Shire Horse

About the breed

The Shire is an English heavy draught horse that is hard to overlook: under the breed standard of the Shire Horse Society, stallions must stand at least 173 cm at the withers, and according to the UK's Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) adults weigh 850 to 1,100 kg on average. It was developed as a working horse for English farms, canals and towns, and today it is seen in brewery turnouts, in the show ring, in farm work and, increasingly, under saddle. For all its strength it is known as calm and willing, yet the breed is still listed as At Risk on the RBST Watchlist.

From the Medieval "Great Horse" to the English Shires

The Shire's origins are linked to the heavy horses of medieval England, but this is tradition rather than a proven line of descent. The RBST says the breed is said to descend from the great horses of medieval England, and the American Livestock Conservancy that it is believed to descend from the English "Great Horse", a powerful mount that carried a knight in armour. It takes its name from the rural shires, or counties, of England, where it was used for farming and heavy haulage.

According to the Livestock Conservancy, native English horses were crossed with Flemish stallions in the 13th century and with Dutch Friesians in the 16th century, producing a large black horse in Lincolnshire known as the Lincolnshire Black. The modern type is said to have been developed around 1790 using the breeding methods of the livestock breeder Robert Bakewell. The Shire Horse Society describes how heavy horses replaced the ox on farms in the 18th century and, during the Industrial Revolution, towed barges along the canals and pulled goods wagons, omnibuses and trams.

A Breed Society Since 1878 and a Near Extinction

A breed society was founded in 1878, and the name "Shire" was officially adopted in 1884. The society held its first Spring Show in London as early as 1880, with 117 horses exhibited, and in 1888 it issued 1,400 pedigree export certificates; Shires were then exported to the USA, Canada, Australia, South America, Germany and Russia. The American Shire Horse Association was founded in 1885.

Mechanisation of farming and transport almost wiped the breed out. The Shire Horse Society states that numbers fell from well over a million to just a few thousand by the 1960s, and in 1958 the stud book recorded only five colts and eleven fillies. Dedicated breeders saved the breed, and today the RBST places it in the "At Risk" category of its Watchlist of rare native breeds.

Height at the Withers, Weight and Build

The Shire is a very tall breed, so the Shire Horse Society standard only sets minimum heights. A stallion must measure at least 173 cm at maturity, a gelding at least 168 cm and a mare at least 163 cm. The RBST says Shires typically stand up to 183 cm, while the Livestock Conservancy gives an average of about 178 cm and a range starting at 168 cm, with occasional horses taller still.

The standard sets no official weight. The RBST gives an average weight of 850 to 1,100 kg for the breed and the Livestock Conservancy up to about 1,000 kg, noting that mares and geldings may be lighter. The standard describes the build in detail: a long, lean head with a slightly Roman nose, large eyes with a docile expression, a long, slightly arched neck, sloping shoulders, a short, strong back, long, muscular hindquarters and deep, wide feet. A stallion's girth measures 183 to 244 cm and the standard regards 28 cm of flat bone just below the knee as ample; for mares the standard gives 23 to 28 cm.

Colours and Feathering

Stallions may be black, brown, bay or grey, while mares and geldings may also be roan (white hairs mixed through the coloured coat). The standard states explicitly that a stallion must not be roan or chestnut and that a good stallion should not be splashed with large white patches over the body. The RBST adds that chestnut is rare in the breed, while white markings on the face and legs are common.

The long hair on the lower legs, known as feather, is a hallmark of the breed. The Shire Horse Society writes that a wealth of feather was once a great characteristic of the Shire, but that today breeders want a cleaner-legged horse with straight, fine, silky hair. Dense feathering also makes skin care harder, as the grooming section explains.

Shire or Clydesdale: What Is the Difference?

The Shire and the Clydesdale are similar large British draught horses with white feathering, but they are two breeds with different origins. The Clydesdale comes from the Clyde Valley in Scotland, the Shire from the English counties. According to the RBST, the Clydesdale typically stands 163 to 183 cm and weighs 800 to 1,000 kg, whereas the Shire averages 850 to 1,100 kg. The Clydesdale is most often bay with white markings on the face and legs and is known for its high-stepping action, while the Shire standard lists black, brown, bay and grey as the main colours.

Temperament: a Calm Giant with a Will to Work

The Shire is regarded as a calm, patient and hard-working horse. The Livestock Conservancy describes it as an easygoing, hard-working breed that is easy to train, and says that loud noises, cars and even children do not usually upset it. The breed standard asks for eyes with a docile expression, a stallion with strong character and a gelding able to do a full day's work. These describe the breeding goal, not a guarantee for every horse: temperament also depends on rearing, schooling and experience.

