Chapter V. 

 ENGLISH SHIRES. 



From the preceding chapter on Clydesdales, we have seen that 

 all of the modern draft breeds are descended from the great Black 

 Horse of northern Europe, with such modifications as different soils, 

 vegetation, climate and care would induce. Referring to this breed, 

 Prof. Low, of Edinburgh (already quoted), writing in 1842, after speak- 

 ing of its occupying the entire west and southwest portions of the main- 

 land, says : 



"The same widely-spread race extends into England, where it presents itself with 

 the same general characters as in the ancient countries of the Belgic Gauls, the Batavi, 

 the Frisiandones, and others. It is found in numbers from the Humber to the Cam, 

 occupying the rich fens of Lincoln and Cambridge, and extending westward through the 

 counties of Huntingdon, Northampton, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Warwick and 

 Stafford to the Severn. Although most abundant in districts of rich pastures, it has 

 extended northward, and very widely southward into the counties of the Chalk, retain- 

 ing the typical characters, but varied with the climate, food, and other circumstances 

 affecting its culture and condition. In the commons and poorer grounds it presents the 

 coarse pack-horse form, distinctive of the greater part of the older horses of England. 

 But in the fens and richer cultivated country, it attains the strength and stature of the 

 largest horses which the world produces." 



From these early horses, then, have descended the modern Shires 

 of England ; but we must look further, under the head of improvement, 

 to find how the unwieldy giant Lincolnshire or Black Cart-horse was 

 finally moulded into the handsome, large but fairly active horse now 

 known as English Shire. Of the first improvement, we get a good idea 

 from Youatt (on the Horse), 1861, who says : 



"All our heavy draft horses, and some even of the lighter kind, have been lately 

 much crossed by the Flanders breed, and with evident improvement. Little has been 

 lost in depth and bulk of carcase ; but the fore hand has been raised, the legs have been 

 flattened and deepened, and very much has been gained in activity. The slow, heavy 

 black, with his 2^ miles an hour, has been changed into a lighter but yet exceedingly 

 powerful horse, that will step four miles in the same time, and with perfect ease, and has 

 considerably more endurance. * * * As the Racer is principally or purely of Eastern 

 origin, so has the English Draft horse sprung chiefly from Flemish blood, and to that 

 blood the agriculturist has recourse for the perfection of the breed." 



During late years, the improvement of the Shire has been very 

 great, breeders struggling successfully to secure less bulk with equal 

 weight and added muscle. Probably the lighter horses of England, as 

 well as the famous medium-sized "Dutch Mares," have had something 

 to do in bringing about this very desirable change ; certain it is, that the 

 English Shire of to-day is a horse fit to walk in the front rank of any 

 breed of modern draft horses. 



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