Shire Horse
gentle, calm, patient
Origin
England (Midlands)
Withers height
170–190 cm
Draught workDrivingShow
Traits & strengths
- ✦the tallest horse breed in the world — heights above 190 cm are documented
- ✦proverbially gentle nature despite enormous mass
- ✦impressive presence with abundant feathering
- ✦historically the draught horse of the English breweries
Breed-typical predispositions
Chronic progressive lymphoedema (CPL)
Disease →most pronounced in Shire and Clydesdale — lymphatic vessels demonstrably work less well; recognise early, keep feathering short, care consistently
Pastern dermatitis
Disease →dense feathering traps moisture — dry bedding and daily checks of the pastern folds
Musculoskeletal load through size
Disease →the extreme body mass loads joints, tendons and hooves disproportionately
Latest findings
CPL is not a question of grooming
ongoingWork on heavy breeds shows impaired lymphatic drainage of the lower legs as the cause — the condition arises from predisposition; good care slows it but does not prevent it.
Source · Equine CPL research — draft breeds
Conservation breeding
ongoingThe population is considered at risk; conservation programmes work against the loss of stallion lines.
Source · Rare Breeds Survival Trust