Is the Shire Suitable for Beginners and Children?

A Shire can suit a beginner, but only if the individual horse is calm and well schooled and the beginner works under an experienced instructor. The Livestock Conservancy describes it as a good breed for owners of all levels, even beginners, but with a horse weighing close to a tonne even a small mishap involves great force: it can tread on a foot, squeeze a person against a wall or, if frightened, drag its handler along. Children around such a horse need constant adult supervision. A beginner should also weigh the practical side, such as larger and more expensive tack, a bigger stable and a farrier used to heavy horses.

Uses: from Brewery Drays to Riding

Today the Shire is mainly a horse for driving, showing and leisure, and it is also used for farm work. The Shire Horse Society notes that London's brewers once used around 3,000 horses and that some brewers still use Shires, both for promotion and for local deliveries. Shires are shown in hand, where judges assess them at walk and trot. The society also reports a resurgence of the breed as a working and riding horse, and the Livestock Conservancy mentions its newfound popularity for jousting and medieval tournaments. The breed standard describes a working horse, so demanding sports such as show jumping or competitive dressage are not its typical field.

Feeding: Plenty of Forage, Little Hard Feed

A Shire's diet should be built on good hay or grazing, not on concentrates. The DEFRA Code of Practice for the welfare of horses recommends almost constant access to forage such as grass, hay or haylage during non-exercise hours, and continuous access to clean, fresh water. There are no universal quantities: rations must match the age, weight, condition, health and workload of the individual horse, and the code warns that excessive concentrates contribute to obesity and digestive problems. With a horse this size it makes sense to monitor body condition regularly and adjust the ration together with the vet.

Exercise, Turnout and Equine Company

A Shire needs daily exercise, turnout and contact with other horses. The DEFRA code states that horses are herd animals that would live in relatively stable social groups in the wild, and that stabled horses benefit from daily turnout. Movement and dry turnout matter particularly for the Shire, because the veterinary literature lists daily exercise among the measures for chronic progressive lymphoedema. The stable must be large enough for a horse of this size, and doors and aisles wide and high enough.

Grooming: Feather, Hooves and Teeth

The most demanding part of Shire care is the feathering. The Livestock Conservancy advises regular brushing, occasional washing and drying when wet, to keep the skin underneath dry and prevent bacterial and fungal infection. The thick mane and tail need regular combing out. The DEFRA code states that hooves should usually be trimmed or re-shod by a farrier every 4 to 8 weeks and that teeth should be inspected by a vet or qualified equine dental technician at least once a year. With feet the size of a Shire's, it helps to find a farrier experienced with heavy horses. Plan vaccinations and parasite control with your vet; for worms, the code recommends faecal egg counts and the use of wormers only when necessary.

Health and Lifespan

No breed-specific lifespan has been published for the Shire; the Merck Veterinary Manual gives 25 to 30 years for horses in general, depending on health, care and size. A well-documented breed problem is chronic progressive lymphoedema (CPL), described by researchers at the University of California, Davis, in Shires, Clydesdales and Belgian draft horses: a progressive swelling of the lower legs with thickened skin, folds and fibrosis that starts at an early age and progresses throughout life. A 2013 review states that management is palliative and lists keeping the feathers clipped short, treating secondary infections, daily exercise and skin care among the measures.

Heavily feathered horses also commonly carry the mite Chorioptes bovis. A University of Berne study describes it as a common cause of pastern dermatitis, particularly in draught horses, and notes that it may affect the course of chronic pastern dermatitis of the lower legs; treatment is challenging and relapse is common. A field study from the veterinary university in Hanover, however, found no link between the severity of skin lesions and mite infestation in heavy draught horses. The GYS1 mutation that causes type 1 polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM1) was detected in Shires in an international study, but of the eleven breeds carrying it, the Shire had the lowest allele frequency. All of this is information about the breed, not an assessment of any individual horse.

Who the Shire Suits – and Who It Suits Less

The Shire suits driving enthusiasts, breeders who want to help conserve a rare breed, farms and calm leisure riders who have experience or professional support. It needs a spacious, solidly built stable, daily turnout, the company of other horses, regular care of the feathering and a farrier used to heavy horses. It suits less well anyone looking for a sport horse or anyone with little space or a tight budget, because feed, tack and transport all cost more for a horse this size. It is worth keeping records of vaccinations, farrier visits, dental checks and the condition of the skin on the legs.

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