The Shine Horse - Mighty Colossus and visual treat
It is affectionately called the "Gentle Giant". And rightly so! Would you like to know more about this oversized Shire Horse? Then let's go, lots of interesting things are waiting for you!
Historical origin
As the name suggests, the Shire cold-blooded horse comes from England. It seems to have been brought there by the Normans. Once they were bred for knightly purposes. Of course, they could carry knights and their heavy armour well. Their name was also coined by the "Shires" - the English counties (popular carriage horse there). They also contributed their share to the breeding. In later times, such stronger horses were needed for wars as well as for agriculture.
In the 18th century, the "Bakewell Black" was bred by a farmer (Robert Bakewell). From these sturdy horses came the subsequent breeding of the Shire Horse. In 1878 the Shire Horse Society was founded. The royal house supported this and a studbook set standards for the heavy horse strokes.
At that time, however, many Shires were crossed with the Clydesdale, which caused the pure breeding to falter considerably in the 1960s. The industrial aspect also decimated the big horses. In the end, there were not so many of the beautiful purebred giants left. Fortunately, dedicated breeders and breweries were able to re-emphasise pure breeding. It is clearly thanks to them that this valuable breed did not become extinct.
Today
In the meantime, the existence of Shire Horses is no longer endangered and they are once again among the popular horse breeds. Especially the show scene has discovered the "great" potential of these unique horses. Logical, isn't it? Such a performance is simply impressive!
Appearance and character
The most striking thing first: The Shire Horse is one of the largest horse breeds next to the Clydesdale. The minimum height starts where other horses stop growing, namely at about 163 - 168 cm. Animals with a height of over 190 cm are not uncommon. The purchase of a "ladder" should therefore be considered in any case. The Shire Horse size should not be underestimated. Consequently, a fighting weight of around 1000 kg is completely normal.
But there is more worth seeing about these giants. The coat colour is convincing in beautiful rich brown tones. But there are also many black horses and, more rarely, white horses and chestnuts. Markings, and by that we mean many markings, are highly desirable. For example, the head has a lot of white via flake, star and blaze up to a so-called lantern. Also a visual highlight are the preferably white booted feet with pasterns starting high up. Unfortunately, the latter makes the Shire Horse susceptible to mallenders. Regular full body grooming is a must and, due to the size of the horse, somewhat more time-consuming.
The conformation of these horses is harmonious throughout. They are compact and solidly built all around. The large head (sometimes with a ram's nose) sits appropriately above the enormous rest. Muscle mass is clearly visible in the hindquarters, back, long neck and legs. It enhances the massive appearance even more. The whole thing requires strong joints and big hooves. They definitely have them! With their insane hangings on legs, mane and tail, these beauties make the whole package perfect.
As charming as their appearance is, their inner values are also significant. The stately cold-blooded horse convinces with an incredibly calm gentleness, a great human orientation and a strength of nerve that many a rider can only dream of. They are always sociable and friendly. Just gentle giants.
