The following are the Judges of a quarter of a century’s Shires in London:—

1890.Clark, A. H., Moulton Eaugate, Spalding, Lincs.
Chapman, George, Radley, Hungerford, Berks.
Morton, John, West Rudham, Swaffham, Norfolk.
Nix, John, Alfreton, Derbyshire.
1891.Blundell, Peter, Ream Hills, Weeton Kirkham, Lancs.
Hill, Joseph B., Smethwick Hall, Congleton, Cheshire.
Morton, Joseph, Stow, Downham Market, Norfolk.
Smith, Henry, The Grove, Cropwell Butler, Notts.
1892.Heaton, Captain, Worsley, Manchester.
Morton, John, West Rudham, Swaffham, Norfolk.
Nix, John, Alfreton, Derbyshire.
Rowland, John W., Fishtoft, Boston, Lincs.
1893.Byron, A. W., Duckmanton Lodge, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Crowther, James F., Knowl Grove, Mirfield, Yorks.
Douglas, C. I., 34, Dalebury Road, Upper Tooting, London.
Smith, Henry, The Grove, Cropwell Butler, Notts.
1894.Heaton, Captain, Worsley, Manchester.
Chamberlain, C. R., Riddings Farm, Alfreton, Derbyshire.
Tindall, C. W., Brocklesby Park, Lincs.
Rowland, John W., Fishtoft, Boston, Lincs.
1895.Clark, A. H., Moulton Eaugate, Spalding, Lincs.
Freshney, T. B., South Somercotes, Louth, Lincs.
Rowell, John, Manor Farm, Bury, Huntingdon.
Smith, Henry, The Grove, Cropwell Butler, Notts.
1896.Green, Edward, The Moors, Welshpool.
Potter, W. H., Barberry House, Ullesthorpe, Rugby.
Rowland, John W., Fishtoft, Boston, Lincs.
1897.Chamberlain, C. R., Riddings Farm, Alfreton, Derbyshire.
Lewis, John, Trwstllewelyn, Garthmyl, Mont.
Wainwright, Joseph, Corbar, Buxton, Derbyshire.
1898.Clark, A. H., Moulton Eaugate, Spalding, Lincs.
Freshney, T. B., South Somercotes, Louth, Lincs.
Richardson, Wm., London Road, Chatteris, Cambs.
1899.Green, Edward, The Moors, Welshpool.
Griffin, F. W., Borough Fen, Peterborough.
Welch, William, North Rauceby, Grantham, Lincs.
1900.Clark, A. H., Moulton Eaugate, Spalding, Lincs.
Forshaw, James, Carlton-on-Trent, Newark, Notts.
Paisley, Joseph, Waresley, Sandy, Beds.
1901.Eadie, J. T. C., Barrow Hall, Derby.
Heaton, Captain, Worsley, Manchester.
Freshney, T. B., South Somercotes, Louth, Lincs.
1902.Clark, A. H., Moulton Eaugate, Spalding, Lincs.
Griffin, F. W., Borough Fen, Peterborough.
Rowell, John, Manor Farm, Bury, Huntingdon.
1903.Nix, John, Alfreton, Derbyshire.
Richardson, William, Eastmoor House, Doddington, Cambs.
Grimes, Joseph, Highfield, Palterton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
1904.Freshney, T. B., South Somercotes, Louth, Lincs.
Smith, Henry, The Grove, Cropwell Butler, Notts.
Whinnerah, James, Warton Hall, Carnforth, Lancs.
1905.Clark, A. H., Moulton Eaugate, Spalding, Lincs.
Blundell, John, Ream Hills, Weeton Kirkham, Lancs.
Green, Edward, The Moors, Welshpool.
1906.Eadie, J. T. C., The Knowle, Hazelwood, Derby.
Rowell, John, Bury, Huntingdon.
Green, Thomas, The Bank, Pool Quay, Welshpool.
1907.Griffin, F. W., Borough Fen, Peterborough.
Paisley, Joseph, Moresby House, Whitehaven.
Whinnerah, Edward, Warton Hall, Carnforth, Lancs.
1908.Clark, A. H., Moulton Eaugate, Spalding, Lincs.
Blundell, John, Lower Burrow, Scotforth, Lancs.
Howkins, W., Hillmorton Grounds, Rugby.
1909.Eadie, J. T. C., The Rock, Newton Solney, Burton-on-Trent.
Rowell, John, Bury, Huntingdon.
Thompson, W., jun., Desford, Leicester.
1910.Blundell, John, Lower Burrow, Scotforth, Lancs.
Cowing, G., Yatesbury, Calne, Wilts.
Green, Edward, The Moors, Welshpool.
1911.Green, Thomas, The Bank, Pool Quay, Welshpool.
Gould, James, Crouchley Lymm, Cheshire.
Measures, John, Dunsby, Bourne, Lincs.
1912.Clark, A. H., Moulton Eaugate, Spalding, Lincs.
Flowers, A. J., Beachendon, Aylesbury, Bucks.
Whinnerah, Edward Warton, Carnforth, Lancs.
1913.Blundell, John, Lower Burrow, Scotforth, Lancs.
Betts, E. W., Babingley, King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
Griffin, F. W., Borough Fen, Peterborough.
1914.Forshaw, Thomas, Carlton-on-Trent, Newark, Notts.
Keene, R. H., Westfield, Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks.
Thompson, William, jun., Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicester.
1915.Eadie, J. T. C., Newton Solney, Burton-on-Trent.
Green, Edward, The Moors, Welshpool.
Mackereth, Henry Whittington, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancs.

