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User Login Email: Password:    » Forgot Password?  » New Member Sign Up Visitors Online: Today's Visits: Yesterday's Visits: Horses Menu Home Horses For Sale Welcome to Shire ! You are here: Terrific-Horses.com > Horse Breeds > Shire Book Search: Shire Description The Shire originated in the UK. The main breeding areas are Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Staffordshire. The Shire is a descendant of the English Great Horse of the 16th century although it does not resemble it. By the end of the 16th century the Great Horse no longer carried knights. They were used to pull carts and coaches. Heavy horses were essential at this time and these horses were bred with German Draft Horses, Flanders Horse, and Friesian. The Friesian helped to refine the Great Horse allowing for free movement. The Flanders Horses, which were brought for the draining of the Fens in the early 17th century, stayed in the country and helped to develop this breed further. At this time the horse became known as the English Black. These horses were used as the base stock for the Shire. The Packington Blind Horse was the base stallion of the Shire breed. The English Cart Horse Society was formed in 1876 and later changed its name in 1884 to the Shire Horse Society. The modern shire stands on average over 17 hh. The Shire has a rather long neck, muscular legs, with heavy feathering, broad flat hocks, with round open hooves. The Shire has tremendous strength. There is not much need for the Shire in industry or agriculture anymore however the brewing companies still use the Shires. These horses are also in horse shows and competitions like single or tandem weight pulling. The Shires are bred throughout Wales and England. Google Ads

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