Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers

On this page you will find the answers to frequently asked questions.

Size
The withers height of Shire horses varies from 1.65mtrs up to 2.10mtrs and higher.
Shires weigh between 850 and 1200 kilos.
So you better watch your toes a little.

Nourishment
Of course a Shire eats a lot. The food however, may not contain too much protein.
Nourishment for sports and jumping horses for example is not suitable for a Shire.
Shires like great quantities of food, but it may not have a nourishment value that's too high.
Because of that the costs of the feeding are not all that high.
Shires are rather 'economical' in use.

Foals
At birth a foal can weigh about 100 kilos, with a withers height of 1.20mtrs.
The foal drinks many, many times a day ant takes a few swallows each time.
Each day a foal drinks about 20 up to 25 liters of milk.
It takes seven years to let the foal be a full grown Shire.

Hoofs
The large hoofs of a Shire can be maintained in a normal way.
The horseshoes are also bigger of course, so the shoeing-smith might charge you a little higher.
Every horse can have a problem with his hoofs, and so can a Shire.
Information on hoof maintenance you'll find on the site of shoeing-smith Ric Segers
who has a lot of experience with Shire horses.
You'll also find a page on hoof problems on his site.
This site is only in Dutch though.

Character
A Shire is a real underbred horse, with a very even temper.
Shires are commonly very friendly and reliable,
and they won't get frigthened easily.
A Shire is a horse for the whole family, children included,
as they are usualy carefull with children.
A young Shire horse is a lot easier to train and raise than a young thoroughbred horse,
although one has to be consistent with a Shire just as well, of course.

Harnessed or saddled horse
A Shire can be used in front of a carriage as well as under the saddle.
with alternation if you like
In the middle-ages the first Shires were bred to carry the knights with their heavy armour.
Nowadays Shire horses are again more and more used as riding horses