nutrition is concerned, shires are no different from most horses. High-quality hay, sometimes a small amount of food additives, and in summer, it is obligatory to walk on pastures with juicy and fresh grass. Naturally, one should not forget that these good-natured giants need twice or even three times more food than smaller breeds.

Modern use

Today Shire is one of the most beloved and demanded breeds among professional horse breeders and simply horse lovers. These strong and cute horses are very popular with children.

They are rarely used for agricultural purposes. The owners love them very much and therefore cherish them. Shire can also be seen both at specialized exhibitions and shows, where only horses of this breed participate, and at general horse breeding events.
Love these wonderful animals, and they will answer you in kind.

A horse is an animal that man has tamed for a long time in order to make his life easier. Experts say that man domesticated this animal over 6,000 years ago. For many centuries, the horse regularly served a person in different types activities: in the economy, in the military industry, as well as as a transport.

The image of a horse has found its way into art. Some species can be found only in ancient paintings.

Over the centuries, people have bred new breeds of horses that perform strictly defined tasks. Characteristics began to be grouped not only by climatic affiliation, but also by physiological data.

The development of technical progress made many types of horses disappear... But caring livestock breeders try to prevent such phenomena and work on breeding horse breeds.

The largest horses in the world are heavy draft horses. Shire (English heavy truck) also belongs to them. Representatives of the breed reach two meters at the withers. These can be fat horses or hardy heavy trucks. However, this is not always the fattest horse but often the hardest. Shire is considered the largest horse breed.

Historical data

The first reports of strong, mighty horses date back to the 11th century. To breed a generation of hardy horses, local representatives were crossed with Frisian and Flanders. The Belgian heavy truck played a significant role in the emergence of the Shire.

The authorities issued decrees not permitting breeding of breeds with a height of less than 154 cm. To increase growth, they recommended shire cross with others large equestrian representatives. For example, with the Belgian. However, the Belgian breeds are slightly inferior to the Shire in height and weight.

Queen Elizabeth in the 16th century was also interested in increasing the number heavy draft horses... The optimal parameters of the breed were strictly controlled.

In 1878, data appeared about the ancestor of the breed, named the Blind Horse. Whether the animal was really blind is no longer known today. At the same time, a Shire breeding society was formed, breed parameters were developed, and the Shire began to participate in exhibitions.

The name "shire" did not appear immediately... At first, the breed was called the "great horse". Then the horses were called Old English. In the 18th century, the name “shire” was fixed.

Gallery: English heavy truck or shire (25 photos)

External characteristics

Horses of this breed are of three colors:

• black;
• bay;
• gray.

Color may have some white spots.

The growth of stallions is from 173 cm at the withers and above. Weight - from 900 kg. Rib cage- from 215 cm. Front metacarpus - from 25 cm. The metacarpus has a rounded shape, the tendons are palpable.

Mares, in addition to the named colors, can be roan. There may be more white spots than a stallion. The growth of a mare is from 163 cm.

Exterior features

The Shire horse breed also has other external features. Its representatives broad head and a massive forehead. The ears are medium in size. The neck is short, the back is strong, the shoulders are muscular. The croup is wide, the tail is set high.

Shire has a fluffy flowing mane... She may be different lengths... The owners often decorate the pet with beautiful ribbons or make original haircuts. The appearance of the mane is very important in any competition. An obligatory feature of the breed is the presence of friezes on the legs, which have a silky dense structure.

Shire breeds have several subdivisions within their breed:

• yorkshire shires tougher than the rest and have a leaner physique;
• Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire wear fluffier friezes.

Export

Shire was an excellent divorcee in Europe. In the 19th century, he appeared in America, where he competed with local heavy trucks - the Percherons. Later, English heavy trucks began to be bred by American breeders, and in more than in Europe.

Horses were brought to Russia in order to improve local breeds, but they did not succeed in ousting Russian heavy draft horses.

