126 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



he has very generally one or more of the feet and part of the legs, and not 

 unfrequently the muzzle, white. His body is massive, compact, and round ; 

 his limbs are stout, his chest is enormously broad, and his neck and back 

 are short. His mane is thick and somewhat frizzled, and his legs below 

 the knee and hock are hairy down to the heels. His whole aspect conveys 

 the idea of great physical power without corresponding action. The main 

 defects of this conformation and temperament are his too great bulk of body 

 and want of action and mettle. For a pull with a heavy weight he is admirable. 



Different varieties of the Shire formerly existed in England ; 

 some have said two, others three. In the first Shire Studbook 

 Dr. Reynolds groups the breed into three varieties, viz. : 



( 1 ) Those havingthe upper lipgarnished with a long, thick moustache, con- 

 sidered at one time a distinguishing characteristic of the Lincolnshire horse. 



(2) Horses having the lips, muzzle, and eyelids destitute of the hair. 

 The skin in these places is either entirely bald or covered with exceedingly 

 fine down, is almost invariably flesh colored, and is sometimes marked with 

 small dark spots and blotches. These are termed bald horses or bald faced. 



(3) Those having a long tuft of hair growing from the front of each 

 knee, and rarer examples having also a similar growth from the hind part 

 of the hock, just below its point. This is quite different from the ordinary 

 hair on the back of the cannons. 



It is also to be noted that in the past the horses in some 

 counties of England have differed from those of other coun- 

 ties. However, modern effort on the part of breeders has 

 resulted in producing a more uniform type. Within very recent 

 years Alexander Galbraith, an excellent authority, has said 

 that the type that won at the London show twenty years ago 

 would have no chance now. Greater refinement, better bone, 

 more action, and perhaps less hair are demanded. 



The modern Shire horse is an improvement over the horse of 

 fifty years ago. The features of large size, hairy legs, and draft 

 type have been maintained, but the modern Shire has more 

 action and life, possesses more quality and finish, and has more 

 uniformity of type than had his ancestors. The English breeders 

 recognized the need of improvement of their draft horse, empha- 

 sizing quality, action, flat bone, and uniformity. In recent times 

 this improvement has been greatly aided by the Shire Horse 

 Society and the comparisons possible through the exhibitions of 

 this society at Islington. Sir Walter Gilbey, a prominent breeder 

 and horse student, has been a leader in this work. 



