Among the racers there are champions in height. It is a textbook known fact that the smallest in the equine family are ponies. However, few people are aware of its largest representatives. These giants are slightly smaller than the Asian elephant. Some individuals grow up to 2 m or more, and the weight reaches 1 ton. The given fact refers to the Shire breed. Horses of this variety have lost their popularity today, but are still considered one of the most beautiful on the planet.

A highly specialized variety obtained by the breeding method as part of the crossing of English working mares with Dutch stallions. The process of its creation is associated with the history of England. The word "shire" comes from the English "shir", which translates as "county". This name was invented by Henry VIII. Prior to this, the heavyweights were called Carriage, Great, Old English Blacks, English Drafts, Military and Lincolnshire giants.

In the annals, the ancestors of the breed are first mentioned in 1066. According to one version, they were brought to the country during the reign of William I the Conqueror.

Milestones in the development of the breed:

1. The descendants of the Shire are considered to be the medieval military Great Horse, later renamed English Black.
2. In the XII century. Henry II gave the order to cross the Shire with the Flanders horses. The selection lasted for several centuries.
3. Henry VIII issued a decree not allowing the breeding of heavyweights, whose height is less than 154 cm. Failure to comply with this rule was punished at the legislative level.
4. Horse breeder R. Bakeville renewed the Shire gene pool with Frisian blood. This marked a turning point in the improvement of the species. Despite the heaviness, the shires gained maneuverability.

1. The founder of the modern version of the breed is a blind stallion from Packington. He was entered in the studbook as the first representative of the Shire variety.
2. In 1878 an association of breeders of these heavyweights was formed.
3. In 1880, a studbook was formed, which contained information about the breed and information about show horses.

1. In the 30s. of the last century, heavy-duty varieties were replaced by tractors. Since the 50s, the number of shires has been rapidly decreasing. However, through the efforts of horse breeders in the 80s. returned interest in heavyweights.
2. In the middle of the last century, they were crossed with Clydesdals. This provoked the formation of silky friezes on the limbs. Such manipulation was necessary to rid the animals of the biting midges.

In Russia, shires were used to improve the characteristics of local heavy-handed breeds. The blood of English stallions flows in the veins of the Vladimir drafts.

The current state of the breed

The shire owe their return from disgrace by the establishment of a solid monetary reward for the stallions. This provoked an outbreak of breed breeding.

One of the popular trends in England is the crossing of Shires with thoroughbreds, which makes it possible to get good draft horses. The most popular are horses with white spots on their limbs.

Special purpose

Initially, this variety was used for military purposes. The massive animals were able to support the weight of the armored knight. They then took part in agricultural activities. After the improvement of the roadway, they became in demand for the transportation of stagecoaches. In the XIX century. were the main tool of labor at the docks and on the railways.

This breed is not uniform. Some of its heavyweight representatives are suitable exclusively for slow driving, others - for the plow.

Today, shires are used in the following activities:

1. Festive celebrations.
2. Beer festivals
3. Plowing competition.
4. Traction competition.
5. Exhibitions.

The only area in which shires are used for their intended purpose is forestry. Rangers actively exploit them for sanitary felling of forest plantations. Heavy weights can be used to haul large trees out of the reach of the tractor. In addition, in remote areas, it is considered more profitable to keep a horse than specialized equipment.

Appearance

Several types are known within the variety. Representatives of the Yorkshire trend are distinguished by a dry texture. Horses from Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire have pronounced brushes on the limbs and are more bony.

Characteristics of the suit

Stallions can have several color options - bay, black, red and gray. White is rare. Light spots on the body are acceptable according to the standards. Males often have a white stripe from nose to forehead.

A little liberties are possible in mares regarding the purity of the breed. In addition to the main ones, a roan suit is allowed. The number of marks is also not subject to strict regulation.

Exterior features

Animals of this species are distinguished by large bones, broad sternum and powerful limbs. This makes them strong and resilient. Horses have an excellent appetite and keep the body well.

