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Agustin Fernandez Ballester
Agustin Fernandez Ballester - Argentina
HISTORY OF THE SHIRE HORSE
Shire horseThe Shire Horse is a magnificent heavy horse, spoken of by medieval writers as "The English Great Horse". The "Great Horse" was designed and bred up to carry knights who were clad in suits of armour and weighed 400 lbs.
In the early thirteenth century there are records of up to 100 large stallions being imported into England from Flanders. Most of these stallions were of dark appearance with a white blaze, long white socks, feathered and of heavy appeareance. These horses bred with the local strains. In the sixteenth century, during the reign of Henry VIII, from 1509 to 1547, the breeding of strong, tall, heavy horses was encouraged. Acts were passed forbidding the use of breeding under 15 hands and no horses were to be exported.
With the introduction of firearms the role of these horses on the battlefield became obsolete. A role in agriculture was found for these great horses so that by the eighteenth century horses had replaced oxen on farms. These horses were also used in cities, especially by brewers to deliver beer.
In 1878 the Shire Horse Society was founded in the UK, after the closure of the Cart Horse Society, the Great Horse was now a recognised breed. A majority of horses from the "Shires" met the breed standard and were registered with the Society.
A resurgence in the eighties has seen this loyal, versatile horse once again grow in numbers and popularity. The Shire Horse is becoming more popular in ridden and dressage classes around the world with Shire cross thoroughbreds in great demand for hunting/jumping and good all round sport horses. At present there are approximately 80 registered Shire Horses in Australia.
HISTORY OF THE SHIRE HORSE
Shire horseThe Shire Horse is a magnificent heavy horse, spoken of by medieval writers as "The English Great Horse". The "Great Horse" was designed and bred up to carry knights who were clad in suits of armour and weighed 400 lbs.
In the early thirteenth century there are records of up to 100 large stallions being imported into England from Flanders. Most of these stallions were of dark appearance with a white blaze, long white socks, feathered and of heavy appeareance. These horses bred with the local strains. In the sixteenth century, during the reign of Henry VIII, from 1509 to 1547, the breeding of strong, tall, heavy horses was encouraged. Acts were passed forbidding the use of breeding under 15 hands and no horses were to be exported.
With the introduction of firearms the role of these horses on the battlefield became obsolete. A role in agriculture was found for these great horses so that by the eighteenth century horses had replaced oxen on farms. These horses were also used in cities, especially by brewers to deliver beer.
In 1878 the Shire Horse Society was founded in the UK, after the closure of the Cart Horse Society, the Great Horse was now a recognised breed. A majority of horses from the "Shires" met the breed standard and were registered with the Society.
A resurgence in the eighties has seen this loyal, versatile horse once again grow in numbers and popularity. The Shire Horse is becoming more popular in ridden and dressage classes around the world with Shire cross thoroughbreds in great demand for hunting/jumping and good all round sport horses. At present there are approximately 80 registered Shire Horses in Australia.
