Shire horse: description and characteristics of the breed, conditions of keeping and breeding

Horses belong to a group of animals with which a person can interact closely and use them to achieve certain goals. There are a huge number of breeds of such animals. However, Shire horses are distinguished among them all. They are considered by many to be the largest domesticated animals.

History of the origin of the Shire horse

Before you start growing Shire horses, you need to familiarize yourself with the history of their origin. Animals belonging to this breed come from England. At the same time, the ancestors of such horses are considered the oldest heavy draft breed. The exact date of its appearance remains unknown until today.

It is known that such animals began to be imported into England in the middle of the sixteenth century. Then the government decided to seriously engage in breeding such large animals. At that time, this decision was very important for the state. The government issued a special decree that forbade peasants to have large horses on the farm. They had to give them to the state, so that in the future they would be used to equip the army.

Characteristic of the breed

The Shire breed has some distinctive features that every person who plans to breed such animals should be familiar with.

Exterior and suits of giants

The main feature of the horses that belong to this breed is their broad forehead and large head. They also have a broad and muscular neck. The chest of the horses is also considerable and reaches 180-190 centimeters in girth. At the same time, their hooves are small and flat.Basically, the Shire breed has a draft conformation. However, they have certain distinguishing features. For example, they have a short back and a too long neck. These features are not typical for standard draft horses.

Fireies are not as large as males, and therefore significantly inferior to them in size. At the withers, they reach about one hundred and forty centimeters. At the same time, the largest representatives of the breed can grow up to 180-185 centimeters in height.

Temperament and learning ability of the animal

Many farmers who want to grow such animals on their plots are interested in the peculiarities of their temperament. Some consider these horses aggressive, but in reality they are not. Despite their considerable size and formidable appearance, these horses are very calm and kind. If they are treated well, they will never show aggression towards their owner. The calm temperament of horses contributes to their learning.They are easy to train and manage.

Horses quickly learn different commands and remain faithful to their owner.

Where English heavy trucks are used

Initially, horses from this breed belonged to the category of heavy trucks. They were often used for plowing the land or moving in a carriage. Some bought them to practice riding. However, over time, the quality of roads improved significantly, and such animals were no longer used in harnesses. Now Shires are considered fast learning animals that participate in special competitions or shows. For example, in England, races are held for them at a distance of up to three kilometers. However, even today, animals are used as a draft breed. Most often they are used in forestry.

Pros and Cons of Content

Shires, like other breeds of horses, have several advantages and disadvantages that you should familiarize yourself with. Benefits include:

• high payload capacity to carry heavy loads;
• hard work and endurance;
• unpretentiousness in nutrition;
• ease of animal care;
• calm temperament and learning ability;
• friendly attitude towards people and animals.

Despite a considerable number of advantages, the Shires have one serious drawback. The main disadvantage of keeping such horses is their large appetite. In a day, an adult eats twice as much food as horses of any other breeds.

Raising and caring for animals

Before you start raising animals, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of caring for them.

Requirements for the premises

The room in which the horses will be kept must meet the following requirements:

• Walls and floors should be made of high quality thermal insulation materials. When creating the floor, it is recommended to use non-slip materials to prevent injury to animals. It must be sprinkled with straw or sawdust. Also, the surface can be covered with expanded clay to prevent the appearance of fungus or mold.
• The partitions between the stalls in the barn should be made of durable metal or wood. Their height should not exceed one meter.
• A special ventilation hole is made in each stall. This promotes indoor air circulation.
• Doors must be equipped with three galvanized bolts. This prevents the horse from leaving the stall on its own.

Feeding Features

The key to the he alth of any horse is its proper nutrition. Despite the fact that this breed is unpretentious in food, there are some nutritional requirements:

• Such animals need a lot of food. They eat about 25-30 kilograms of grass per day.
• In the diet of horses add food that contains a lot of vitamins. It includes apples, beets, carrots or cabbage. At the same time, foods containing vitamins should be given daily.
• Animals should not be given concentrated feed, as well as top dressing to enhance growth.
• Piglets need to be watered only with clean water, without additional impurities.

Hygiene and horse care

Every horse needs proper care. The tail and mane must be regularly washed and cleaned of residual dirt. They should be combed and braided periodically if the weather is too hot outside. On summer days, horses should be bathed regularly in cool water. You can also use special shampoos for horses.

After the end of the water procedures, the body of the horse is thoroughly wiped with a dry towel.

It is necessary to periodically clean the stall so that there is no unpleasant smell. Waste should not be allowed to accumulate inside, as it promotes the growth of bacteria.

Grazing

Animals are grazing in the summer, when there is a lot of green grass outside. Most often, horses are released to pasture in the second half of May and June. Animals must graze daily for 2-3 hours. It is not worth overfeeding them and therefore it is not necessary to leave them on the pasture for a long time. Grazing ceases closer to mid-August, when the amount of green grass decreases.

Horseshoe

It's no secret that horses' hooves wear out over time. Moreover, if they live in a natural environment, this happens slowly. In horses living on a farm, the erasure of hooves occurs many times faster. Therefore, it is recommended to engage in horseshoeing so that they do not wear out so quickly.Hoof shaving should be done by professionals who are well versed in this. You should not install horseshoes yourself.

Vaccinations and disease prevention

When breeding the Shire breed, everything must be done to prevent the appearance and development of diseases. There are preventive measures to help prevent illness:

• regular vaccination of animals in accordance with the recommendations of the veterinarian;
• disinfection of the stable, as well as drinkers and feeders inside;
• warming the barn so that there are no drafts inside;
• keep the stable dry and well lit;
• treatment against ticks in spring and summer;
• adding vitamin complexes to the diet to strengthen immunity.

Reproduction and longevity of the breed

People who want to breed this breed should pay attention not only to the appearance of the animal, but also to whether it meets the standard. The mare should have almost the same physique as the male. It is allowed to be slightly smaller in parameters. For mating, it is recommended to use a thoroughbred stallion in order to get good and clean offspring. Thoroughbred horses can live for more than thirty years. However, life expectancy depends on the conditions in which they were kept.

Average cost of a horse

The English horse can be purchased by anyone. However, before that, you need to figure out how much it costs. The cost of such an animal is quite high. Sometimes it reaches one and a half million rubles. At the same time, the average price is 350-400 thousand rubles.

The final cost of a stallion or mare depends on several factors. It can be affected by gender, age and he alth status.

Interesting facts about the breed

There are some interesting Shire facts:

• these horses are considered the largest, as some of them grow up to two meters;
• Initially, stallions were used not for field work, but for transporting goods;
• currently some breweries in England use these horses to transport beer.

Conclusion

Chair is considered a popular horse breed that many farmers have heard of. Before breeding such horses, you need to familiarize yourself with their characteristics and features of caring for them.

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