Registered Shire Horses &
Anglo-Shire Warmbloods
St. Mary Magdalene's Retreat
(530) 643-0858 * orders@stmarymagdalenes.org
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Registered Shire Horses &
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ANGLICAN PRAYER BEADS +++ Organ Accompaniment CDs
Peacock Feathers & Quills +++ ANGLICAN CHURCH +++ Shire Draft Horeses
ST. MARY MAGDALENE'S SHIRE HORSES began breeding the Shire horse in 1990 with the acquisition of our first team, Sara and Rose, two registered Shire mares who were both in foal. After the first foaling season, we had caught the bug and were enthralled with the Shire horse. As we are now concentrating our efforts elsewhere, our last Shire horses are up for sale. For strength and style, nothing beats the Shire horse.
The Shire Horse:
Though the specific origin of the Shire breed is "lost in the mists of antiquity", it is fairly certain that the Shire horse of today traces back to the English "Great Horse" which came from the Flemish horses brought to England during the twelfth century.
Sir Walter Gilbey, an early athority on the breed, wrote this in the introduction to Volume I of the stud book, "The Shire horse is the purest survival of an early type which was spoken of by medieval writers as the 'Great Horse'. If this horse did not orginate in England, this country at a very early date acquired a widespread reputation for producing it. Indeed, the English 'Great Horse" seems to have been a native development of that British 'War Horse" whose strength, courage, and aptitude for discipline are spoken of in high terms by the chroniclers of the Roman legions at their first landing upon these shores. There are good reasons for believing that in the English Great Horse, modern Shire horses were originated. "
Between 1154 and 1558 it seems to have been the aim of the government to increase the size and numbers of the "Great Horse" to handle the weight of soldiers in armour (weighing up to 400 pounds). Although war is the ancient heritage and role of the Shire horse, it proved to be even more useful in peace turning from battle to commerce and agriculture. During the 1800s the Shire became nothing less than a national treasure as big Shire geldings moved trade goods off the docks and into the streets. Responding to the need of a horse with enormous bulk, prodigious muscular strength, and docility, the English stockmen and farmers developed what remains one of their finest living creatures - the Shire horse.
When the demand for draft horses developed in the United States, the Shire horse of England became one of the primary sources for the improvement of native stock. As one horseman from that period said about the Shire, "They have been found competent to transmit and impress their own characteristics with remarkable certainty, and the name 'Shire Horse" had become a synonym for strength, constitution, energy, and endurance."
In 1955 the breed was down to less than 50 horses in the US. In 1967 a yearling colt was imported to Idaho, providing a critical infusion of new blood in the American Shire Horse lines. Today the American Shire Horse Association estimates that there are about 1700 registered Shires in North America, and about 150 new horses are being registered each year with imports and foals combined. The Shire remains the most elegant and athletic of the draft breeds. They are excellent for riding or driving and pass their agility, grace, docile attitude and trainability to their offspring.
The Shire Sport Horse:
The Anglo-Shire Warmblood, a Shire-Thoroughbred Cross, was the original Irish Hunter that accidentally developed when English Shires were pastured with Thoroughbred race horses. They are excellent dressage, hunter, jumper and event horses and have won Olympic gold medals and Horse of the Year awards in England. The Anglo-Shire Warmblood resembles a large, beautiful Thoroughbred with excellent bone for soundness, endurance, and a calm, willing disposition.
Horses for Sale:
1991 Shire Mare:
Registered Name: Hawk Scry Argent Amethyst
Barn Name: "Amy"
16 hands tall, weight 1600 pounds, excellent conformation
Golden bay with four socks and wide blaze.
Full sister to black gelding pictured above.
Rides, drives singles, drives double.
Easy going. Loves apples.
$4500 US
1991 Shire-Thoroughbred Cross:
"Angus"
16.3 hands tall, weight 1600 pounds.
Dark bay with small amount of white on rear feet.
Broke to ride. Excellent hunter prospect.
Overly friendly and very nosy. Really loves apples.
$4000 US
Equipment for Sale:
Farm Wagon:
Heavy duty iron construction with rubber tires and fifth wheel front end.
Excellent for training.
New two-horse evener and yoke.
$1250 US
Information:
For additional information, please contact Mother Chris at (530) 643-0858.
This page last updated 9-jan-2010
St. Mary Magdalene's Shire Horses
Yreka, California
(530) 643-0858 * orders@stmarymagdalenes.org