THE SHIRE 155 



about half a hand less. The weight of the Shire of real drafty 

 character ranges from 1800 to 2000 pounds, the latter figure not 

 being uncommon. Discussing the subject of heavy weight of the 

 Shire, Mr. J. G. Truman, a noted importer and authority on this 

 breed, states 1 that the heaviest horse he ever saw was the Shire 

 stallion Great Britain (978), imported by his father in the early 

 eighties. On the docks at Boston, after a stormy passage, he 

 weighed 2775 pounds, and two weeks later at Bushnell, Illinois, 

 weighed 2830 pounds and was not what would be considered fat. 

 The heaviest mare ever seen by Mr. Truman was Fuschia, junior 

 champion at the Shire Horse Society Show in London, weighing 

 in her four-year form 2475 pounds. 



The crossbred or grade Shire is frequently an excellent animal, 

 showing more activity and quality than prevails in the pure bred, 

 especially if one parent is of lighter and more active type. The 

 great size of the Shire contributes a degree of substance highly 

 desirable in draft work. In 1904 a grade Shire of remarkable 

 size and quality was sold on the Chicago horse market for $865, 

 up to that time the highest price on record in this market for a 

 draft gelding. A combination of Shire and Clydesdale blood is har- 

 monious, producing a desirable crossbred that has long been in use. 



The special field for the Shire is in heavy draft work on com- 

 paratively level roads, where slow, steady service is wanted and 

 action is a minor consideration. On the level prairies of the West 

 this horse would no doubt meet with an encouraging degree of 

 popularity were it not for the hairy legs. At the plow or in 

 hauling heavy loads the Shire is surpassed by none, but his hair- 

 iness, if nothing else, bars him for place as a favorite. In spite of 

 the British claim to the contrary, the American farmer believes 

 that these hairy legs promote scratches, and covered with frozen 

 mud they certainly are a source of discomfort. 



The temperament of the Shire, as already indicated, is phleg- 

 matic and quiet. Without doubt the Shire is steady under the 

 collar and easy to manage under most conditions. In England 

 one will see many of these horses hauling great loads in the 

 cities and working at heavy labor on the farms, giving every 

 evidence of patient, dependable service. 



1 Breeders'* Gazette, April 23, 1913. 



