Photo by Reid. 



Pliire mare. IIendri;; Crown Pkincess, (irst in 1898 and first and reserve 

 champion Royal Agricultural Society Show. 1809. Sold for S-^.r>00 at Lord 

 Wantage's auction sale. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE SHIRE HORSE 



fM MONG tlie representatives of tliis long established breed of English draft horse 

 the most desirable form is low, broad and massive. Weight is considered a 

 leaditig feature and so with this we must associate the attributes of being heavily 

 built, muscular, with large bone and rather slow movement. Strength of shoulder 

 has been preferable to slope, which is probably given power in the collar but 

 detracted from the freedom and length of the stride. The body of the best repre- 

 sentatives is of exceptional merit, being large in girth, deep, strongly coupled with 

 broad, short bacU and heavily muscled quarters. Their points of excellence 

 are undoubtedly exceptional weight, made up of heavy bone, full muscular 

 development, with width and depth of form ; associated with these qualities 

 there are kindred deficiencies which are sometimes in evidence, meaning 

 thereby a lack in general quality, coupled with a sluggish temperauicnt. 

 The superior consideration which has been given to weight has frequently over- 

 balanced the claims of action, consequently while showing to excellent advantage 

 standing there are some which fail to sustain their merit when their action is 

 shown. A lack of quality in a draft horse must necessarily be discountenanced, 

 for durability depends on this and also on the set of the limbs. 



