ENGLISH REGISTRY:  PART ONE

     The reality of a Shire registry in England became official in 1878, but the true beginning started over 100 years earlier.  Volume 1 of the Stud Book was made available in March of 1879.  It was a collection of horses dating back to 1760.  Imagine, if you will, the problems that could arise, most of which apparently did, in trying to obtain records that far back.   There are no records as to how this work was accomplished since they were destroyed.  It is known, however, that some breeder and organization had maintained records from which to draw.   The Stud Book itself is a witness to the problems and errors.  The fact that England in general, and the counties responsible for the majority of the horses, are geographically
small did help in accomplishing this work.  The stallion, Packington Blind Horse (I don't know if he was blind or not) of Leiestershire would seem to be the beginning.   He served mares from 1755 to 1770.  His pedigree, however, is unclear.
     Robert Bakewell, of Dishley Grange (the family 440 acre farm), is truly the father of the breed.  Not so much from an administrative viewpoint, but rather as a horseman of extraordinary abilities.  The family had some of the best cart (draft) horses in England.  He improved his horses to an almost untouchable position of quality, mainly by inbreeding and with infusion of Friesian blood.  One of the more famous stallions was G (Gee), Stud Book number 890.

     Among other problems facing the new society was that of the name.  Many of the founders favored, "Old English Cart Horse Society".  The Welsh, Irish and Scottish objected to the word "English".  Others felt there wasn't a need for the word "Old".   To make a long story short, they finally agreed on "English Cart Horse Society".  However, the term "Cart Horse" was used much the same as we use the term "Draft Horse" today.  Many felt this term was too broad, and the name was changed to "Shire Horse Society" in June of 1883.  The first four volumes of the Stud Book were then rewritten into a single Volume, which is the official first volume we use today.  Horses were listed alphabetically, with 2962 stallion and 1413 mare entries.

     The American influence on the newly formed society was significant.  Registered horses exported to the U.S. prior to the 1880's were limited.  Only a few names in Volume 1 appear as exported.  Astronomer (88), foaled in about 1852 with no shipment date recorded, was surely one of the first.   This doesn't preclude unregistered horses as being exported
prior to or during the same period.  It was J.H. Truman who first saw the potential in the American market as a boom to the English Shire breeders. (We will be talking a great deal about the Trumans in future articles.)  Mr. Truman began taking yearly trips to buy beef cattle during the 1870's.  It was from these trips that he became aware of the need and desire for the Americans to have better and bigger draft horses.   In 1878 he arranged his first shipment of Shires to the U.S..  After his second shipment in 1883, he announced to the English breeders his belief that the future American market would be for registered horses, and he encouraged breeders to get their horses entered into the Stud Book, if eligible.  He, of course, was soon proven correct, thus, creating a flood of entries into the society. 
     Thousands of horses were entered, many of which sailed to the U.S..  The importation of Shires into the U.S. surpassed all other breeds.  It appeared that the Shire would be the draft horse of choice among the Americans.  But the small island of Great Britain could not produce enough good horses fast enough, and horses of lesser quality were shipped.  This poorer quality had a drastic impact on the market which really never recovered.  However, the export trade firmly established the English registry.  The number of Shires shipped in those early days is unknown, for even during the time it was happening, they could not keep count.
     Just as a side note, one of the horses exported to the U.S. was a 1876 foal named Great Britain (978).  He was shipped as a 12 year old.  He was roan in color and a son of Honest Tom (1105).  I have read an account of this horse which indicated that he weighed slightly over 2800 pounds when he was unloaded from the ship onto American soil, after over a week at sea.  This horse was used more for promotional work rather than as a breeding stallion.  However, this illustrates the desire for big horses; size was one of the strong selling points for the breed.  That size coupled with heavy bone put with the smaller native mares is the strength the Shire breed is remembered for by many historians.  In part, due to the lower quality of horses coming to the U.S., the American Shire Horse Association was established (in 1885) to assist in the preservation of quality within the breed.  This movement was not only supported by the English, but they contributed funds to assist in the effort.

Welcher's Honest Tom 1105, foaled in 1865, was the most cellebrated stallion
in the 'seventies, first in the fens and then the fylde.

      Before we move on to the American Shire Horse Association, in Part III of this chapter, we will look at some of the horses who played a role in the early development of the breed, plus a little more about the Clydesdale connection.


Markeaton Royal Harold, Champion in 1897 and reserve to his young son
Buscot Harold for that honour the next year.  But he stands here as a
typical representative of Harold's 101 best sons.

 

Prince William, son of william the Conqueror and Lockington Beauty.
Champion at the age of two in 1885, and again three years later.  Here he is,
after eighteen years of service, still handsome, though his feet are killing him.
He has served about 1500 mares, many of them twice or more.

 

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