Photos © Leanne Hoagland

Breed History

The Shire can trace its roots back hundreds of years. In the period between the reign of Henry II and that of Elizabeth, 1154-1558, it seems to have been a constant aim of the English government to increase the size and number of horses called "The Great Horse." Little wonder - the weight of many horse soldiers in armor was upwards to 400 lbs. for rider and armor.

During the reign of King John, from 1199 to 1216, 100 stallions were imported from Holland. These horses were described as having black and white markings on the face and feet, a tall stature, and long hair "feathering" on the limbs. It is from that blending some 800 years ago of these animals with English horses that some strains, at least, of England's heavy horses must date their origin.

Later, during the reign of Henry VIII from 1509 to 1547, special attention was directed to the raising and breeding of strong horses. Several laws were passed with that in mind. Acts were passed in 1535 and 1541 forbidding the use for breeding of horses under 15 hands in height, and also prohibiting all exportation, even into Scotland.

If The Great Horse was useful in war, he proved to be even more so in peace. The Shire became a national treasure in the 1800s, prized for their use in agriculture. Big Shire geldings moved the commerce off the docks and through the city streets over badly-paved and rough roads. There was a dependable and extensive demand for massive horses with great muscular strength.

Shire horses quickly spread across England. They did, however, differ from place to place. The Shires coming out of their historic home, the fenlands of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, tended to have more bone and hair than those of their neighbors. Yorkshire and Lancashire, for instance, were noted for horses of a finer texture and more endurance. The rugged demands of the Liverpool market, where thousands of stout geldings were used, certainly contributed to correct type, soundness, and great strength in the case of northern breeders - as London did to the south.

Breed Standards

Stallions:

• 
  Color: Black, brown, bay, grey or chestnut/sorrel (rare) are the preferred colors. Excessive white markings and roaning are undesirable.
• Height: Minimum 16.2 hands and upwards. Average 17.1 hands.
• Head: Long and lean, neither too large nor too small, with long neck in proportion to the body. Large jaw bone should be avoided.
• Eyes: Large, well set and alert. Wall-eyes should be avoided if possible.
• Nose: Nostrils thin and wide, lips together and nose slightly Roman.
• Ears: Long, lean, sharp and sensitive.
• Throat: Clean cut and lean.
• Shoulder: Deep, oblique, wide enough to support the collar.
• Neck: Long, slightly arched, well set on to give the horse a commanding appearance.
• Girth: Deep, with adequate width in proportion to the rest of the body.
• Back: Short, strong and muscular. Should not be dipped or roached.
• Loins: Standing well up, denoting constitution.
• Fore-end: Wide across the chest, with legs well under the body and well developed in muscle, or action is impeded.
• Hindquarters: Long and sweeping, wide and full of muscle; well let down toward the thighs.
• Ribs: Round, deep and well sprung, not flat.
• Forelegs: Should be straight as possible down to the pastern.
• Pastern: Fairly long and sloped at about 45-degree angle.
• Hind legs: Hocks should be clean, broad, deep, flat and wide when viewed broad-side; set at the correct angle for leverage, and in line with the hindquarters. Should be of heavy bone; "puffy" and "sickle" hocks to be avoided. The leg should be clean cut, hard, and clear of short cannon bone.
• Feet: Moderately deep and wide at the heels; coronets open.
• Feather: Fine, straight and silky.
• He should possess a masculine head, and a good crest with sloping, not upright, shoulders running well into the back, which should be short and well coupled with the loins. The tail should be set well up, and not what Is known as "goose-rumped." Both head and tail should be carried erect. The ribs should be well sprung, not flat sided, with good middle, which generally denotes good constitution. The most essential parts of a stallion are his feet and joints; the feet should have open necks, big around the top of the coronets, with plenty of length in the pasterns. When in motion, he should go with force, using both knees and hocks, which the latter should be kept close together. He should go straight and true before and behind.

Geldings:

• Geldings should conform to stallion standards, with the exception of the thick, masculine neck.

Mares:

• Mares should conform to the stallion standards, except that they may be slightly smaller with a feminine and matronly appearance. A mare should have plenty of room to carry a foal.

The Breed Today

The Shire today is used in many facets of life across America and the world. The versatility and disposition of the Shire lends the breed to be very versatile in the modern horse world. The breed has made a big mark in the horse industry as a pleasure horse - not only in harness, but also under saddle. The heavy horse of the past is now working in dressage, western pleasure, trail competitions, and even jumping and reining. If you can do it on a light horse, horse owners today are doing it on the Shire at some level. The Shire is still working as a work horse in pulling contests and farm fields across the country, as well as in the show ring in the fancy six-horse hitches and halter classes.

The amazing Shire Sport Horse has become more popular in the past 20 years since its induction into the Shire Studbook in the 1990s. A Shire Sport Horse is half Shire, half light horse. These horses are often seen participating in eventing, dressage, trail rides, jumping, and general horse events. The most common crosses are with Thoroughbreds or Quarter Horses. 

For additional information, contact:

American Shire Horse Association
PO Box 339
Fredrickstown, OH 43019
(888) 302-6643
secretary@shirehorse.org
www.shirehorse.org