Table 1. Characteristics

Evaluation parameter	Characteristic
Height at the withers	From 165 to 180 cm. The average figure in males ranges from 166 to 176 cm. Mares are slightly smaller. There are individuals whose height exceeds 190 cm.
Weight	Up to 1.2 tons.
Head	Massive and weighty.
Neck	Small, well muscled with a high output.
Eyes	Large, expressive.
Ears	Small, compact.
Nose	One of the signs of the variety is a small hump.
Mane	Beautifully flowing, lush and thick.
Croup	Wide and lean.
Withers	Low.
Tail	Set on high.
Rib cage	Broad and muscular.
Back	Strong, level, small, with strong shoulders.
Limbs	Powerful and long.
Hooves	Wide, strong and flat.
Wool	For the hairline, the presence of dense friezes is typical - long hair falling from the knee.

Some animals grow up to 2 meters or more

Breed standards

According to the rules, the minimum threshold for indicators is as follows:

• growth at the withers of a stallion - from 173, mares - from 163 cm;
• body weight - from 900 kg;
• sternum girth - from 215 cm;
• the metacarpus of the front leg - from 25 cm.

Based on the characteristics of the metacarpus, a conclusion is made about the quality of the tendon apparatus and bone. In heavy trucks, there is a predominantly round shape without pronounced outlines of tendons.

When evaluating a horse, much attention is paid to the characteristics of the limbs. The pelvic bones should be straight and the distal areas brushed. Shires have long and strong legs with lush friezes at the hock and wrist. The hooves are large enough to support the horse's weight.

Features of the course

This parameter depends on body weight and size. Some individuals prefer a measured step. The more agile ones easily cope with the cart. The lynx is not typical for this breed and is a deviation from the standards.

The nature of the shire

Horses are distinguished by a balanced and calm disposition.

According to breeders' reviews, representatives of this breed are easy to manage and obedient. This quality has made them in demand for improving the "naughty" varieties.

They are very patient, especially with children. They are not afraid to come into contact with other types of animals. These heavyweights are very sensitive and strongly attached to the owner.

Advantages and disadvantages of the breed

Pets have many positive qualities, including the following:

• large carrying capacity;
• calm temperament;
• hard work;
• good learning ability;
• unpretentious content;
• friendliness.

Among the disadvantages, farmers point out a large appetite. During the day, one animal eats almost 2 times more representatives of other breeds.

In addition, the following characteristics are considered to be small disadvantages:

• increased freeziness;
• insufficient stockiness in some individuals;
• dampness.

According to the breeders, these shortcomings will be corrected in the foreseeable future.

Freeziness means a thick and large mane, tail, and characteristic brushes on the lower extremities. These signs are found in Friesian horses... When crossed, they partially migrated to the Shire.

Accommodation, hygiene rules and feeding of this species are practically no different from those of other heavyweights. Correction should be made in terms of feed consumption and arrangement of the premises based on the high growth rates of animals.

Stable arrangement

Since this is an artificially bred species, animals are practically not found in the natural environment. A prerequisite for their breeding is the presence of a stall.

There are a number of requirements for organizing a stable:

1. Premises. A good option would be a box with a paddock - an adjoining paddock.
2. Parameters. The large dimensions of the shires dictate the appropriate dimensions of the room. The best option length and width - 5 × 5 m, height - 3 m.
3. Walls. During construction, it is necessary to use thermal insulation materials. They will allow you to maintain the desired microclimate. Metal partitions are made between the stalls. Wooden ones are not suitable as horses can chew on wood. Dividers should be 2 times less than the height of the room.
4. Floor. Made from non-slip coating. This will help avoid possible injury. Considering the weight of the horses, you need to make it sturdy. For these purposes, expanded clay is suitable. This material is durable and non-slip. Place a thick layer of sawdust on the floor.

1. Doors. The best option for stalls is sliding doors with 2 or 3 galvanized bolts.
2. Additional devices. Drinkers, feeders and nurseries should be made from natural materials. Any toxic impurities are harmful to the body of heavyweights. Since shires are tall animals, it is necessary to install this "equipment" higher than for other horse varieties.
3. Ventilation. Each stall should be equipped with a ventilation hole.

1. Lighting. It is desirable to maintain it at 200 lux. Daylight hours are 16 hours. This will have a positive effect on the performance and mood of the pets. To increase the flow of light, there must be many windows in the room.
2. Temperature conditions. The optimum temperature for the content is from 13 to 15 ° C. Coolness is encouraged in summer and warm in winter.
3. Humidity. The maximum allowable threshold is 60%. Dampness and drafts must be avoided.

