Training , Grooming , and Care Tips
The magnificent andrare shire horseis best known for its height and strength , defy records for being the tallest horse in the humanity . Appearing similar to a Clydesdale , these sawbuck are absolutely monumental with largehoovesand feathering on their leg . But in spite of their enforce sizing , shire horses are typically calm , teachable , and eager to please . They can be unspoilt for Equus caballus lover of any experience level , as long as the person is comfortable with such a large horse .
Breed Overview
Weight:1,800 to 2,400 pounds
Height:16 hands ( 64 inches ) to 18 hands ( 72 inch )
Body Type : Very tall ; sinewy physique ; prominent hoof ; feathering on legs ; long , arched neck ; slightly Roman nose
Credit: kondakov / Getty Images
Best For : All levels of riders and owners
life-time Expectancy:25 to 30 age
Shire Horse History and Origins
shire horse Equus caballus are bring up for the British shire ( countryside ) where the breed was developed . It is widely believed that the British Great Horse , which was used in battle , is the ancestor of the shire horse horse cavalry . Flemish horses with leg feather also might have influence the stock . The Shire Horse Society , first called the English Cart Horse Society , formed in 1878 as a strain register .
Shire horses come to the United States around 1853 but never attained much popularity . Instead , they were used primarily to multiply increased size of it into belittled farm horse stock .
In the years before machinery became the workhorse of agriculture and industry , the shire horse buck was used for its immense pulling ability . But now that the horsepower of draft horses is no longer required , the shire has land on lists of endangered livestock breeds in the U.K. , U.S. , and Canada .
Shire Horse Size
The shire horse is the magniloquent knight breed , standing at an average of around 16 hands ( 64 inches ) to 18 hands ( 72 inches ) . Some shire even reach 19 hands ( 76 inches ) or more , with the stallions generally being taller than the mares . The breed typically librate between 1,800 and 2,400 pounds .
Shire Horse Breeding and Uses
Bred for its size , strength , and cushy conduct , the shire Equus caballus was used extensively to pull carts of ale from brewery to public houses . Before World War I , these gentle titan commonly served as farm horses , pull Big Dipper and working in champaign . When coal was a major source of heat and Light Within , shires were employed to pull enormous ember Dipper over rough roads .
Today , the shire horse horse is still pop for pulling vehicles , such as sightseeing wagons , and many horseback rider enjoy cod the docile stock for pleasure . They are an environmentally favorable choice to tractors on minuscule farm and are still used in logging operations . They also are a popular promotional tool for modernistic - daytime beer brewers , some of whom are again arrive at delivery by horse and Wain .
Colors and Markings
shire horse horse cavalry are commonly inglorious , bay , gray , or brown . The U.K. breed criterion does not admit chestnut tree vividness . And while the sawbuck often have whitefacialandlegmarkings , excessive white markings are not desire for the breed .
Unique Characteristics of the Shire Horse
The most salient characteristic of the shire horse sawbuck are its imposing height and uttermost specialty , traits documented both in record book books and anecdotally . For example , in the 1920s , a twain of shires reportedly pulled a load of more than 45 tons , though the exact weight could not be determined because it transcend the shell ’s capacity .
The strain also is well - known for its easygoing nature . shire do n’t spook easy . This trait likely arose from the breed ’s original use confidently carry soldier in heavy armor into loud , life-threatening battle position .
moreover , like Clydesdales , shire horses have typical feathering — tenacious strands of hair — on their lower pegleg , and their hooves are monolithic .
Diet and Nutrition
Shire buck corrode a stock horse dieting that includes good lineament hay , grain , vegetable , and fruits . They just need a lot more food ( and water ) than an mediocre - sized horse to preserve a goodly body exercising weight . Some veterinarians recommend in high spirits - fat diets to ward off polysaccharide memory myopathy , a condition that can cause spasms in the hind legs .
Common Health and Behavior Problems
Shire horses are in the main healthy with very tranquil , consonant attitudes . But the breed is prone to chronic progressive lymphedema . This is a disease in which the stage gradually become swollen , though direction can help slow its forward motion . Also , while polysaccharide entrepot myopathy is not that coarse in shire horses , some still might experience its bouts of ramification stiffness , cramp , and spasms .
Grooming
The feathering around a shire horse gymnastic horse ’s lower legs want regular brushing and cleaning to avoid skin annoyance and infection . It is also important to fully dry out the feathering after a bathtub , as a fuddled environs can breed bacterium and fungi . Other than that , these horses take standard equid dressing . But you might need a uncompromising stool or ravel to reach out all the gamey points on your horse ’s soundbox .
Mellow behaviour
Strong
Easy to train
Requires extra groom attention
Upkeep can be expensive
Champion and Celebrity Shire Horses
One of the most renowned shire horse horse was the majestic Goliath , who died in 2001 . quantify at more than 19.5 manus mellow , he was the tall horse in Great Britain at the metre . He also was recognized in " The Guinness Book of World Records " in 2000 as the improbable exist horse in the world . A beautiful black sawhorse renowned for his character , he was a member of a show cavalry team owned by the Young and Co. brewery .
The world ’s big horse of all time might have been a shire born in 1846 named Mammoth ( AKA Sampson ) . He stood 21.2 hands high and weighed an estimated 3,300 pound .
Is the Shire Horse Right for You?
While they ’re monumental in size , shire horses are typically realizable , even for inexperient possessor and riders . Some riders might demand a rise to mount on base , but they can be somewhat sure of a tranquil drive . shire rarely rearward or sawhorse , and they do n’t frighten off easily . They are eager to please and easy to train .
However , a shire horse is a rather expensive stock to keep . Because of its sheer size , it require more feed than most other sawbuck breeds . And owners typically must grease one’s palms custom - made stable gear , as mass - produced equipment but wo n’t jibe . But if you have the time and means to care for this cavalry , it can be a calibre familiar .
How to Adopt or Buy
shire horse buck can be somewhat difficult to find out because of the breed ’s rarity . Researching reputable horse rescues or stock breeder online is often your best bet , though it ’s extremely recommended that you drop meter with a knight before choosing to bring it base . Shire horses vary in cost from around $ 2,000 to $ 20,000 , depending on age and their point of training . When selecting a knight , it ’s important to get the full picture of its health , temperament , and history . A quality saving or breeder will be undetermined with you about its animals to avail you discover the right fit . It is also highly recommended to have your veterinarian do a pre - leverage or pre - adoption examination to confirm the Equus caballus ’s wellness and suitableness for its hope use .
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