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Stallions
| Mares | Geldings
These are the official breed standards
by the Shire Horse Society UK:
.: STALLions
A good Shire Stallion should stand from 17.0 hands
(173 cms) upwards, and weigh from 18 cwt (900 Kg) to 22 cwt (1100
Kg) when matured, without being overdone in condition. He should
possess a masculine head and a good crest with sloping, not upright,
shoulders running well into the back, which should be short and
well coupled with the loins. The tail should be well set up and
not what is known as “gooserumped”. Both head and tail
should be carried erect. The ribs should be well sprung, not flat
sided, with good middle which generally denotes good constitution.
A Stallion should have good feet and joints; the feet should be
wide and big around the top of the coronets with sufficient length
in the pasterns. When in motion, he should go with force using both
knees and hocks, which latter should be kept close together, he
should go straight and true before and behind.
A good Stallion should have strong character.
| COLOUR: |
Black, brown, bay or grey. No good
stallion should be splashed with large white patches over the
body. He must not be roan or chestnut. |
| HEIGHT: |
17 hands (173 cms) high at maturity. Average
about 17.2 hands (178 cms). |
| HEAD: |
Long and lean, neither too large or too small,
with long neck in proportion to the body. Large jaw bone should
be avoided. |
| EYES: |
Large, well set and docile in expression. Wall
eyes not acceptable. |
| NOSE: |
Slightly Roman nostrils thin and wide; lips
together. |
| EARS: |
Long, lean, sharp and sensitive. |
| THROAT: |
Clean cut and lean. |
| SHOULDER: |
Deep and oblique, wide enough to support the
collar. |
| NECK:
|
Long, slightly arched, well set on to give the
horse a commanding appearance. |
| GIRTH: |
The girth varies from 6 ft (183 cms) to 8 ft
(244 cms) in stallions of from 16.2 (168 cms) to 18 hands (183
cms). |
| BACK: |
Short, strong and muscular. Should not be dipped
or roached. |
| LOINS: |
Standing well up, denoting good constitution
(must not be flat). |
| FORE-END: |
Wide across the chest, with legs well under
the body and well enveloped in muscle, or action is impeded. |
| HIND-QUARTERS: |
Long and sweeping, wide and full of muscle,
well let down towards the thighs. |
RIBS: |
Round, deep and well sprung, not flat. |
FORELEGS: |
Should be as straight as possible down to pastern. |
HINDLEGS: |
Hocks should be not too far back and in line
with the hind-quarters with ample width broadside and narrow
in front. “Puffy” and “sickle” hocks
should be avoided. The leg sinews should be clean cut and hard
like fine cords to touch and clear of short cannon bone. |
BONE
MEASUREMENT: |
Of flat bone 11 inches (28 cms) is ample, although
occasionally 12½ inches (32 cms) is recorded –
flat bone is heavier and stronger than spongy bone. Hocks must
be broad, deep and flat and set at the correct angle for leverage. |
FEET: |
Deep, solid and wide, with thick open walls.
Coronets should be hard and sinewy with substance. |
HAIR: |
Not too much, fine straight and silky. |
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.:
MODIFICATION OR VARIATION OF STALLION STANDARD OF POINTS FOR MARES
A Mare should be on the quality side, long and deep
with free action, of a feminine and matronly appearance, standing
from 16 hands (163 cms) and upwards on short legs; she should have
plenty of room to carry her foal.
| COLOUR: |
Black, brown, bay, grey, roan. |
| HEIGHT: |
16 hands (163 cms) upwards. |
| HEAD: |
Long and lean, neither too large nor too small,
long neck in proportion to the body, of feminine appearance. |
| EYES: |
Large, well set and docile in expression. Wall
eyes are acceptable except for animals Grade A and B register. |
| NECK: |
Long and slightly arched and not
of masculine appearance. |
| GIRTH: |
5 ft (152 cms) to 7 ft (214 cms) (matured) according
to size and age of animal. |
| BACK
: |
Strong and in some instances longer than a male |
| LEGS: |
Short, with short cannons. |
| BONE
MEASUREMENT: |
9 (23 cms) to 11 inches (28 cms) of flat bone,
with clean cut sinews. |
.:
MODIFICATIONS
OR VARIATION OF STALLION STANDARD OF POINTS FOR GELDINGS
A Gelding should be upstanding, thick, well-balanced,
very active and a gay mover; he should be full of courage and should
look like and be able to do a full day’s work. Geldings weigh
from 17 (850 Kgs) to 22 cwt (1100 Kgs).
| COLOUR: |
:As for Mares. |
| HEIGHT: |
16.2 (168 cms) hands and upwards. |
| GIRTH: |
From 6 ft (183 cms) to 7 ft 6 ins (229 cms). |
| BONE
MEASUREMENT : |
10 (23 cms) to 11 inches (26 cms) under knee,
slightly more underhock and broadside on, of flat hard quality. |
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Breed
standard