This list is interesting for the reason that those who have awarded the prizes at the Shire Horse Show have, to a great extent, fixed the type to find favour at other important shows. Very often the same judges have officiated at several important exhibitions during the same season, which has tended towards uniformity in prize-winning Shires. On looking down the list, it will be seen that four judges were appointed till 1895, while the custom of the Society to get its Council from as many counties as possible has not been followed in the matter of judges’ selection. For instance, Warwickshire—a great county for Shire breeding—has only provided two judges in twenty-six years, and one of them—Mr. Potter—had recently come from Lockington Grounds, Derby, where he bred the renowned Prince William. For many years Hertfordshire has provided a string of winners, yet no judge has hailed from that county, or from Surrey, which contains quite a number of breeders of Shire horses. No fault whatever is being found with the way the judging has been carried out. It is no light task, and nobody but an expert could, or should, undertake it; but it is only fair to point out that high-class Shires are, and have been, bred in Cornwall, and Devonshire, Kent, and every other county, while the entries at the show of 1914 included a stallion bred in the Isle of Man.

In 1890, as elsewhere stated, the membership of the Society was 1615, whereas the number of members given in the 1914 volume of the Stud Book is 4200. The aim of each and all is “to improve the Old English breed of Cart Horses,” many of which may now be truthfully described by their old title of “War Horses.”

CHAPTER XIV
The Export Trade

Among the first to recognize the enormous power and possibilities of the Shire were the Americans. Very few London shows had been held before they were looking out for fully-registered specimens to take across the Atlantic. Towards the close of the ’eighties a great export trade was done, the climax being reached in 1889, when the Shire Horse Society granted 1264 export certificates. A society to safeguard the interests of the breed was formed in America, these being the remarks of Mr. A. Galbraith (President of the American Shire Horse Society) in his introductory essay: “At no time in the history of the breed have first-class animals been so valuable as now, the praiseworthy endeavour to secure the best specimens of the breed having the natural effect of enhancing prices all round. Breeders of Shire horses both in England and America have a hopeful and brilliant future before them, and by exercising good judgment in their selections, and giving due regard to pedigree and soundness, as well as individual merit, they will not only reap a rich pecuniary reward, but prove a blessing and a benefit to this country.”

From the day that the Shire Horse Society was incorporated, on June 3, 1878, until now, America has been Britain’s best overseas customer for Shire horses, a good second being our own colony, the Dominion of Canada. Another stockbreeding country to make an early discovery of the merits of “The Great Horse” was Argentina, to which destination many good Shires have gone. In 1906 the number given in the Stud Book was 118. So much importance is attached to the breed both in the United States and in the Argentine Republic that English judges have travelled to each of those country’s shows to award the prizes in the Shire Classes.

Another great country with which a good and growing trade has been done is Russia. In 1904 the number was eleven, in 1913 it had increased to fifty-two, so there is evidently a market there which is certain to be extended when peace has been restored and our powerful ally sets about the stupendous, if peaceful, task of replenishing her horse stock.