158 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



In 1891 he was sold to Mr. Wainwright for 2500 guineas (^12,500), 

 the highest price for a Shire up to that time. 



Lockinge Forest King (18867), a bay, foaled in 1899, was 

 bred by Lord Wantage. He was sired by Lockinge Manners 

 (16780) and out of (4470) The Forest Queen, by Royal Albert 

 (1885). The most noted of recent-day sires, many of his sons 

 and grandsons have proved sires of great prepotency and value. 



Birdsall Menestrel (19337), a bay, foaled in 1900, was bred 

 by Lord Middleton, Birdsall House, York. He was sired by 

 Menestrel (14180) and out of (22925) Birdsall Darhng. This 

 horse attained fame in the show ring and has proved a sire of 

 distinct merit. 



In a study of prepotent Shire-blood lines ^ Ellis D. McFarland 

 brings out the fact that of the 2218 Shires awarded prizes at 

 the Shire Society Show at London during twenty years ending 

 , in 191 2, 2150 trace directly to common progenitors, of which 

 but ten are of much importance. Lincolnshire Lad II has always 

 ranked first in the list of common progenitors. From 1883 to 

 1899 Matchless ranked second, but since that time he has held 

 third place, with William the Conqueror second. These are the 

 three outstanding sires. The number of prize winners from 1893 

 to 19 1 2 tracing directly to famous sires are as follows : 1257 trace 

 directly to Lincolnshire Lad II ; 440 to William the Conqueror; 

 235 to Matchless; 81 to Bar None; 63 to Lincoln; 62 to Royal 

 Albert; 45 to Major; 41 to Vulcan; 19 to Heart of Oak; and 

 9 to What 's Wanted. 



The distribution of the Shire horse is world-wide. In England 

 this is the common draft breed and is especially conspicuous in 

 the low-lying central farming sections and in the large cities. 

 The Shire has secured a foothold in most of the English-speaking 

 colonies, and prior to the World War many were exported to 

 Australia and Canada, while Germany and Argentina have also 

 imported a considerable number. In the United States the breed 

 is best known in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio, its logical 

 field being in the corn-belt states. 



The prices paid for Shires mount into very high figures. In 

 1909 the stallion Tatton Dray King (23777), champion of the 



1 Breeders' Gazette, June ii, 1914. 

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