Shire Horse

Known for their impressive height, horses of the Shire horse breed are recognisable thanks to their huge size. While noticeably large, the Shire horse is something of a gentle giant, with a calm and patient nature which makes them great for leisure riders of all experience levels. Originally bred for labour, they are also eager to please: the Shire horse was developed as a British breed of draught horse and displays a keen inclination to work.

As well as being a working horse, Shire horses can also be ridden by all levels of horse rider, with an easygoing nature and a will to please. They are sometimes used as therapy horses, and are an intelligent breed of horse which will happily follow verbal queues.

Today, the Shire Horse is often used in forestry or for leisure riding. There are also a number of horse shows dedicated to Shire horses, such as The National Shire Horse Spring Show, which is held annually and is the largest Shire horse show in Great Britain.

Vital Stats

WEIGHT: 850kg – 1,100kg
HEIGHT:  16 hands – 17 hands minimum (17.2 hands average)
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 25 – 30 years
BEST FOR: work, pulling heavy loads, leisure riding
ORIGIN: England – thought to be Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire

History

The Shire horse breed originated in Britain during the mid-18th century, and is named for the English shires where it was developed. Shire horses are believed to be ancestors of “the Great Horse”: a war horse from the Middle Ages, which carried knights into battle. In 1878 The Shire Horse Society was created as a breed registry; the first stud-book followed that same year.

With a talent for weight-pulling, the Shire horse was originally developed and used as a workhorse, carrying out tasks such as cart-pulling; farm work; and barge towing. The number of Shire horses increased throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, with over 2 million Shire horses at their peak. However the rising use of machinery to carry out agricultural and industrial work left the Shire horse out of a job, and the breed’s numbers dwindled.

Today, the breed is considered “at risk” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, which means there are fewer than 1500 breeding mares of the Shire horse breed. Shire horses are now commonly used for horse riding, as well as continuing to be used for work. There are also a number of horse shows dedicated to this majestic horse breed.

SIZE

Shire Horse Size

One of the Shire horse’s defining characteristics is its large size. The Shire horse is one of the tallest horse breeds in the world, with horses generally ranging from 16 to 17 hands tall, although it is not uncommon for the biggest Shire horses to reach 18 hands or more in height. 

In fact, it is thought that the largest horse ever documented was a Shire horse: a gelding named Sampson, who was foaled in 1846 and measured a whopping 21.25 hands tall (and 1,524kg heavy!).

Shire Horse Appearance

Shire horses are usually black, brown, bay or grey in colour; and are recognisable due to their large size. They display feathering on the legs; a muscular build; large hooves; and a slightly Roman nose.

The Shire Horse Society stipulates that Shire horses must not be chestnut in colour, while Shire horse stallions should not be roan either; and should not have large white patches on their body.

Shire horses are often compared to Clydesdales, and it is true that Shires and Clydesdales share a number of physical characteristics; as well as both being draught horses. However, the Shire horse is generally larger; more muscular; and with fewer white markings on their body.

Shire Horse Diet and Nutrition

Shire horses are happy to eat a regular equine diet of quality hay, grain, vegetables and fruits. Due to their larger size, they may require higher quantities of horse food to stay healthy and maintain their energy levels, which can make them more expensive to keep.

Unique Characteristics of a Shire Horse

Perhaps the most unique and defining characteristic of a Shire horse is its size: they are known for being the tallest horses in the world. They are also incredibly strong: at a 1924 British exhibition, a pair of Shire horses is said to have pulled a starting load of 50 tonnes!

It is this ability to pull their weight (and then some!) that made them the chosen breed to deliver carts of ale from breweries to public houses in the 19th and early 20th century. While this is no longer a common use of the Shire horse, a number of modern day brewers do still use the breed to pull carts of beer for both practical and promotional purposes.

Shire horses are also recognisable for the feathering on their legs, their large hooves; and their Roman nose.

Shire Horse Temperament and Behaviour

Shire horses are known for their easygoing, calm and patient nature. They are docile and hard working, due to their origins as a draught horse; and are not known for behavioural issues as a breed.

Bred to work in a range of environments, including busy cities, the Shire horse does not spook easily, which means they offer a smooth ride. This is a calm, dependable and manageable horse breed which is great for riders of all levels.

Shire Horse Common Health Issues

While they are a generally healthy breed, there are a few health issues to watch out for with Shire horses.

Shire horses can be susceptible to chronic progressive lymphedema: a chronic progressive skin condition in some breeds of draught horse, which causes swelling of the lower legs. There is currently no cure, however management can help to slow the onset.

Shire horses may also be prone to polysaccharide storage myopathy, another condition which affects some draught horse breeds. Symptoms include sweating, sore muscles, muscle tremors and lameness.

Their heavy feathering also means they are at risk of feather mites and mud fever, so regular cleaning of this area is important to keep your Shire horse in top condition.

Shire Horse Shire Horse Grooming

Shire horses typically require a standard equine grooming routine, although you may need some assistance in the form of a ladder to help in your efforts due to their sheer height!

The feathering on a Shire horse’s legs also needs extra care and attention, as it can easily get dirty and become irritated or infected. Regular brushing and cleaning should do the trick; make sure to fully dry the feathering off after a bath to avoid the growth of bacteria and fungi.

What is the Lifespan of a Shire Horse?

The typical lifespan of a healthy Shire horse is between 25 – 30 years.

Why Choose a Shire Horse?

There are plenty of reasons to choose a Shire horse! Their calm, eager to please temperament means they are a dependable equine companion, with an intelligence and desire to please which makes them easy to train. For this reason, Shire horses are often chosen for leisure riding. They are a good horse for all levels of rider and offer a smooth ride; however, smaller riders may need a little extra help climbing into the saddle due to the Shire horse’s large size.

In a nod to their origins as a draught horse, the strong and hard-working Shire horse is also still used for manual labour, albeit on a lesser scale. They are put to work on farms; in forestry; and even at breweries.

The Shire horse also makes for a good sport horse or heavyweight hunter when crossed with lighter horse breeds and Thoroughbreds, as evidenced by British Olympic dressage rider Carol Parsons’ success with her two Shire Thoroughbred crosses, who successfully competed at CDI level.