Shires are considered an unpretentious breed. They do an excellent job with both cold and heat.

Cleaning and hygiene

Daily stall cleaning is the main rule of horse breeding. The accumulation of manure and other waste products leads to severe health consequences for pets. In addition, an unpleasant odor is formed, which complicates the cleaning process. It is also necessary to regularly change the bedding, wash food utensils and clean the walls.

1. Once a week, a full wash is required using a brush and special horse shampoo.
2. The friezes are cleaned after each contamination.
3. Bathing in extreme heat is not recommended.
4. After cleaning, the wool is blotted with a woolen cloth or dried in the sun.
5. To preserve the tail and mane, braids are woven.

For the prevention of wood lice, the limbs and hooves are scrupulously cleaned of dirt and sprinkled with sawdust. They are removed after 2 hours.

Video - Horse Care

Feeding technology

A sufficient amount of a balanced diet is considered to be the key to the health of large breeds.

The main difference in the diet of shires is that there is no need to use concentrates and food additives to accelerate growth.

1. Fresh drinking water should always be readily available.
2. The optimal feed is grass, grass meal, hay and vegetables.
3. A horse eats 15 to 20 kg of food per day, some individuals - up to 25 kg.
4. If there is a need to use concentrates, cake will do. The recommended rate is 7 kg per day.
5. Horses are very fond of carrots, apples and fodder beets. It is useful to enrich the diet with cabbage.
6. Animals must always have table salt available.
7. Oats and hay are placed in separate containers. The frequency of feeding is 5 times a day. The optimal dosage is 12 kg of hay and 10 kg of cereals for every 500 kg of the animal.

1. It is necessary to move smoothly from feeding fresh grass to hay. Otherwise, the animal's digestive system will not have time to develop the enzymes necessary for its digestion. This is fraught with diarrhea.
2. After giving birth, the female should not be overfeeded. Oats should be removed from the diet for a few days. Oatmeal is given before each meal, which has a positive effect on milk production and quality.

10 weeks after birth, the foal is gradually weaned off breast milk. This process begins by feeding chopped oats and oatmeal.

Shire is not a popular breed these days. In Europe, for example, there are only a few hundred representatives of this breed. However, breeding work on this variety continues and it is possible that this variety will become relevant again in the near future.

293 08/13/2019 6 minutes

Shire - english breed draft horses. They differ in their dimensions, holding the title of "giants" for centuries. Back in the 19th century, a horse of this breed named "Samson" was awarded the palm for the highest growth among horses - 2.2 meters. At the same time, his weight stepped over the mark of 1.5 tons. It will also be useful to learn about what to feed the horse in winter and which feeds are the most effective, you can see

Description and characteristics of the English Shire horse breed

English heavy truck is different tall and quite impressive weight. The name comes from the English "shir", which means "county". It has an ancient origin, but at the same time the mass of the breed is not entirely homogeneous. Its type is quite variable from horses of extraordinary weight and size, suitable only for a quiet ride at a pace, to folding and large for a cart and a plow.

These horses, like the Suffolk, eat quite well. The body is held firmly. But despite this, they have some disadvantages, expressed in physical manifestations - strong freeziness, dampness, as well as insufficient stockiness in some cases. By clicking on the link, you can find out more about and why it is most often turned on.

The video shows detailed information about this breed:

History of the breed

The breed originated from the British medieval Great Horse war horses, which were later renamed English Black. This name was given to them by Oliver Cromwell. Initially they belonged to the Frieze breed, which had a black suit. Later they began to cross the Flemish and Frisian horses. Initially, they were used exclusively for military needs, but later they began to be used on farms as ordinary or heavy-duty horses.

The Shire breed was bred in the 18th century in England by crossing Dutch and Flemish stallions with local mares. They were bred throughout the country. And here is the most popular and effective one to use.

Their main names have survived to this day:

• Shire;
• Great horse;
• Old English black;
• Lincolnshire Hygiene.

