Shires were used to work fields and pull heavy loads, with the advent of machinery their usefulness and population began to decrease significantly. Thousand were sent to slaughter and breeding slowed. By the s the numbers had dwindled all the way down to a few thousand.
In the s steps were taken to help revive the breed. Today they are used for pulling and driving competitions, western pleasure, show rings, and recreational riding. Shires are big, muscular horses that will never compete in the jumping ring on a scale with warmbloods but they are horses you can enjoy spending time riding. Shires excel in pulling, that is what they were bred to do; however, they are also good riding horses.
They have a good disposition, are athletic movers, and enjoy learning, making them ideal for almost any rider. These gentle giants are perfect for therapeutic riding and public riding stables.
Shires crossed with warmbloods work well as dressage and jumpers. Also, because of the calm demeanor of a Shire, they are used by law enforcement for a variety of purposes, but they are excellent for crowd control and search and rescue. The Suffolk Punch is a breed itself. Like the Clydesdale and the Shire, it is a massive draft horse from Great Brittian. Although a Suffolk Punch is not as tall as either the Shire of Clydesdale, it is a stouter horse, and most weigh more than the Shire.
The Shire needs to eat carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. They get these nutrients by eating hay, grass, grains, or concentrated foods. The nutrients the Shire needs to maintain its health is the same for them as compared to other horses, but because of their size, they need much larger amounts.
If a Shire horse is being worked or in training, he can eat up to 44 pounds of hay a day. When feeding grain, you will have to monitor your horse. It is best to supply most of his dietary intake with high-quality hay such as alfalfa. It is also imperative to keep fresh, clean water available for the horse. Water may be the most important constituent of all diets.
The body of a horse is comprised of roughly 80 percent water. Because of this, fluids must be available to a horse on a constant basis. Fresh grass contains a good deal of water, but horses need much more than they can get from grazing. The end result is a dropped sole, with the horse taking weight on the sensitive sole rather than on the hard hoof wall. Shires live for 20 years plus. They may need supplementary feed during winter or other times when paddock grass is low. Most Shires today are kept for special duties or by enthusiasts.
Helene Scarf says that grooming and bathing a Shire is like washing down a barn! Helene gives the feathers the long hair between the hoof and fetlock of most heavy horse breeds a good wash, and uses fat or lard on them to stop them becoming brittle. Maintenance can be expensive, because the horses are so big that everything has to be tailor made for them. The Shire is very smooth riding horses.
Mustangs pose the largest threat to people wandering through their territory, especially if they travel by horse. There are anecdotes of Mustang stallions that have attacked people to attempt to steal their mare. These gentle giants, which are a rare breed, have long been a passion for Kerry. The cheapest horse breeds on average are the Quarter horse, Mustang, Paint horse, Thoroughbred, and Standardbred.
Though prices will vary depending on the horse, there are often many budget-friendly horses for sale within these breeds. Shires generally like humans and possess good temperaments.
Such large horses must be docile, as they would otherwise be quite dangerous to handle. Horses can run between 27 and 40 miles per hour, depending on diet and general health. Racehorses have been clocked at 44 miles per hour.
Although not the fastest horse breed around, the Shire Horse still has an average speed of 35 miles per hour or 56 kilometers per hour. They just need a lot more food and water than an average-sized horse to maintain a healthy body weight. Some vets recommend high-fat diets to ward off polysaccharide storage myopathy, a condition that can cause spasms in the hind legs. Shire horses are generally healthy with very calm, agreeable attitudes. But the breed is prone to chronic progressive lymphedema.
This is a disease in which the legs gradually become swollen, though management can help slow its progression. Also, while polysaccharide storage myopathy is not that common in shire horses, some still might experience its bouts of leg stiffness, cramps, and spasms.
The feathering around a shire horse's lower legs requires regular brushing and cleaning to avoid skin irritation and infection. It is also important to fully dry the feathering after a bath, as a wet environment can breed bacteria and fungi.
Other than that, these horses take standard equine grooming. But you might need a sturdy stool or ladder to reach all the high points on your horse's body. One of the most famous shire horses was the majestic Goliath, who died in Measured at more than He also was recognized in "The Guinness Book of World Records" in as the tallest living horse in the world.
A beautiful black horse renowned for his character, he was a member of a show horse team owned by the Young and Co. He stood While they're massive in size, shire horses are typically manageable, even for inexperienced owners and riders.
Some riders might need a boost to climb aboard, but they can be reasonably sure of a smooth ride. Shires rarely rear or buck, and they don't scare easily. They are eager to please and easy to train. However, a shire is a rather expensive breed to keep. Because of its sheer size, it requires more feed than most other horse breeds.
And owners typically must buy custom-made tack, as mass-produced equipment simply won't fit.
0コメント