Dangerous ancient animals. The most famous prehistoric predators. Terrible predator: short-faced bear
Among the many animals that a person uses, with whom he simply makes friends and communicates closely, are horses. They are perhaps the largest domesticated animals. And among these great friends of man there are real giants - Shire horses.
Description of the Shire horse
Shire breed applies to heavy trucks. She traces her pedigree from medieval England, where such horses were used not only for carrying heavy loads, but also for military purposes, because knights in armor weighed a lot, and not every animal could withstand such a load for a long time.
To breed a new breed, Flanders and Friesian horses were crossed with local ones. For several hundred years, breeders have achieved their goals, and the result has exceeded all expectations.
At the moment, the standard implies three different colors: bay, black and gray. Small white spots, white stockings on the legs are acceptable. Main difference shire horses in their size - the stallion's height is from 173 cm, weight is from 900 kg, chest is from 215 cm in diameter, metacarpus is from 25 cm in diameter.
These are the minimum values and on average they are exceeded. The addition is proportional, the chest, back, sacrum are wide. The largest of the registered ones is the stallion Samson (Mammoth), 2.19 meters high at the withers and weighing 1520 kg.
You can especially notice the difference with ordinary horses when a person is standing nearby. Can be seen on photo shire that these horses are much larger than animals familiar to us.
The part of the leg called the pastern has a specific meaning and indicates the structure of the tendons and ligaments. In different breeds, this part of the leg is different; in heavy trucks, the metacarpus is rounded. The friezes (hair on the underside of the legs) of this breed are thick and long.
The head is large, with a wide forehead, small ears, short neck. There is a hump on the nose. The body is muscular, the legs are strong, powerful, the hooves are large. The tail is set high. The mane is fluffy, long. Its natural beauty is decorated by the owners themselves by weaving various braids, as well as weaving bright ribbons into the mane.
Within the breed there are also slight differences in appearance, depending on where they come from. So the horses of their Yorkshire are more lean and hardy. The Cambridges are more bony and the friezes on their legs are longer.
Habitat and features of the Shire breed
As mentioned earlier, the Shire breed was bred in England, later from there it began to spread first to Ireland and Scotland, and then throughout the world. The 16th century needed heavy horses that participated in military campaigns. Later, knights performed on horseback in tournaments.
In the 18th century, the roads were improved, heavy stagecoaches began to run along them, which could only be pulled by large shires. The popularity of this breed has increased even more. In the 19th century, agriculture began to actively develop, and hardy and obedient giants became the main labor force.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the breed was widely represented in the United States. But, after the end of the Second World War, the need for large ones gradually disappeared.
People began to move around in other vehicles, and it was expensive to maintain such a large horse, so farmers preferred to abandon this breed in favor of smaller ones.
If in 1909-1911. in the United States, more than 6600 individuals were registered, then in 1959 only 25 representatives of the breed remained! Shires gradually died out.
Now the breed is gaining popularity again in all countries. This is largely due to the conservative British, for whom Shires are not just strong, useful and practical animals, but part of history. The Shire Society presented an annual award to the best horse of this breed.
The amount was quite impressive - 35 thousand pounds. Also, the revival of the population was helped by the growth of the sales market abroad. now largely play an aesthetic role. Numerous exhibitions, performances, tournaments, reviews and auctions are held.
Shire horse care and price
Otherwise, the shire may have wood lice on its feet. This is an unpleasant disease that is easier to prevent. After the walk, you need to wash your feet and hooves, sprinkle them with sawdust and comb them out later.
The mane and lush tail do not require special care, you just need to comb them out and clean them of dirt. In the heat, you can braid a braid from the mane so that the hair does not get tangled. In the summer, you need to wash your horse twice a week with shampoo and conditioner.
English heavy truck shire can buy, but you need to be prepared for the fact that the price of an adult horse is quite high, and reaches 1.5 million rubles. You can buy a foal at a price of 300 thousand.
But the final cost will depend on many factors. First of all, age and gender affect the price. Naturally, healthy horses that have the appropriate certificates of their pedigree and confirmation from the veterinarian that the animal is healthy, it has been vaccinated on time, and so on, are more valued.
The awards and achievements of the animal at various exhibitions and competitions are also of considerable importance. They also give importance to the exterior. Pay attention to who the seller is, what is his reputation. And, of course, if the animal is far away, then the future owner also pays for its transportation.
