Champion Stallion Toc Hill Sir Alfred owned by J. R. Richardson, S. Yorkshire, UK

The Shire Horse Society  John Crawford of equiworld.net met with John Ward of the Shire Horse Society at the British Equine Event 2001. Please follow the link below to listen to their discussion of the breed including the potential of the Shire under saddle. /archive/equiworld-net/video/ewvideo.exe?bb510 (Note: to listen to this file you will need Real Player. A free download is available at www.real.com )

The Shire Horse is the most numerous and largest of the heavy horses found in Great Britain, many of the leading prizewinners standing up to and over 18.00 hands. The characteristic of the Shire is the nice silky feather on the legs. The history of the breed goes back to the medieval "Great Horse" used in time of war to carry knights in armour weighing up to 400lbs. In the 1800's the horse was to become the main power in agriculture and commerce particularly the docks and railways. For this they required massive horses with great muscular strength. In 1878 a selection of the best types of heavy horse was made from the old English carthorse and the Shire Horse Society was formed.

The shoeing of a Shire Horse at the British Equine Event 2001:

For further information on the Shire Horse, please click here

Please click here to visit the Shire Horse Society website