SHIRE HORSE 



87 



THE SHIRE HORSE 



The Shire horses are the most popular draft horses in 

 England. They have become general in city use in that 

 country because of their great weight and strength. 



They have developed and are now bred mostly in the low 

 fiat lands of England, where the soil is rich, climate moist, 

 and vegetation abundant. 1 



Although much valued in England, both in the cities 

 and on the farms, and used to a large extent in continental 



Fig. 23. — Shire horse 



Europe and in Australia, they have not met with general 

 favor in America, because of the abundant growth of hair 

 on their legs, to which our farmers object. 



Some people have difficulty in distinguishing between 

 the Shire and the Clydesdale breeds. While bay is the pre- 