Record holders

The English draft horse is the largest horse in the world. The breed rightfully occupies the highest positions in height and weight. The record holder of the breed is a stallion named Mammoth from Bedforshire, who had a height of 219 cm and a weight of 1520 kg. The mammoth is considered the largest horse in the world.

The largest horses are also known: the Lincoln stallions with a weight of 1345 kg and Malchess with a weight of 1509 kg.

Nowadays, the largest horse in Europe is the Cracker with a height of 198 cm and a weight of over 1200 kg. The largest horse in the world today is a stallion from Australia named Noddy with a height of 205 cm. Noddy is also called the tallest horse in the world.

Care

The peculiarities of caring for a shire differ little from those for other breeds. Animal large size and needs a lot of food. Shire needs up to 17 kg of hay and grass per day. The record holders consume more than 25 kg of feed per day.

Concentrated feedings are undesirable; growth feedings are not used. You can give cake and grass flour, about 7 kg per day. Carrots, beets, apples are added to the diet. Do not forget about clean water.

Care is required for the mane and tail, as well as for friezes. Horse hair is washed with special shampoos and combed out. So that the mane does not get confused, it is braided into braids.

Keeping the stall clean and litter dry is important. With insufficient dryness, the animal may suffer from biting midges - a special form of dermatitis. To prevent the disease, the legs of heavy trucks are sprinkled with sawdust after washing and drying.

It is important for the horse to lead an active lifestyle with daily walks.

Character

Shires are surprisingly docile animals. The breed is hardy and hardworking. Differs in loyalty and devotion to the owner. Horse riders note that the breed requires a strong and confident rider.

Shires carry weights well, but they are hard to get to gallop. However, a gallop for a heavy truck can be a dangerous activity, and the owner should not take risks with this kind of activity.

Breeding shire

To date, the number of heavy trucks has decreased. The breeding process is not an easy job. All offspring of the Shire are registered in the stud book with the assignment of categories. Only purebred mares can participate in the selection.

Shires are admired for their appearance and excellent performance. The price of the horses is comparable to the elite ones. In Russia, an English heavy truck is on sale for a million rubles.

Attention, only TODAY!

The English breed of horses Shire originates from the combat knightly horses. This is one of the oldest and most prestigious breeds. Its representatives are incredibly strong and beautiful. Throughout their history, they have distinguished themselves both on the battlefield and in the field, where they were used as heavy trucks.

The English breed of horses Shire originates from the fighting knightly horses

The English draft horse is the tallest horse in the world. Representatives of the breed reach almost 2 m at the withers. However, the mass of animals is not the same. It can be either a fat horse, suitable for leisurely riding, or a large heavy draft, capable of pulling a plow. Shire horses differ from others not only tall but also in appearance.

The English draft horse is the tallest horse in the world

Stallions are of the following colors:

• bay;
• black;
• gray.

Slight white spots are allowed. The growth of purebred stallions cannot be lower than 173 cm, and the lower limit of the permissible weight is 900 kg. Special attention paid to the legs. The metacarpus of heavy trucks is round and is at least 25 cm in girth. This part of the leg is used to judge the general development of the animal's motor apparatus.

TO external characteristics mares also have special requirements, although they are not as strict as for stallions. Mares are of the following colors:

• bay;
• black;
• gray;
• roan.

For mares, it is permissible to cross both the upper and lower boundaries of growth, as well as weight. In addition, the presence of white spots is not so strictly regulated. There may be more of them than stallions.

All representatives of the breed have a large head and a wide forehead, medium ears and a nose with a slight hump. A heavy draft horse, by definition, must have a robust build. Shires have a short back and wide croup, muscular shoulders and steep shoulder blades. The legs are long and powerful. Representatives of this breed are distinguished by lush friezes on the hocks and wrists. Friezes completely hide large hooves. It is customary to braid the shire mane, decorate with ribbons or cut beautifully.

However, the largest horse breed in the world also has its own internal types. Various horse breeders raise heavy trucks different sizes and weights. A representative of the breed is not always a fat horse of huge dimensions. Some shires are characterized by a powerful exterior, others are distinguished by a dry physique.