Shire horse nutrition
Each owner chooses for himself how to feed his pets. All can be kept on concentrated feed, but the presence of hay and grass is mandatory. Shires, due to their large size, eat much more.
During the day, heavy trucks eat 12-15 kilograms of hay or grass. But they don’t need concentrates, it doesn’t cost much to give them. Feeding for growth is not needed at all.
It is best to include herbal flour, cake as nutritional supplements in the diet. In summer, such food can be given from 5 to 7 kilograms. Also, your pet will be happy with vegetables and fruits - beets and carrots, apples. The animal should always have clean drinking.
Reproduction and life expectancy of the breed
When breeding a breed, not only the appearance of the Shire horse matters, but the mare is also chosen according to its standard. It must be necessarily proportional, the same as the male, only smaller in all respects.
The breeding book of the breed was closed for some time, but now it has been renewed and built according to a different principle. The offspring are treated very strictly, in order to be sure of the eminence of this or that foal, a DNA test is done for him.
All animals are entered in the stud book, but in different sections. Newborn females from a purebred father and an unregistered mare are classified as category "A".
This filly is covered by a thoroughbred stallion, their offspring are already in category "B". If the offspring is again female, then she is again covered by a registered stallion and already their offspring are considered purebred. On average, horses live 20-35 years, but much depends on the conditions of maintenance and care.
A horse is an animal that man has long tamed in order to make his life easier. Experts say that man domesticated this animal over 6,000 years ago. For many centuries, the horse regularly served a person in various activities: in the economy, in the military industry, and also as a transport.
The image of a horse found its application in art. Some species can only be seen in ancient paintings.
For centuries, man has bred new breeds of horses that perform strictly defined tasks. Characteristics began to be grouped not only by climatic affiliation, but also by physiological data.
Advances in technology have made many kinds of horses disappear. But caring livestock breeders are trying to prevent such phenomena and are working on breeding horse breeds.
Heavy trucks are considered the largest horses in the world. These include the shire (English heavy truck). Representatives of the breed reach two meters at the withers. It can be fat horses or hardy heavy trucks. However, this is not always the fattest horse but often the hardest. Shire is considered the largest horse breed.
Historical data
The first reports of strong mighty horses date back to the 11th century. To breed a generation of hardy horses, local representatives were crossed with Friesian and Flanders. The Belgian heavy truck played a significant role in the appearance of the shire.
The authorities issued decrees not allowing the breeding of breeds with a height of less than 154 cm. To increase growth, Shires were recommended. cross with others large equestrian representatives. For example, with Belgian. However, the Belgian breeds are slightly inferior to the Shires in height and weight.
Queen Elizabeth in the 16th century was also interested in increasing the number of draft horses. The optimal parameters of the breed were strictly controlled.
In 1878, data appeared about the ancestor of the breed named Blind Horse. Whether the animal was really blind is no longer known today. At the same time, a Shire breeding society was formed, breed parameters were developed, the Shire began to participate in exhibitions.
The name "shire" did not appear immediately. At first, the breed was called the "great horse". Then the horses were called Old English. In the XVIII century, the name "shire" was fixed.
Gallery: English heavy truck or shire (25 photos)
External characteristics
Horses of this breed come in three colors:
- black;
- bay;
- grey.
Color may have some white spots.
The growth of stallions - from 173 cm at the withers and above. Weight - from 900 kg. The chest - from 215 cm. The anterior metacarpus - from 25 cm. The metacarpus has a rounded shape, the tendons are palpable.
Mares, except for the named colors, can be roans. There may be more white spots than a stallion. The height of the mare is from 163 cm.
exterior features
The Shire horse breed also has other external features. Its representatives have a wide head and a massive forehead. Ears are medium in size. The neck is not long, the back is strong, the shoulders are muscular. The croup is wide, the tail is set high.
Shires have fluffy flowing mane. It can be of different lengths. The owners often decorate the pet with beautiful ribbons or make original haircuts. The appearance of the mane is very important in any competition. An obligatory sign of the breed is the presence of friezes on the legs, which have a silky dense structure.
Shire breeds have several divisions within their breed:
- Yorkshire shires hardier than the rest and have a leaner physique;
- Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire wear more fluffy friezes.
