Breed of the Week

Breed of the Week is the Shire. Here's the link to the American Shire Horse Association: http://www.shirehorses.us/. This is the final critically endangered breed of the week I'll be doing unless I find more.

Anyway, the breed was originated from and first recognized in England in 1884. They were originally used as war horses for their even temperament (and are also descendants of the Great Horse war horse). They were wildly popular for a long time as work horses and transport (carts and the like) horses, but in the 1950's and 60's, their popularity dropped off dramatically due to mechanization. While the Clydesdale horse is most associated with beer (Budweiser), the Shire was actually more commonly used for the transportation of beer. Today, the shire is mostly used for forestry where it's harder to drive machinery and for leisure riding and even gymnastics on horse back. Their other main use is actually to cross breed with lighter hunter type horses and thoroughbreds to achieve a heavier build and more docile temperament in the offspring. These horses come in black, bay, grey, and (rarely) chestnut/sorrel. A lot of white markings and/or roaning is considered undesirable.

Noddy, the world's tallest horse, is a Shire.