Depending on the origin, certain differences were formed within the breed. The parent of the breed was a horse named "Packington Blind Horse", who lived from 1755 to 1770 in the village of Pekington. She was also recorded as the first Shire horse in the Shire studbook, which was released in 1878. But at that time these animals were called "English draft". Only six years later, they finalized their current name.

Horses of this breed were actively used in farmlands, and as roads developed, in stagecoaches. It was at that time that they were crossed with friezes, thanks to which they became more mobile, flexible, while maintaining their massiveness. In the 19th century, they were used in agriculture and industry, on railways and at docks.

At that time, such qualities as massiveness, endurance, incredible strength and, of course, impeccable obedience.

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Given the high demand for horses with such characteristics to meet the needs of the army and industry, at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, shires became the most widespread.

In 1878, the Shire Horse Society was even created, which existed for 30 years until the appearance of the first tractors and other results of technical progress. In the 50s, the number of individuals decreased markedly and the breed was even threatened with extinction, but several enthusiasts were able to revive its former popularity. Already in the 80s of the last century, over 100 producers started breeding them, and more than 400 animals of this species were registered during the year.

Dimensions, weight of the horse

An important feature of this breed is the proportional development of the body. The chest and back are quite wide, as is the sacrum. It is they who provide tremendous strength with endurance in animals. Shires hold the body firmly.

According to various sources, the average height at the withers is approximately 160-185 cm. Mares and geldings are somewhat inferior in size. The weight reaches approximately 1.2 tons. In the 19th century, horses of this species were distinguished by a rough, large head with a slightly convex profile, a wide forehead, a long and muscular neck, a low withers, powerful legs that crowned strong hooves. But what are the dimensions of the Arabian breed of horses and why they start such a breed, you can find out from the article

Suit

In general, there are usually different-colored shires: gray, bay, black, red. Spotting may be present in some individuals, but is not part of the breed's standards. Also for their color are typical white stockings, which are most often present on hind legs... There is a bald spot on the head. But what color there are horses of the Akhal-Teke breed and what is their price, you can see

Other characteristics

The disadvantages of the breed include dampness and strong freeziness. Such individuals are "rejected", and therefore these shortcomings, according to the breeders, will soon be eliminated. This is done by crossing Shire animals with purebred mares.

Since the 50s of the last century, after crossing with the Clydesdals, the breed has acquired silky thick friezes on the legs, starting at the wrist or hock. We did this in order to solve the problem with biting midges. Today, the most popular individuals on the market are those that have white marks on their legs.

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The video describes the characteristics of the horse:

Horses of this species are distinguished primarily by their character - poise, calm disposition, ease of management. They are considered the main advantages of this breed. That is why shire is often chosen when crossing - in order to get obedient foals as a result.

Most often, these animals are suitable for a step or light gait. Getting into a gallop with them is quite difficult. It should be borne in mind that it is also difficult to stop them in this state. Therefore, an inexperienced Shire rider cannot be dispersed.

These are horses for agricultural purposes. They are unpretentious in care, and therefore are easily kept on the farm. But at the same time, several features should be noted:

1. Be sure to pay attention to the condition of the friezes - the hands on the legs. They should be thoroughly cleaned, washed and dried. The lack of such care leads to the appearance of biting midges - a special form of dermatitis that affects the legs of horses in the area of ​​the friezes.
2. After the walk, the legs with friezes are thoroughly washed, and then sprinkled with sawdust... Later they are combed out.
3. Caring for a bushy tail and mane is also easy.- it must be combed out and cleaned from dirt.
4. In the summer, the horse is washed twice a week with shampoo and conditioner.
5. In the heat, the mane can be braided into braids so that it is not hot.

In the summertime, grazing is required. Give maximum movement. During the period of growth and development of the horse, it should not be used to work with children and adolescents. In general special conditions the animal does not require and takes root well in almost any conditions.

Feeding

Their diet is typical for this type of animals, but at the same time, it requires high costs due to the absorbed volumes:

1. The food is quite simple - good quality hay, a small amount of nutritional supplements. It is worth noting that Shire eat much more than other breeds, almost three times.
2. In the summertime, it is compulsory to walk the animal in meadows with fresh and juicy grass. The animal can eat up to 15 kg of grass and hay per day.
3. No need to feed for growth.
4. Animals are very fond of fresh vegetables and fruits like apples, beets, carrots.
5. In summer, cake and grass flour can also be introduced into the diet, but not more than 5-7 kg per day.

