156 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



The soundness of the Shire horse has been made a subject of 

 special investigation in connection with the annual show of the 

 Shire Horse Society in London. Between 1893 and 1912, veteri- 

 narians examined 6457 horses presented for show, rejecting 577, 

 or about 10 per cent, the average for twenty years being about 

 8 per cent a year. It is interesting to note that of the several 

 forms of unsoundness 33.5 per cent was due to sidebones, 9.2 

 per cent to spavins, and 5.9 per cent to ringbones, while 26 per 

 cent was due to defective respiration. 



Important Shire stallions of breeding fame in England seem 

 to date back to about 1755. 



Packington Blind Horse ^ said to have been foaled about 1 760, 

 was recognized as a prepotent force in early days in the counties 

 of -Leicester and Derby. 



Honest Tom (1062), foaled in 1806 in Lincolnshire, was a 

 prominent sire in his day, and his descendants proved his merit. 

 This horse at five years of age sold for 300 guineas ($1500). He 

 was also known as Old Tom, alias Little David, alias Old David. 



William the Conqueror '(2343) was foaled in 1862 in Nottingham 

 County. He was a brown in color, a winner of some prizes in 

 the show ring, and was the sire of Prince William (3956), Esquire 

 (2774), and Staunton Hero (2918), all noted stallions. 



Lincolnshire Lad 77(1365), foaled in 1872, a gray in color, 

 was one of the best-known modern sires of show-ring winners. 

 He stood 17 hands high, had an excess of hair, was somewhat 

 lacking in depth of body, but had much ambition and courage 

 and proved a great getter of superior stock. 



Bar None (2388), a bay, foaled in 1877, was bred by Thomas 

 Holmes of Yorkshire. He won the Shire Society championship 

 in 1882. He attained great success in the stud, transmitting 

 superb quality and high-class legs. 



Premier (2646), a bay, foaled in 1 8 80, was bred by John Fisher 

 of Lancashire. His sire, What's Wanted (2332), was a well- 

 known show and breeding animal. Premier proved a quite suc- 

 cessful sire of prize-winning animals at the Shire Society Show. 



Harold (3703), a brown, foaled in 1881, bred in Derbyshire, 

 won numerous important prizes in the show ring. He was very 

 meritorious as a sire, transmitting to his offspring size, excellent 



