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History of the Shire
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Take your mind back through the mists of time to an era where brave knights fought valiant battles to protect their king. To a time when battle grounds resounded with the clashing of steel, when thundering hooves of great horses shook the very ground, when knights fought for honour and glory.
One of the largest horses in the world, the Shire 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.The true origins of the Shire breed is lost in the mists of antiquity and has often been romanticized.
Shires stand up to 19 hands (almost 7 feet at the shoulder), and may be grey, brown, black or grey in colour. An immensely strong, big-barrelled horse, with long legs carrying much feather, 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.
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History hints at where the breed comes from. The Shire horse, developed in England, traces it's history to the days of the Roman Conquest and is one of the oldest of the well-defined breeds. Shires, in general, were used in the 16th century and there are paintings dating back to the 15th century. Without question, the Shire horse was used not only as a beast of burden but also as a war horse. Most people believe, and the story is told, that it was the Shire that was used by |
the knights, as they rode into battle, dressed in heavy armour with sword and lance poised.
The Shire was found and developed in all parts of England, but the Midland counties of Lincoln, Derby, Cambridge, Norfolk, Nottingham, Leicester and Huntington are notably rich in history. This breed has had several different names throughout history notably, the War Horse, the Great Horse, the Cart Horse, the Old England Black Horse as well as the Lincolnshire Giant.
Sir Walter Gilbey, an early authority on the breed, had this to say in the introduction to Volume 1 of the stud book, a tome dedicated to the history of the Shire’s.
"The Shire horse is the purest survival of an early type which was spoken of by medieval writers as the 'Great Horse. 'If this horse did not originate in England, this country at a very early date acquired a widespread reputation for producing it. Indeed, the English 'Great-at Horse' seems to have been a native development of that British 'War Horse' whose strength, courage' and aptitude for discipline are spoken of in high terms by the chroniclers of the Roman legions at their first landing upon these shores."
"There are good reasons for believing that in the English Great Horse, modern Shire horses were originated. It really seems to be true that the most powerful animals now existing in England, for the advance of agriculture and commerce, (i.e., the arts of peace) are the direct descendants of the horse which, when Julius Caesar arrived here, attracted his attention for its efficiency in the assistance which it rendered to our forefathers in the pursuits of war."
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The destiny of the Shire and of England is inexorably entwined. In the period between the reign of Henry II, 1154, and that of Elizabeth (commencing in 1558) it seems to have been a constant aim of the government to increase the size and number of horses called "The Great Horse." Little wonder, the weight of many horse soldiers in armour was upwards to 400 lbs. for rider and armour. War then is the ancient heritage and role of the Shires. |
Like the other standard draft breeds, the Shire was improved by the infusion of outside blood at various times in history, notably that of the north German Flemish horses (Belgian) and the horses of Flanders during the reign of King John, from 1199 to 1216. Reasonably good records exist, dating back nearly 1000 years. During these times outside blood continued to influence the breed. Breeders were not hampered by a breed registry and no limits were imposed. The use for which the Shire was primarily maintained also changed.
During the reign of Henry VIII, from 1509 to 1547, special attention was directed to the raising and breeding of strong horses, and several laws were passed with that in mind. Acts were passed in 1535 and 1541 forbidding the use for breeding of horses under15 hands in height, also prohibiting all exportation, even into Scotland.
But if he was useful in war, he proved to be even more so in peace. It was during the 18th century that this horse came into special use for draft and farm purposes. Shire’s moved the commerce off the docks and through the streets every town. Over badly paved streets and on rough roads, weight was opposed by weight. There was an extensive demand, decade after decade, for massive horses with great muscular strength. Both qualities were necessary to enable them to move the commerce of England.
And so it was with this breed of horse. The needs of empire and the temper of the times called for a horse of enormous bulk, prodigious muscular strength, and docility and the stockmen and farmers of England responded with one of their finest living creations-the Shire horse.
The marshy fen counties of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire lay claim to having exerted the earliest beneficial influence upon the breed and it was from these counties that sales were first made for the improvement of draft horses all over England.
Leicestershire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire were the first to benefit from these counties, and thus the Shire slowly spread over virtually the whole of England.
provided by Alan Cheese |
There were differences. 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 neighbours. 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, and soundness, and great strength in |
the case of northern breeders-as London did to the south.
It was not until the mid to late 1800's that the breed registries were developed. The Shire is recognized as the fore-runner to the modern Clydesdale breed and is at least half Shire. The name "Shire horse" had become a synonym for strength, constitution, energy, and endurance.
Acknowledgement: Breeds of Livestock |
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