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Unusual jobs are all in the day's work for the horse. At one time many lifeboats were hauled 

 to and from the sea by teams of Shire horses such as these. Many a seaman's life may have 

 depended on equine speed and strength. Some of these 'Lifeboat Horses' used to recognise 

 the maroon which was fired to summon the Lifeboat crew. Long after its retirement one of the 

 horses which regularly helped to haul the Hoylake Lifeboat heard a maroon fired one day 

 when it was working in the neighbouring fields. It immediately became very excited and 

 made for the boathouse. In its eagerness it had a heart attack and dropped down dead. 



