"Shire" Photographic Art Print

The Shire horse is probably the most well-known breed of British heavy horse. Shire horses must be over 16hh and tend to stand at an average of about 17.2 hh. They are incredibly muscular animals with an arched neck, deep shoulder, wide chest and long, wide hindquarters. They have an enormous capacity for pulling weight, yet this strength is coupled with a gentle and even temperament.

It may be surprising to know that it was originally bred as a warhorse. The British Isles' native breeds of horses and ponies are relatively small and were unable to carry a knight in a suit of armour. Therefore, larger breeds were imported from Europe and cross-breeding resulted in a larger breed of horse known as the Great Horse or the War Horse. It appears that the Shire horse dates back to a heavy horse first mentioned in around 1066 which will probably have been brought to Britain after the Norman Conquest. From this horse developed the "English Great Horse". The Shire horse as we know it today was influenced by heavy Dutch horses that were imported and used in the first half of the 17th century for heavy work. These horses were also used for breeding, predominantly in the shires of England, and thus developed the Shire horse.

The horses' mighty strength and power was harnessed for use in agriculture and industry. They were faster and more intelligent than oxen and so they soon replaced them on the farms, most notably they were used for pulling heavy loads and ploughing. During the industrial revolution they were also employed in towing barges and hauling large wagons, drays, trams and omnibuses. In recognition of the breed, the English Cart Horse Society was founded in 1876 and in 1884 subsequently changed its name to the Shire Horse Society. At this time, the Shire was at the height of its popularity with a population of over a million. However, as technology advanced, there was less of a need for the strength offered by these majestic animals and so by the 1960s and 70s Shire horse numbers fell to just a few thousand.

Since that time the Shire Horse Society and enthusiastic breeders have worked tirelessly to promote the breed and ensure its survival. It is noteworthy that the modern day Shire has changed quite considerably in conformation since the 1920s and 30s. This is because the Clydesdale was used for cross-breeding in the 1950s and 60s. The most significant influence this had was on the feathering on the lower legs, changing it from a mass of coarse hair to the silky feathering we recognise today. The breed has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years as both a working animal and as a riding horse. Indeed, their roles are many and varied from working the fields again (albeit on a small scale for small farms and smallholdings), to working in forestry and at agricultural shows and ploughing matches. There are also activities such as obstacle driving, cross country trials and timber "snigging" which are all designed to demonstrate the abilities of a working horse. This revival of the breed owes much to the determination of a small number of breeders, exhibitors and breweries. However, despite their good work, the UK Rare Breeds Survival Trust still considers the breed to be "at risk", meaning that population numbers are estimated to be under 1,500.