Shire horse (video)

Gallery: horse breed Shire (25 photos)

History of the breed

The history of heavy trucks goes back centuries. The first mentions of large and strong horses date back to the middle of the 11th century. It took several centuries to develop the ideal heavy draft breed. Even the English kings William I and Henry II were interested in breeding and crossing horses. It was the soldiers of William I who brought the "big horse of the Middle Ages" to England. Such horses could bear the weight of a knight in armor, for which they were very valued at that time.

By order of Henry II, a large Belgian heavy truck came to England, which became another progenitor of the Shire. At the time of Henry VIII, horse breeders were forbidden to breed heavy-duty vehicles less than 150 cm tall. To improve the breed, horses were brought to the country from Germany, Belgium and Holland.

However, Queen Elizabeth played a special role in the development of the breed of the largest horses in the world. She demanded from horse breeders to increase the number of heavy trucks. In addition, the rules for crossing horses have been tightened. Now the breeder who allowed a representative with a short stature to the tribe was obliged to pay a fine. Exports and imports of horses were strictly monitored. Individuals with insufficient characteristics were not exported even to neighboring states.

At the end of the 19th century, the ancestor of the breed was indicated for the first time in the stud book. It was a fat horse named Blind Horse, although the stallion was not blind. At the same time, an organization of horse breeders was created, whose members made up detailed characteristics breeds and issued a set of rules for horse breeding. From that moment on, the strongest horses became permanent participants in prestigious exhibitions.

It is interesting that the name of the heavy trucks was not immediately determined. At first, the largest horse in the world was simply called “great”. Then the "great" horse began to be called "English", "Old English", "Lincolnshire giant". Later, the Shire breed got its official name from the English word "county", although this word was used by Henry VIII to draft trucks.

In Europe, large horses have become incredibly popular. They were eagerly bought and bred on many farms. At the beginning of the 20th century, horses began to be sent to the United States. At first, the fat horse from England was not particularly in demand among American horse breeders. However, later they began to talk about English heavy trucks as often as about local Percherons. In Russia, shires were not bred, but horses were brought to improve local breeds. And although some of the heavy haulers had better characteristics, the English fat horse did not leave its pedestal.

Shire holds records for height and weight. Even medium-sized stallions are striking in their power. It is not only the largest horse in the world, but also the fattest. In terms of strength, he also has no equal. The stallion Mammoth in 1846 established absolute record in size. His height reached almost 220 cm, and his weight was more than 1500 kg.

For a long time, heavy trucks were in great demand among farmers, because these horses performed complex field work. In cities and villages, they were used as horse-drawn transport. However, technological progress has put the breed on the brink of survival. Shires are becoming less and less, therefore each purebred representative of the breed is highly valued. Breeders try to preserve the herd of legendary horses, carefully monitoring the fate of each foal.

Horse breed Shire (video)

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Hardy, the tallest and most beautiful, some of the oldest on the planet, the descendants of horses on which the Roman soldiers proudly sat - this all concerns the breed Shire horses, which has long become popular in different parts of the world.

As you can see in photo 1, these are really the strongest, most powerful and heaviest horses. “What do these amazing animals look like, when did they appear and how are horses used today?”: We will try to find answers to these and other questions together with you.

The history of the origin of horses of the Shire breed

The history of the creation and use of horses is inextricably linked with the history of England, but its beginning is covered with the darkness of the centuries. It is only known that the Shire oldest heavy draft breed appeared thanks to the multi-stage work of English breeders, crossing local mares with stallions brought from Holland. They got their name from the English "shir", which means - the county. So horses began to be called with the light hand of Henry VIII.

