There is evidence to show that heavy horses from other countries than Flanders were imported, but this much is perfectly clear, that the Flemish breed was selected to impart size, therefore, if we give honour where it is due, these “big and handsome” black stallions that we read of deserve credit for helping to build up the breed of draught horses in Britain, which is universally known as the Shire, its distinguishing feature being that it is the heaviest breed in existence.
CHAPTER X
Facts and Figures
The London Show of 1890 was a remarkable one in more than one sense. The entries totalled 646 against 447 the previous year. This led to the adoption of measures to prevent exhibitors from making more than two entries in one class. The year 1889 holds the record, so far, for the number of export certificates granted by the Shire Horse Society, the total being 1264 against 346 in 1913, yet Shires were much dearer in the latter year than in the former.
Twenty-five years ago the number of three-year-old stallions shown in London was 161, while two-year-olds totalled 134, hence the rule of charging double fees for more than two entries from one exhibitor.
Another innovation was the passing of a rule that every animal entered for show should be passed by a veterinary surgeon, this being the form of certificate drawn up:—
“I hereby certify that ________ entered by Mr. ________ for exhibition at the Shire Horse Society’s London Show, 1891, has been examined by me and, in my opinion, is free from the following hereditary diseases, viz: Roaring (whistling), Ringbone, Unsound Feet, Navicular Disease, Spavin, Cataract, Sidebone, Shivering.”
These alterations led to a smaller show in 1891 (which was the first at which the writer had the honour of leading round a candidate, exhibited by a gentleman who subsequently bred several London winners, and who served on the Council of the Shire Horse Society). But to hark back to the 1890 Show. The Champion Stallion was Mr. A. B. Freeman-Mitford’s (now Lord Redesdale) Hitchin Conqueror, one of whose sons, I’m the Sort the Second, made £1000 at the show after winning third prize; the second-prize colt in the same class being sold for £700.
The Champion mare was Starlight, then owned by Mr. R. N. Sutton-Nelthorpe, but sold before the 1891 Show, at the Scawby sale, for 925 guineas to Mr. Fred Crisp—who held a prominent place in the Shire Horse world for several years. Starlight rewarded him by winning Champion prize both in 1891 and 1892, her three successive victories being a record in championships for females at the London Show. Others have won highest honours thrice, but, so far, not in successive years.