12 Breeds of Horses 



that horses of great weight and size existed in Great Britain at the 

 time of the Roman invasion, and moreover, that there existed, even 

 so far back as the time of Henry VIII, three distinct breeds of 

 horses, as the following extract from a work written by Sir Thomas 

 Blundeville shows: — 



" Some men have a breed of great horses meete for warre, and 

 to serve in the field. Others have ambling horses of a meane stature 

 for to journey and travel by the waie. Some again have a race of 

 swift runners to run for wagers and to gallop the bucke, but plane 

 countrymen have a breed only for draftes or burden." 



This clearly shows that at the period referred to, nearly five 

 hundred years ago, the three present-day breeds of racehorse, 

 hackney, and draught or Shire existed. 



The continued success and popularity of the breed is due to 

 many causes, but the Shire Horse Society and its annual London 

 Show has been mostly instrumental in improving the breed, and 

 in stimulating breeders to increased action throughout the country. 

 The prize schedule of the London Show is a most liberal one, and 

 the introduction of breeders' prizes, which was a very happy idea, 

 has proved an additional incentive. No doubt, the gold and silver 

 medals at provincial shows also have had the effect of widening 

 the interest in the breed. 



There is no more popular breed than the Shire, or more suc- 

 cessful society than the Shire Horse Society. Its show is also 

 admirably managed by a very practical council, which is elected 

 by members of the society and consists of men who are themselves 

 Shire breeders, so that the council is in touch and sympathy 

 with, and has the confidence of, the large body of members of 

 the society, which now numbers nearly four thousand, including 

 nearly two hundred societies. This undoubtedly accounts in a large 

 measure for the phenomenal success of the society, while the 

 rigorous veterinary examination the animals have to undergo at 

 the London Show has had the effect of largely improving the 

 soundness of the breed. Nor can the value of the stud book be 

 overlooked as an important element in this connection, for pedigree 

 and purity of blood are very important factors in breeding. A 

 reference to the prize winners at shows proves conclusively the 

 truth of the adage that " like begets like", and the subtle influence 

 of prepotency is shown unmistakably. It is in this particular 

 phase of breeding that the skill of the breeder is brought into 

 play, for the surest road to success in breeding Shires, as with other 

 kinds of stock, is in the judicious blending of those strains of 

 blood which give the best results. 