Export
Shire was well bred in Europe. In the XIX century, he appeared in America, where he competed with local heavy trucks - Percherons. Later, English heavy trucks began to be bred by American breeders, and in more than in Europe.
Horses were imported to Russia in order to improve local breeds, but they failed to displace Russian heavy horses.
record holders
The English draft is the largest horse in the world. The breed rightfully occupies the highest positions in height and weight. The breed record holder is a stallion named Mammoth from Bedfordshire, who had a height of 219 cm and a weight of 1520 kg. Mammoth is considered the largest horse in the world.
The largest horses are also known: stallions Lincoln with a weight of 1345 kg and Malchess with a weight of 1509 kg.
Nowadays, the largest horse in Europe is Cracker with a height of 198 cm and a weight of over 1200 kg. The largest horse in the world today is a stallion from Australia named Noddy with a height of 205 cm. Noddy is also called the tallest horse in the world.
Care
Shire care features differ little from those for other breeds. The animal is large in size and needs a lot of food. Shire needs up to 17 kg of hay and grass per day. Record holders consume more than 25 kg of feed per day.
Concentrated top dressings are undesirable, top dressings for growth are not used. You can give cake and flour from the grass, about 7 kg per day. Carrots, beets, apples are added to the diet. Do not forget about clean water.
It is obligatory to care for the mane and tail, as well as for the friezes. Horse hair is washed with special shampoos and combed out. So that the mane does not get confused, it is braided.
It is important to maintain cleanliness in the stall, dry bedding. With insufficient dryness, the animal may suffer from biting midges - a special form of dermatitis. To prevent disease, the legs of heavy trucks are sprinkled with sawdust after washing and drying.
It is important for horses to lead an active lifestyle with daily walks.
Character
Shires are surprisingly docile animals. The breed is hardy and hardworking. Differs in fidelity and devotion to the owner. Horse riders note that the breed requires a strong and confident rider.
Shires carry loads well, but it is difficult to force them to gallop. However, galloping for a heavy truck can be a dangerous activity, and the owner should not take risks with this kind of activity.
Shire breeding
To date, the number of heavy haulers has decreased. The breeding process is not an easy job. All Shire offspring are registered in the stud book with the assignment of categories. Only purebred mares can participate in selection.
Shires delight with their appearance and excellent characteristics. The price of horses is comparable with the elite ones. In Russia, an English heavy truck is sold for a million rubles.
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Exterior: a massive head with a broad forehead, medium-sized ears with sharp tips, a short, well-set neck, muscular shoulders, a short, strong back, a wide and long croup, a fairly high-set tail, powerful legs, on which there is magnificent from the carpal and hock joint overgrown - "friezes", hooves are large and strong.
ATheight at the withers: 165-185 cm.
The weight: 800-1225 kg.
Suit: mainly black, bay or karakov, less often - gray. There are white markings on the head and legs.
Peculiarities: Shires are the largest, heaviest, and strongest horses.
Shire- English heavy trucks, descended from knightly war horses, descendants of the horses of the Roman Conquerors and is one of the oldest heavy draft breeds. To date, it is difficult to say unequivocally how exactly this breed originated, as is the case with many other ancient breeds.
The word "shire" Shire) also came from England, and came from the Saxon word "shiran" (schyran), meaning "shift" or "watershed", therefore, the word "shire" is synonymous with this area. And the breed got its name thanks to King Henry VIII, who first applied the name "Shirre" to these horses at the beginning of the 16th century.
The fate of the Shires is inextricably linked with the history of England. Between the reigns of Henry II, 1154, and Elizabeth (beginning in 1558), the government constantly sought to increase the growth and number of horses called "great". During the reign of King John from 1199 to 1216, about a hundred stallions of large build were imported into England from the lower lands of Flanders, in Holland, and the Elbe shoals. One of the authors of that time describes these Flemish horses in the bulk as black, with white marks on the muzzle and legs, often all four of their legs were white to the knuckles. They were tall, muscular, on strong legs, fringed with long thick brushes, with strong large joints. During the reign of Henry VIII, from 1509 to 1547, special attention was paid to the cultivation and breeding of strong horses, several laws were approved to provide for this. Acts forbidding the use for breeding of horses below 154 cm at the withers, and also preventing any export of horses, even to Scotland, were passed in 1535 and 1541.
