Photo: Garth Newton · CC BY-SA 2.0 horse breed · 671 on Animalso
Shire Horse: English Draft Breed
- Animal
- Horse
- Type
- Draft horse
- Origin
- England
- Height
- 1.715 cm
- Weight
- 900 kg
The Shire is a draft horse from England, bred for pulling work. It hauled farm loads, canal barges and road carts, including brewer’s drays. The listed height is 1.715 meters, and the listed weight is 900 kilograms.
What the Shire is
The Shire is a draft horse that originated in England. It was bred to pull heavy loads for farm work, canal transport and road carts.
Its working background
The breed’s recorded roles include towing barges when canals carried goods, pulling brewer’s drays for beer delivery, and hauling road transport carts.
Work it was bred to do
The Shire has a strong history of weight-pulling. Its documented uses include forestry and commercial advertising, while some are still used to pull brewer’s drays.
What to consider
This is a large draft horse, listed at 900 kilograms and 1.715 meters in height. Its documented purpose centers on pulling work rather than a general riding role.
Price information
No purchase price or service price is provided for the Shire.
Who may want another breed
Look at other horse breeds if you want a horse bred for a role outside heavy draft work. For English origins, see horse breeds from England.
Our verdict
Choose the Shire if its English draft heritage and history of pulling farm, canal or road loads fit your aims. Consider another breed if those working origins do not match what you want from a horse.
What stands out
- Bred for heavy pulling on farms, canals and roads.
- Historic work includes brewer’s dray delivery.
- Documented uses include forestry and commercial advertising.
Worth knowing
- Its documented role centers on draft pulling work.
- A 900-kilogram horse needs room and facilities for its size.
- No lifespan figure is listed for this breed.
Suits
- Owners interested in an English draft horse with a pulling history.
- Work involving the breed’s traditional draft identity.
Think twice if
- You want a horse bred for a role other than heavy draft work.
- You need a lifespan figure before choosing.
In short
The Shire suits people drawn to a horse with deep English draft origins and a clear record of heavy pulling work. Its history covers farms, canals, roads and brewer’s drays. The breed’s listed size—1.715 meters and 900 kilograms—also signals a substantial animal. Choose it for that working identity, not if you are looking for a horse defined by another purpose.
Questions
Where did the Shire horse originate?
The Shire originated in England.
What was the Shire bred to do?
It was bred for weight-pulling, including farm work, towing canal barges and pulling road carts.
How tall is a Shire horse?
The listed height is 1.715 meters.
How much does a Shire horse weigh?
The listed weight is 900 kilograms.
Are Shires still used for brewer’s drays?
Some are still used to pull brewer’s drays for beer delivery.
What other work can Shires do?
Some are used in forestry and commercial advertising.
More horse breeds from England
Hackney horse England Photo: Cgoodwin · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Hackney pony England Photo: Equinologist · CC BY 3.0 
Norfolk Trotter England Photo: J. H. Engleheart · Public domain 
Yorkshire Coach Horse England Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain Other draft horse breeds
American Drum Horse United States Photo: Ultra7 · Public domain 
Ardennes horse Belgium Height 1.62 cmWeight 700 kg Photo: Vassil · Public domain 
Ban-ei Race Horse Japan Photo: 馬面長伊奈 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo credits15 photographs on this page
- Shire horse — Garth Newton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · file page
- Cleveland Bay — Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Dales pony — Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
- Dartmoor Pony — Nilfanion · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Hackney horse — Cgoodwin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Hackney pony — Equinologist · CC BY 3.0 · file page
- Norfolk Trotter — J. H. Engleheart · Public domain · file page
- Suffolk Punch — Amanda Slater · CC BY-SA 2.0 · file page
- Yorkshire Coach Horse — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
- American Cream Draft — Jean · CC BY 2.0 · file page
- American Drum Horse — Ultra7 · Public domain · file page
- Ardennes horse — Vassil · Public domain · file page
- Australian Draught Horse — Cgoodwin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Auxois — Cjp24 crop by Peli · CC BY 3.0 · file page
- Ban-ei Race Horse — 馬面長伊奈 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under the licence each one names. How Animalso credits photographs.