Pictures that have survived to this day, dating from the 15th century (photo 2), confirm the fact that horses were originally used for military purposes. Although, on this score, there is also no consensus. Some argue that horses were excellent live tanks, and who, on the contrary, find evidence that the Shires even then dragged carts and plows along potholes and bumpy roads and land plots of local farmers. When the battles were left behind, thanks to their strength, massiveness and endurance, Shire horses became indispensable in farms, did the hard work of transporting goods, worked in the fields (photo 3), etc. How could you not admire a horse that could pull a load weighing three and a half tons along broken roads covered with mud and ruts.

Over time, Shire horses were crossed with friezes, as a result of which they became lighter, more flexible, fast and agile, although their dimensions remained the same.

In the 17th century, the nickname "English crow" was firmly entrenched for the shires, since the black color was especially widespread in those years.

In the 19th century, these obedient and large heavy trucks became especially popular, and the attention and interest of foreign specialists grew in them. Horses worked not only in the army or in farm fields, but also transported goods in British ports, carried passengers in stagecoaches and flawlessly performed any tasks assigned to them.

There are many champions among horses of the Shire breed. For example, Samson, the horse shown in photo 2, and named after a biblical character, was more than two meters tall. And the growth of the Australian stallion Nobby was more than two meters, with a weight of more than a ton, so many people compared it to an all-terrain vehicle.

With the beginning of technical progress, the need for the use of horses of this breed has decreased markedly, and their number has become less and less every year. Perhaps they would have disappeared forever if not for the selfless horse breeders who tried to save this species from extinction at any cost. The enthusiasts kept the breeding horses, and soon the public interest in them grew again. Today, shires are again popular and in demand, there are about a thousand of them in the farms of England, the same number outside its borders.

Nowadays, representatives of the Shire breed are used by brewers in costume performances on English streets as live advertisements, they participate in musical shows, colorful performances, compete in plowing speed (photo 3), compete in strength, etc. Only one Shire show, held in Petersboro, attracts more than fifteen thousand of their fans annually. People come here from all over the world to admire the grace and grace of these amazingly beautiful animals. When these giants come out, sleek, well-groomed, with multi-colored bright ribbons woven into their mane or tail, I want to believe that the British will try to do everything so that this breed does not soon disappear from the face of the Earth.

The appearance of horses of the Shire breed

Such, as we see them today, the shires became recently - only two hundred - three hundred years ago. Photo 4 on the right shows that the representatives of the breed differ not only in color, and in other outward signs... Some are of such size that they can only walk with a calm, measured step. Others are agile and agile, so they will quickly cope with a cart, plow, cart or other tasks.

As shown in photo 5, they have a well-proportioned torso, high, powerful legs, large bone, wide chest, so they are strong and resilient. Horses are in good health, have excellent appetite, and are mobile and active.

Young one-year-old mares look great. They are fit, they have a large neck, high, powerful legs, a high croup and a straight back.

The photo on the right shows heavy trucks - beauties, they can be easily distinguished by their characteristic bald patches on their heads and white markings on their legs, most often on the back. The demand for horses with such marks in the modern market, in last years, has grown significantly.

The nature of horses of the Shire breed

The breed is distinguished by its balanced character, patience, endurance and complaisance. It is known that children love Shire horses, they are not afraid to come close to animals, and they pull their heads towards them, as if welcoming them.

Animals are distinguished by a calm temperament, therefore, they are still used as breeding material for obtaining obedient and contact offspring.

Interesting Facts:

• Crossbreeding with male Shire is not an easy task. A mare should match a large and tall stallion, if this is not taken into account, you can get offspring with unsatisfactory body proportions and low performance indicators;
• Introduced to Russia in the last century, Shire heavy trucks were used to create a new breed of horses - the Vladimir heavy trucks (photo 6);
• They need three times more feed per day than representatives of other breeds, but, despite the costs of keeping them, they remain popular and in demand. The most important thing is that there is enough grass and dry hay for them, and the stable is bright, warm and spacious. In addition, shire, like representatives of other breeds, love care, affection and attention.

