The Shire horse - England's largest native horse

The Shire horse is the largest of England's native horses. The Shire horse was bred from the medieval Great Horse, which William the Conqueror brought in 1066 to the British Islands. By improving the Black horse or later the Bakewell Black, the Shire horse breed was produced. The number of Shire Horses decreased considerably after the Second World War, because of a lack of their need in agriculture and as haulage business turning to mechanical methods. They are increasing in numbers again, because they are used for crossbreeding and showing. They are the tallest of the modern heavy horse breeds, up to 18 hands and sometimes taller. They weigh about a ton. The world's tallest horse, Sampson, born in 1846 in Bedfordshire in England, was 21.2 hands (2.20m) at the whither and he weighed 1.5 tonnes.

Shire horses often be seen pulling ale-delivery carts, and nowadays they are still used as a brewery horse as in the grey Shires of Samuel Smith Brewery in Tadcaster, the Tetley brewery in Leeds and Wadsworths in Devizes. The Shire horse is also seen in Draft horse competitions and shows. They are docile, gentle, friendly and naturally hard working. They have a broad forehead with large eyes with a slightly roman nose, thick necks and muscular bodies. The hair down the back of the legs is called the feather, while the hair over the foot is known as the spats. The Shire Horse is bay, brown, black or grey with plenty of white on the legs and feet.

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