Like other heavy draft breeds, at different periods of history, the Shires were improved by the influx of blood from other breeds, the northern German Flemish horses from Belgium and the Flanders left a particularly noticeable mark in the breed. There are quite detailed records that tell about this, made more than 1000 years ago. During this time, the influx of blood and other breeds continued.
During the 18th century these horses began to be used for hard work on farms. With the improvement of roads and the widespread use of stagecoaches, there was a great demand for heavy trucks. At this time, a breeder named Robert Bakewell significantly influenced the Shires, known at that time as the Leicestershire Cart Horse, by infusing the blood of the best Dutch horses - Friesians.
Judging by the paintings dated to the 15th century, showing the perfection of their forms, shires were used as early as the 16th century. Undoubtedly, Shire horses were used as military horses.
Most people think, and historians say, that knights, dressed in heavy armor, with a sword and a pike, rode into battle on Shires. Not everyone shares this opinion, however, even in England some doubt that this is true. With the disappearance of tournaments and heavily armed knights, the ancestors of the Shire horse were taken to work in harness, pulling wagons over bumpy, uneven roads and plows through farm fields.
When it was not battles that came to the fore, but the development of commerce and agriculture, in the 19th century. Shires have become almost the national treasure of England. In the 19th century horses became the main labor force in agriculture and industry, especially on the docks and on the railroads. Large Shire geldings worked at the docks and on the streets of cities. The needs of the empire and the mores of the time demanded extraordinary massiveness, enormous muscular strength and obedience from the horse. English livestock breeders and farmers responded to this by creating one of the most remarkable breeds - Shires. They became the largest and most powerful draft horses in Britain. Shires were, and still are, used by urban brewers in stylized beer keg carts in traction and ploughing competitions.
Shires were bred in all parts of England, but in such districts as Lincoln, Derby, Cambridge, Norfolk, Nottingham, Leicester and Huntington they were especially popular. The history mentions such breed names that existed in the old days, such as: “Great Horse” (Great Horse), “War Horse” (War-Horse), “Cart Horse” (Cart Horse), “Old English Black” (Old England Black Horse), Lincolnshire Giant, and finally Shire. There were also differences between intrabreed types of Shires, depending on their place of origin. Shires, originating from their historic home, the marshes of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, tended to be more bony and brushed than their neighbours. Yorkshire and Lanarkshire, for example, were leaner and more hardy.
Champion 1911.
Although the first Shire was imported to America in 1853, significant imports did not pick up until 1880. At the dawn of the new, 20th century, the Shire in America could compete with the Perchers in popularity. From 1909 to 1911 about 6,700 shires were registered in the world, almost 80% of this population was born in America.
Because of their large stature and showy moves, the Shires have become extremely popular with American city dwellers. After the end of the First World War, however, heavy horses were forced out of the cities by trucks, subways and electric trams. At the same time, farmers bought smaller, more economical horses for work in the fields.
Brabancons and Percherons began to dominate the midwestern heavy-duty market, and the breeding center for Shires shifted to the western United States. In the 1940s and 1950s, their numbers continued to decline, from 1950 to 1959 only 25 horses were registered. Today Shires, like most heavy draft breeds, are being revived. In 1985 121 Shire was registered in America.
Let's not forget that the development and promotion of the English Shire Registry was at least partly due to Americans wanting to register their horses. It was certainly worth it, since only registered animals could be bred as Shires, but already on American soil.
Seeing a need for American breeders to promote and improve the breed, British charities helped to process registrations in the US. Subsequently, this task was assigned to the American Shire Horse Association, organized on April 28, 1885. It was officially registered on May 21, 1885.
One of the reasons for the rise in interest was the approval of premiums for stallions. Money for them is allocated by the Association from the profits of the racing sweepstakes, and is awarded at the annual March exhibition. More than £35,000 is awarded on this day. Another reason for the increase in livestock was the increase in sales markets, especially abroad. In recent years, more than 100 Shires are exported annually to all parts of the world. The current Associations are formed in Germany, France, Holland, Canada, USA.
Shires are very large animals: adult stallions reach a height of 162 to 176 cm at the withers. Mares and geldings are slightly less massive. However, many of the best representatives of the breed stand above 185 cm at the withers. They have relatively large, wide-set and expressive eyes, with a slightly convex (Roman) profile. The shoulders are strong and broad, the body with a deep chest.
