SHIRE HORSE STANDARDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2716, 10 March 1916, Page 8

SHIRE HORSE STANDARDS

There is a tondcncy 011 the part of a few present-day judges to placo a big overgrown candidate in front of a smaller but more correct type of Shire, although the latter has the weightiest set of limbs, so that t'lie question may be asked whether the craze for size can be pursued with safety. Merc size, or height, is not always indicative of true Shire character, especially if it is obtained at the expense of I'cet and legs. It is certainly more difficult to find a horse standing 17J hands as proportionate as one two or three inches lower, and when it comcs to actual shaft work the 'tall animal is the first to show digiis of wear. Of course, the opinion' prevails that "a good big horse is better than a good little one," which is true within reasonable limits; but among Shires the biggest stallions have not proved themselves the most successful sires, neither have mares as high as houses bred the most valuable stock. At some shows specimens have found favour wlftch were decidedly leggy, with 6uch length of body as to make them look shallow at the flank and' short in the rib, which is not quite the type to propagate, as they cannot stand the strain .when backing a load like those of the strong-loined and muscular type. So declares Mr. J. A. Frost in the "Live Stock Journal Almanac." Therefore it may be asked whether the back and loin should not be taken more into consideration when judging as well as the "feet, joints, and feather," notwithstanding that it is said "the top can change, the bottoms never." If the top changes, or appears to change, it is through .being loaded up with fat, which hides a lot of defects, and that of a slack loin in particular. A shortribbed and shallow colt grows into a horse with the same defects, but they are less obvious in a fat than in a lean animal. By paying more attention to the top it is not suggested that the bottoms should bo neglected or the palpable delects in feet, joints, or limbs should bo passed over. "As regards the feet of Shire horses they get better each year, this being to a great extent due to the fact that the feet of colts are not neglected till the animals are worked, as they used to be.