| History | | | | and reputation for ease of handling. |
| Although the exact origins of the Percheron have | | | | Draft (Draught) Horses - The Shire |
| been lost over the years, there are several different | | | | The last of six articles about Draft (Draught) Horses, |
| beliefs about their roots. There are those who believe | | | | this one is about the Shire, and English draft horse |
| that this large draft horse is descended from the | | | | which can be traced back as far as the Roman |
| original horses of the Ice Age. Still others think that it's | | | | Conquest. |
| closely related to the Boulonnais horse that the | | | | History |
| Romans used to invade Brittany. And a third group | | | | The Shire, an English draft horse, can be traced back |
| maintains that the horse is from a herd of Arabians, or | | | | to the days of the Roman Conquest. The horse has |
| some of the horses used by the Moors during the | | | | been depicted in paintings, as far back as the 15th |
| battle of Poitiers. Whatever one chooses to believe, | | | | century, in full war regalia. There are those who do not |
| the consensus among all is that the Percheron can be | | | | doubt that this heavy draft was used by knights in |
| traced to Normandy at an area called La Perche. | | | | battle. Others, however, do not share this belief. In any |
| Once again, a draft breed has at its roots the | | | | event, once the tournaments and heavily armored |
| Belgian-Flemish blood. | | | | knights passed into history, the ancestors of the Shire |
| While modern-day Percherons are notable for their | | | | were put to use pulling wagons on the roads and |
| heavy draft work, during the 8th century the heavier | | | | ploughs in the fields. It soon became the largest and |
| native and cob stock were crossbred with Arabians | | | | most powerful horse in Britain. Still today, brewers in |
| and other Oriental horses. The Percheron produced by | | | | English cities use the Shire to pull beer wagons and, |
| this breeding made the horses more suitable for riding | | | | they are used for weight-pulling and ploughing |
| and lighter draft work. As time passed, the use of a | | | | competitions. |
| Percheron as a carriage horse developed into the | | | | Although the Shire was found and developed |
| more practical need as a heavier draft animal. The | | | | throughout England, what is know today as the |
| smaller-boned breed of the late 1800s was crossed | | | | Midlands (Lincoln, Huntington, Derby, Norfolk, Leicester, |
| with the heavier mares of Brittany, resulting in the | | | | Cambridge, and Norfolk shires) were where the |
| stockier Percheron that is most familiar today. | | | | highest concentration of this draft could be found. As |
| Description and Conformation | | | | with other draft horses, the Shire bloodline was |
| The preferred Percherons are black or grey but | | | | improved with the mixture of other breeds throughout |
| browns, sorrels, and bays are acceptable for | | | | history. There are relatively accurate records, which |
| registration. Due to the Oriental-type blood throughout | | | | date back about 1000 years, that show when the |
| their history, while a heavy horse, the elegance of the | | | | Belgian and Flanders breeds were crossed with the |
| heritage shows. The Percheron is not as choppy in its | | | | Shire. |
| movements as other heavy draft horses tend to be. | | | | The Shire was first imported to America in 1853. In the |
| The head is ideally medium sized, has a lean, clean cut, | | | | early 1900s it seemed that the Shire might |
| and a broad width between the eyes. While the chest | | | | overshadow the Percheron as America's favored |
| is deep and wide, the shoulders of the Percheron | | | | draft horse. However, the Percheron prevailed. |
| should not stand out prominently, as they tend to do on | | | | Description and Conformation |
| other drafts. The back is straight and strong in | | | | The typical colors for the modern Shire includes grey, |
| proportion to the neck length and shoulder height. | | | | brown, bay, and black. There is the occasional white, |
| Today's average Percheron measures 17 to 18 hands | | | | but it is a rarity. The mature stallion stand 16.2 to 17.2 |
| (68 to 72 in., or 173 to 183 cm.) at the shoulder. Mature | | | | hands (165 to 175 cm., or 65 to 69 in.) at the shoulder |
| Percherons can weigh from 1600 pounds (113.6 stones) | | | | and weighs up to 2200 pounds (156 stones). The |
| up to, and in excess of, 2400 pounds (170.4 stones). | | | | mares and geldings are slightly smaller. |
| This breed of draft horse has been acclaimed as | | | | This draft has the convex, or "Roman", nose. Its eyes |
| being very adaptable in any environment And it is | | | | are large, wide-spread, and intelligently expressive. The |
| characterized by a long smooth stride which shows | | | | shoulders are large and prominent. The body is |
| determination and willingness. It is also known for its | | | | relatively thick. And the legs are long with a good deal |
| intelligence, affable temperament, willingness to work, | | | | of feathering around the feet. |