There are real giants among the Shires. In 1846, an unusually large foal was born in England. In honor of the biblical hero, he was named Samson, but when the stallion became an adult and reached a height of 219 cm at the withers, he was renamed Mammoth. Under this nickname, he entered the history of horse breeding as the tallest horse that ever lived in the world.
The distinctive features of the breed include silky thick friezes on the legs, acquired from crossings with Clydesdales in the early 50s to solve the problem of biting midges in the old type of Shires. Friezes grow around the entire leg, on the front from the wrist, and on the back from the hock. Not so long ago, there was a demand on the market for horses with white leg markings.
Shires and other English heavy trucks - Clydesdales, brought to Russia in the last century, were used in breeding a new breed - Vladimir heavy trucks.
Which breed is the smallest, each person will answer without hesitation - a pony. And if you ask a question about the largest breed of horses? Not everyone can answer quickly here. The largest horse breed is the Shire. Let's find out more about their appearance and origin.
History of appearance
To find out where Shire horses came from, you need to look back many centuries ago. Scientists say that the ancient Romans had a hand in their appearance in the British Isles. Like it or not, it's hard to say for sure. But it is safe to say that the progenitors of modern Shires were the horses of William the Conqueror, who in the struggle for England used war horses that instilled fear in the English with their very appearance.
Over time, by mixing local breeds of large horses, shires appeared. A lot of work in the careful selection of shires was invested by the scientist Robert Bakewell. In the middle of the 17th century, by crossing with the best representatives of heavy horses, he brought to light an improved version of the Shire horses, which became famous throughout the mainland for their strength and power.
Did you know? The largest horse named Mammoth was registered in 1846, his height of 220 cm was recognized as the highest in history.
Characteristics and description of the breed
The main feature of Shires is proportionally developed parts of the body. A wide and strong back and sacrum provide tremendous performance and strength.
Height and weight
The height at the withers ranges from 1 m 65 cm to a record 2 m 20 cm. Weight is from 900 kg to 1200 kg, but animals are known whose body weight reached 1500 kg. Mares are somewhat lower - their height ranges from 130–150 cm. 
Important! For the full development of shirams, daily physical activity and good nutrition are necessary. Such a horse eats almosttwo times more than usual. He eats about 20 kg of hay per day.
Exterior
Let's find out how these world-famous heavyweights look like - they have a large head, large eyes and nostrils, and a nose with a slight hump. The shape of the body is a bit like a barrel. A long and powerful neck, smoothly turning into a wide and strong back, a powerful chest and muscular legs with wide hooves - this is how Shire heavy trucks look like. A massive jaw is an undesirable feature.
Suit
Shires have rich colors - there are bay, red, black and gray horses. In general, the choice of colors will satisfy even the most fastidious animal lovers. Among the mares there are roan specimens. But tribal standards allow the presence of white spots on the body. An interesting feature of this breed is the presence of white stockings on the hind legs and bald patches behind the ears.
Character
Looking at representatives of the breed of the largest horses in the world, you involuntarily imagine their cool and unbridled temper. But in fact, this is absolutely not the case. Shires have a calm and docile disposition. They are easily trained. Thanks to these qualities, they are often crossed with breeding horses, as a result of which stallions are born, which are then ideal for participation in competitions and triathlon. 
Important! The optimal type of gait for a horse is a gait. Shires are difficult to force to run at a gallop. In addition, not every rider can cope with a giant at such a speed, as well as slow it down.
Distinctive features
Inside the horse-heavy trucks also have their own characteristics. For example, shires from Yorkshire are distinguished by their endurance, outwardly they are more lean, but shires from Cambridge have thicker friezes (hair at the bottom of the knee joint).
Breed today
In connection with the automation of many industrial processes in the 50s of the twentieth century, interest in this breed subsided somewhat. But the popularity of Shire heavy trucks abroad, their participation in exhibitions and competitions provoked a new surge in their popularity. To date, shires actively participate in competitions for plowing fields, in horse races, and at exhibitions. Also, they can often be found in a team carrying beer or kvass for various city holidays. 
This breed of horses is deservedly considered the property of England. And it's not just that they're from there. It was the Shires who helped to “put on their feet” the industry of the mainland: shipbuilding, railways, agriculture, transportation of goods - in every industry, the industrious heavy trucks of the Shire were reliable assistants to the British.