A shire is a suffix denoting a place in the countryside, and a name befitting this traditional work horse. The Shire is a type of draft horse famous for its large size and massive strength. It is one of the largest breeds in the world and usually weighs more than 2000 pounds. The biggest Shire on record, Sampson, weighed more than 3300 pounds.

A Shire's body is blessed with muscular loins and hindquarters, a broad back, long legs and rounded shape. Aesthetically, the horse shows has a fair amount of decoration. The “feather” is the long and silky hair running down the back of its legs and the “spats” are the thick hair covering its feet. Black is the most common colors, but gray, brown, and bay are also normal. A significant amount of white is usually seen on its legs and feet. Like most drafts, the Shire is a gentle beast with a patient temperament and willing to work.

The Shire was most often used to carry ale from British breweries. Some breweries still continue this tradition today. Because of its size and power, the Shire horse is most often seen participating in draft horse competitions, though it is also still used as a farm animal. Some farmers prefer to use a horse because it is less damaging to sensitive soil, provides free fertilizer, and it can sometimes be less costly to keep a horse than pay for expensive fuel.

The ancestor of the Shire is thought to be the English Medieval Great Horse. Throughout its history, the name of this breed has undergone many changes. It started off being called the Black Horse, then the Bakewell Black, then English Cart Horse and now the current Shire. The population of this horse greatly declined with the advent of mechanization. But, today, its numbers are beginning to rise again.

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