Shire horse
The Shire is a breed of draught horse originating from England. The Shire has a great capacity for weight-pulling; it was used for farm work, to tow barges at a time when the canal system was the principal means of goods transport, and as a cart-horse for road transport.
Breed facts
| Type | Horse breed |
|---|---|
| Origin | England |
| Recognised use | animal-powered transport |
| Classification | breed of draught horse |
| Wikidata id | Q40728 |
The Shire is a breed of draught horse originating from England. The Shire has a great capacity for weight-pulling; it was used for farm work, to tow barges at a time when the canal system was the principal means of goods transport, and as a cart-horse for road transport. One traditional use was for pulling brewer's drays for delivery of beer, and some are still used in this way; others are used for forestry and for commercial advertising. Shires have held some of the world records for the largest horse and for the tallest horse.
It originates in England and is recognised for animal-powered transport. These facts are recorded in Wikidata, which catalogues the breed under item Q40728.
Sources: Wikidata (Q40728) · Wikipedia · Photograph (Wikimedia Commons)