Today, horses are bred and continue to be crossed to obtain harness breeds in the countries of Europe (France, Germany, Belgium, etc.), as well as in Canada, New Zealand and the USA. You can get acquainted with them at exhibitions of various subjects, visiting specialized farms or breeding farms of the operating associations of horse breeders. One of the largest is the American Shire Association, officially registered in May 1885.

Interest in them revived after a special prize was approved for stallions. Visiting the annual March exhibition, you can witness its presentation. This is an unforgettable holiday for horse lovers, because in just one day more than 35 thousand pounds sterling is issued here.

What breed are the smallest, each person will answer without hesitation - ponies. And if you ask a question about the largest horse breed? Not everyone can answer quickly here. The largest horse breed is the Shire. Let's find out more about them appearance and origin.

History of appearance

To find out where the Shire horses came from, you need to look back many centuries. Scientists say that the ancient Romans had a hand in their appearance in the British Isles. Whether it is true or not, it is difficult to say for sure. But it is safe to say that the ancestors of the modern Shires were the horses of William the Conqueror, who used war horses in the fight for England, which instilled fear in the British by their very appearance.

Over time, by mixing local breeds of large horses, the shire appeared. Scientist Robert Bakewell put a lot of work into the careful selection of Shire. In the middle of the 17th century, by crossing with the best representatives of heavy draft horses, he bred an improved version of the Shire horses, which, with their strength and power, became famous throughout the continent.

Did you know? The largest horse named Mammoth was registered in 1846, its height of 220 cm was recognized as the highest in history.

Characteristics and description of the breed

The main feature of shires is proportionally developed body parts. The broad and strong back and rump provide tremendous performance and strength.

Height and weight

The height at the withers ranges from 1 m 65 cm to a record 2 m 20 cm. Weight from 900 kg to 1200 kg, but animals are known whose body weight reached 1500 kg. The mares are slightly shorter - their height ranges from 130-150 cm.

Important! For the full development of the shire, daily physical exercise and good nutrition. Such a horse eats almost intwo times more than usual. He eats about 20 kg of hay per day.

Exterior

Let's find out what these world-famous heavyweights look like - they have large heads, large eyes and nostrils, and a nose with a slight hump. The shape of the body is a bit like a barrel. Long and powerful neck, smoothly turning into a wide and strong back, powerful chest and muscular legs with wide hooves - this is how heavy draft Shire breed looks like. A massive jaw is an undesirable symptom.

Suit

Shires have rich colors - there are bay, red, black and gray horses. In general, the choice of colors will satisfy even the most fastidious animal lovers. Roan specimens are found among mares. But tribal standards allow for white spots on the body. An interesting feature this breed is the presence of white stockings on hind legs and bald spots behind the ears.

Character

Looking at the representatives of the breed of the largest horses in the world, you involuntarily imagine their cool and unbridled temper. But in reality this is absolutely not the case. Shires have a calm and docile disposition. They are easy to train. Due to these qualities, they are often crossed with breeding horses, as a result of which stallions are born, which in the future are ideal for participation in competitions and triathlon.

Important! The optimal form of gait for a horse is gait. It is difficult to make the Shires run at a gallop. In addition, not every rider can cope with a giant at such a speed, as well as slow it down.

Distinctive features

There are also peculiarities inside the draft horses. For example, shires from Yorkshire are distinguished by their endurance, outwardly they are leaner, but shires from Cambridge have thicker friezes (hair at the bottom of the knee joint).

The breed today

In connection with the automation of many industrial processes in the 50s of the twentieth century, interest in this breed subsided somewhat. But the popularity of Shire heavy trucks abroad, their participation in exhibitions and competitions provoked a new growth in their popularity. Today the Shires actively participate in competitions for plowing fields, in races, at exhibitions. Also, they can often be found in a team carrying beer or kvass on various city holidays.
This horse breed is deservedly considered the property of England. And it's not just that they come from there. It was the shires that helped to "put on its feet" the industry of the mainland: shipbuilding, railways, agriculture, transportation of goods - in every industry the hardworking heavy trucks of the Shire were reliable helpers of the British.