It is also worth remembering to drink cleanly. It must be present in the drinker at all times.

Shire horses can eat twice or even three times more than other horse breeds. When choosing this breed, this should be taken into account.

But what the Trakehner horse looks like and how good it is for races, you can understand by looking at this

Comparison with other breeds

What can you say about the Shire when you compare them with other breeds? They differ:

• Easy, docile disposition... No wonder they are called "good giants."
• Large dimensions... Their height at the withers is quite impressive, as are the overall dimensions.
• More volume in nutrition... Naturally, such sizes also require an appropriate amount of food.
• Endurance and strength... They are not suitable for sports races, but they were previously used in agriculture. Now they are most often used as animals for working with children, as well as for various exhibitions and competitions.

It is also worth learning more about what it looks like and what it is used for.

In many ways, they are similar to the domestic Vladimir heavy trucks. The latter, by the way, were removed from the Shires so that they could live in the conditions of Russian frosts.

On the video - a horse for a walk:

You can also be interested in information about what the price is and how easy it is to grow it.

Horse price

The cost of a horse is quite high - up to 1.5 million per adult. For a foal they take about 300 thousand rubles. In many ways, the price depends on compliance with breed standards, pedigree and other factors. It should also be borne in mind that if the animal is delivered from afar, then the buyer will also have to pay for its transportation.

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 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 drag 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, 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 the farm fields, but also transported goods in British ports, carried passengers in stagecoaches and flawlessly performed any tasks assigned to them.

Among the horses Shire breed many champions. 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. In photo 4 on the right, you can see that the representatives of the breed differ not only in color, and in other external 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 are easy to distinguish by their characteristic bald patches on their heads and white marks on their legs, most often on the back. The demand for horses with such marks on the modern market, in last years, has grown significantly.

Character of Shire horses

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.

Exterior: massive head with a wide forehead, medium-sized ears with pointed tips, short, well-set neck, muscular shoulders, short, strong back, wide and long croup, a fairly high tail, powerful legs, on which a lush is observed from the wrist and hock joints overgrowth - "friezes", hooves are large and strong.

INheight at the withers: 165-185 cm.

Weight: 800-1225 kg.

Suit: mainly black, bay or karak, less often - gray. There are white markings on the head and legs.

Peculiarities: Shires are the largest, heaviest and most powerful horses.

Shire- English heavy draft horses, descending from knightly war horses, descendants of the horses of the Roman Conquerors and is one of the oldest heavy draft breeds. Today it is difficult to say unequivocally how exactly this breed originated, as in the case of many other ancient breeds.

The word "shire" ( Shire) also came from England, and comes from the Saxon word "schyran", meaning "shift" or "watershed", therefore, the word "shire" is synonymous with this area. And the breed got this name thanks to King Henry VIII, who first applied the Name "Shire" to these horses at the beginning of the 16th century.

The fate of the Shires is inextricably linked with the history of England. In the period between the reign of Henry II, 1154, and Elizabeth (beginning in 1558), the government constantly sought to increase the size and number of horses called "great". During the reign of King John from 1199 to 1216, about a hundred large stallions were imported into England from the lower lands of Flanders, in Holland, and the Elby shoals. One of the authors of that time describes these Flemish horses in the bulk as black, with white markings on the face and legs, often all four of their legs were white to the joints. They were tall, muscular, with strong legs, bordered by long thick brushes, with strong large joints. During the reign of Henry VIII, from 1509 to 1547, Special attention was aimed at raising and breeding strong horses, several laws were approved to provide for this. Acts prohibiting the use of horses below 154 cm at the withers for breeding, as well as preventing any export of horses, even to Scotland, were adopted in 1535 and 1541.

Like other heavy draft breeds, in different periods of history the Shires were improved by the addition of blood from other breeds, the northern German Flemish horses from Belgium and the Flanders left a particularly noticeable mark in the breed. There are rather detailed records of this, made over 1000 years ago. During this time, the influx of blood and other breeds continued.

