Directory of Breeders Resources

Home > Sports > Equestrian > Breeds > Shire > Breeders

The Shire

One of the largest horses in the world, this breed originated in the 'Shires' of England and is a descendant of the Old English Black Horse whose ancestors were the 'great horses' of mediaeval times. It stands up to 19 hands, and may be bay, brown, black or grey in colour. Immensely strong, big-barrelled, and with long legs carrying much feather at the feet, it nevertheless has a fine head in comparison to its overall size. Despite its great size and strength (an average Shire will weigh 1 tonne and is capable of moving a 5-tonne load) it is the gentlest of beasts and is a good worker in agriculture and as an urban draught horse.

With the ever increasing mechanization of the twentieth century, the Shire among other heavy breeds, began a decline and came close to dying out. Fortunately, a revival of interest took place in these magnificent animals, and no show classes are more popular with spectators than those for the 'heavies'.

Shires still work the land in some parts of the country and several brewers use them to pull drays in the city streets of the UK. In the US they are used principally in Draft shows and as foundation sires for the new American Warmblood breed.

Excerpt from Encyclopedia Of The Horse, published by Crescent Books

Resources in This Category

• Maes-Knoll Shire Horses

  http://www.maesknoll-shires.co.uk/
  Shire horse Stud with a premium stallion at stud. Located in Keynsham, Bristol, UK.

• Northeast Shires

  http://www.northeastshires.com/
  Breeder of registered Shire horses in Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA.

• RX Shire Ranch

  http://rxshires.tripod.com/
  Shire draft horses bred for work and pleasure. History, services, photographs, and sales; also custom graze cattle using managed intensive grazing practices. Northern Great Plains, North Dakota.

• Sherwood Shires

  http://www.sherwoodshires.de/
  Breeding and training stable for Shire horses and KWPN horses. Specializes in Shires that can be used for riding on horseback. In the Netherlands, near the German border. (Dutch, English, German)

• Shire Horse Breeders Australia, Inc

  http://www.shirehorse.com.au/
  Includes newsletter, calendar of events, list of breeders, photos, membership form, and contacts.

• Tinker Pony and Shire Horse Yard

  http://www.tinker-pony-und-shire-horse-hof.de/
  Breeding and sales of Shire Horses, Tinker, Friesian, and Dales ponies, out of Irish and English derivation. History, breeding program, and sales. Kirtorf, Hessen, Germany.

• Troika Drafts Shires

  http://www.troikadrafts.com/
  Specializing in drafts for work, sport, and show. Standing the stallion Sassy Supreme Prince William. Located in Hebron, Maine.

Related Categories

• Home > Sports > Equestrian > Breeds > Draft Horses > Breeders

 

Home > Sports > Equestrian > Breeds > Shire > Breeders

 

---

 

Thanks to DMOZ, which built a great web directory for nearly two decades and freely shared it with the web. About us