During the 18th century. these horses came to be used for hard work on farms. With the improvement of roads and the widespread use of stagecoaches, there is a great demand for heavy trucks. During this time, a breeder named Robert Bakewell significantly influenced the Shires, then known as the Leicestershire Cart Horse, by infusing the blood of the best Dutch horses, the Friesians.

Judging by the paintings dated to the 15th century, showing the perfection of their forms, shires were used as early as the 16th century. Undoubtedly, Shire horses were used as war horses.

Most people think, and historians say, that knights, dressed in heavy armor, with a sword and a pike, rode into battle on horseback. Not everyone shares this opinion, however, even in England some doubt that this is true. With the disappearance of tournaments and heavily armed knights, the ancestors of the Shire horse were harnessed to work, pulling carts over bumpy, uneven roads and plows through farm fields.

When not battles came to the fore, but the development of commerce and agriculture, in the 19th century. shires have become almost a national treasure of England. In the 19th century. horses became the main labor force in agriculture and industry, especially in the docks and on the railways. Large Shire geldings worked at the docks and on the streets of cities. The needs of the empire and the mores of the time demanded from the horse extraordinary massiveness, enormous muscular strength and obedience. English breeders and farmers responded by creating one of the most remarkable breeds - the Shire. They became the largest and most powerful draft horses in Britain. Shires were, and still are, used by urban brewers in stylized beer keg teams, in traction and plowing competitions.

Shires were bred in all parts of England, but in counties such as Lincoln, Derby, Cambridge, Norfolk, Nottingham, Leicester and Huntington, they were especially popular. History mentions such names of the breed, which existed in the old days, such as: "Great Horse" (Great Horse), "War Horse" (War-Horse), "Cart Horse" (Cart Horse), "Old England Black Horse, Lincolnshire Giant, and finally Shire. There were also differences between the intra-breed Shire types, depending on their place of origin. The Shires, which originated in their historic home, the Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire swamps, tended to be more bony and overgrown with brushes than their neighbors. Yorkshire and Lanarkshire, for example, were leaner and more resilient.

Champion of 1911.

Although the first Shire was imported to America in 1853, significant imports did not gain momentum until 1880. At the dawn of the new, 20th century, the shire in America could rival the Percherons in popularity. From 1909 to 1911 there were about 6,700 shires in the world, almost 80% of these were born in America.

Due to their large stature and showy movements, Shires became extremely popular with the citizens of America. At the end of the First World War, however, heavy draft horses were driven out of the cities by trucks, subways and electric trams. At the same time, farmers bought smaller, more economical horses for work in the fields.

The heavy draft market in the Midwest became dominated by the Brabancons and Percherons, and the Shire breeding center moved to the western United States. In the 1940s and 1950s, their numbers continued to decline, with only 25 horses recorded from 1950 to 1959. Today Shires, like most heavy draft breeds, are being reborn. In 1985. there were 121 Shire registered in America.

It should not be forgotten that the development and popularization of the English Shire Registry was at least partly due to Americans wanting to register their horses. It was, of course, worth it, since only registered animals could be bred like Shires, but already on American soil.

Seeing the need for American breeders to promote and improve the breed, British charities have helped with registration in the United States. Subsequently, this task was entrusted to the American Shire Horse Association, organized on April 28, 1885. It was officially registered on May 21, 1885.

One of the reasons for the surge in interest was the approval of stallion awards. The money for them is allocated by the Association from the profit of the racing sweepstakes, and is awarded at the annual March exhibition. More than £ 35,000 are awarded on this day. Another reason for the growth in livestock was the expansion of sales markets, especially abroad. In recent years, more than 100 shire heads have been exported annually to all parts of the world. Operating Associations are formed in Germany, France, Holland, Canada, USA.

Shires are very large animals: adult stallions reach a height of 162 to 176 cm at the withers. Mares and geldings are slightly less massive. However, many of the best of the breed reach over 185 cm at the withers. They have relatively large, wide-set and expressive eyes, with a slightly convex profile (Roman). The shoulders are strong and broad, with a deep chest.

There are real giants among the Shire. An unusually large foal was born in England in 1846. In honor of the biblical hero, he was named Samson, but when the stallion became an adult and reached a height at the withers of 219 cm, he was renamed Mammoth. Under this nickname, he went down in the history of horse breeding as the tallest horse that ever lived in the world.

Distinctive features of the breed include silky thick friezes on the legs, acquired from crosses with Clydesdals in the early 50s to solve the problem with biting midges in the old type of Shire. Friezes grow around the entire leg, on the front from the wrist, and on the back from the hock. More recently, there has been a market demand for horses with white markings on their legs.

Shires and other English heavy trucks - the Clydesdales, brought to Russia in the last century, were used in the breeding of a new breed - the Vladimir heavy trucks.

Exterior: massive broad-forehead head; ears of medium size; the neck is short, well set; strong, short back; the shoulders are muscular; long and wide croup; tail set quite high; the legs are powerful on them from the wrist and hock joint there are lush friezes, the hooves are strong and large.
Height at withers: 165-185 cm.
Weight: 800-1225 kg.
Suit: mostly bay or karak, black, less often - gray and others. There are often white markings on the legs and head.

Photo of shire krakova suit

Peculiarities: Shires are the strongest, largest, heaviest horses on the planet.
Shire is an English breed of heavy draft horses, which descends from knightly war horses, it is one of the oldest heavy draft breeds. Today it is difficult to unequivocally determine how this breed originated.
The word "Shire" also came from England, and comes from the Saxon word "shyran" (schyran), which means "watershed" or "shift", therefore, the word "shire" is synonymous for this area. The word "Shire" was first applied to the breed by King Henry VIII at the beginning of the 16th century.

During the reign of Henry II in 1154, and Elizabeth (beginning in 1558), the government sought to increase the number of horses, which were called "great". During the reign of King John (1199 - 1216), about a hundred large stallions were brought to England from the lower lands of Flanders, which is located in the territory of Holland.

Authors of the period describe Flemish horses as mostly black, with large white markings on the legs and muzzle. They were tall, muscular, on rather strong legs, framed by thick long brushes, with well-developed, large joints.

When Henry VIII came to power (1509 - 1547), he approved a number of laws aimed at the development and breeding of tall and powerful horses. For example, acts appeared that prohibited breeding horses below 154 cm at the withers.
Like many hard-draft breeds, at different periods of their history the Shires improved due to the influx of blood from other breeds, the most noticeable trace in the formation of the Shire breed was left by the northern German Flemish horses from Belgium and the Flanders. Quite detailed records have survived, telling about this, written more than 1000 years ago. During this time, interbreeding with other breeds continued.

Throughout the 18th century. these horses were widely used for hard work in agriculture.
With the improvement of roads and the popularization of stagecoaches for heavy trucks, demand has increased dramatically.
During this period, breeder Robert Bakewill decided to add the blood of the Frisians to the Shire, known at the time as the Leicestershire coach horse.

In the 16th century, the Shires were used as war horses. As soon as tournaments and heavily armed knights disappeared, the ancestors of the Shire were used in heavy harness.
In the 19th century, during the development of agriculture and commerce, horses were the main labor force. Shires became very popular, they were used not only on farms, but also on the railroad, at the docks and on city streets. The mighty and obedient giants of the Shire breed were bred all over England. There were several types of shire within the breed. For example, the shires from Yorkshire were leaner and more stamina than the shires from Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire, which had larger brushes and were more bony.

Despite the fact that the first Shire was in 1853. imported into the United States, no significant imports were observed until 1880. In the early 20th century, the Shire in America rivaled the Percherons in popularity. In the period from 1909 to 1911. around 6,700 shires were recorded worldwide, and nearly 80% of the total livestock was born in the United States.
Shires have become very popular in America due to their powerful stature and spectacular movements. After the end of the First World War, heavy-duty horses were gradually driven out of the cities by cars and trams. Farmers began to breed smaller, more economical horses.

In the Midwest, the Percherons and Brabancons began to dominate. The Shire population continued to decline in 1950-1959. only 25 representatives of the Shire breed were registered in the USA.
Currently, the balls are being reborn. By 1985, 121 Shire horses were registered. One of the reasons for the growth in the Shire livestock was the increase in sales markets - this breed is gaining popularity in all countries of the world.