Anybody who has watched ridden heavy horses within the present ring will know that they’re a deal with for spectators. Whoever imagined such giants could possibly be as balanced and light-footed as a hack?
Horses aimed on the Heavy Horse of the Yr HOYS qualifiers have to be registered with the British Studbooks of the Shire, Clydesdale, Suffolk or British Percheron Society. However as you are taking a second to benefit from the spectacle, do you actually know your Shire out of your Clydesdale, or which is the Suffolk and which is the Percheron?
Allow us to shed some mild on every of them so that you’re in control when you end up dishonest your method via a chat on the ringside…
The Shire Horse
Learn how to spot a Shire
Shires are available black, brown, bay or gray, although there are literally very, only a few greys. The breed requirements state that you just received’t discover giant splashes of white on the physique of a “good stallion” they usually should not be roan or chestnut. It’s, nevertheless, acceptable for geldings or mares to be roan. The Shires of yesteryear had ample feather however in the present day’s Shire has straighter, silkier and finer feather.
On common, Shires are between 17 and 18hh, however geldings and mares could also be a teeny bit smaller. The Shire and Clydesdale are fairly related in construct, however the Shire is mostly barely taller with horses generally reaching over 20hh. Additionally, the hindquarters could be a little bit completely different, with these of a Shire being “lengthy and sweeping” and thighs must be effectively muscled. In movement, a Shire must be a strong, straight over, utilizing hocks and knees, with the previous shut collectively.
Clues from turnout
An in-hand Shire is a feast for the eyes, with tail ribbons and standing wire flights including a burst of color to an already spectacular sight. Ridden Shires don’t put on standing flights for security causes. As a substitute, you’ll discover a braid of their manes and a ribbon in tails.
Learn how to cheat your method via a ringside chat on the Shire
Initially often known as the English Cart Horse, the breed’s title modified to the Shire in 1878. Although they have been immensely well-liked pre mechanisation, industrialisation and the world wars, the Shire’s numbers declined enormously till there have been simply 16 foals registered within the 1958 stud e book, in accordance with the Shire Horse Society. So, similar to the opposite native breeds eligible for competitors, the Shire is on the Uncommon Breeds Survival Belief’s equine watchlist, and is categorised as “in danger”.
Impress your folks with: Do you know, the final three winners of the ridden heavy horse class at HOYS have been Shires? The Shire has an excellent observe document within the ridden heavy horse of the 12 months championship, with Moorfield Nancy being the latest winner final season – 2024 – underneath Alice Pimbley.
The Clydesdale
Learn how to spot a Clydesdale
The Clydesdale is, on common, a smidge smaller than the Shire, at a not-so-whopping 17 to 18hh. Some mares will measure barely smaller, and a few geldings and stallions barely taller. Although a Clydesdale must be robust with good depth, spring of rib and rounded quarters – like all good draught horse – the Clydesdale tends to not be as stocky because the Suffolk or Percheron.
In line with the breed society’s standards, a Clydesdale’s legs must be “set shut collectively” and its hind legs ought to have a “prolonged” distance between hocks and pasterns “with an absence of a second thigh above the hock”. This provides approach to the distinctive and free motion of the Clydesdale.
Just like the Shire, bay and brown and roan are commonest, however you’ll sometimes occur throughout a black and chestnut, too. White markings are likely to journey additional up the legs than on a Shire, and it’s not unusual to see white legs mix right into a roan fleck on the physique. A Clydesdale with no blaze is a uncommon sight.
Clues from turnout
Clydesdales will often don a ribbon of their tails, and stallions and geldings put on braided manes, however feminine Clydesdales historically don’t.
Learn how to cheat your method via a ringside chat on the Clydesdale
The Clydesdale is Scotland’s solely native horse, and it’s all the time a pleasure to catch the Royal Highland’s bountiful ridden Clydesdale class. It originates in Lanarkshire, Clydesdale being the previous title for the district, and dates again to the mid 18th Century when Flemish stallions have been crossed with Lanarkshire’s native horses. In the course of the Nineteen Seventies the breed was thought of “susceptible” by the Uncommon Breeds Survival Belief, however has since elevated in numbers to the “in danger” class.
Impress your folks with: Do you know, the Clydesdale additionally has a extremely good observe document within the Ridden Heavy Horse of the Yr championship at HOYS? The truth is, the inaugural championship was received by Scottish duo, Virginia Osborne and Kinclune Danny Boy in 2016. A second Scottish duo, Kirsty Aird and Glenside Matthew’s Flower Of Scotland received in 2021.
The Suffolk horse
Learn how to spot a Suffolk Horse
Suffolks are simple to identify. The Suffolk is for followers of fiery crimson hair, with liver, darkish, crimson, mild or vivid chesnuts being the one colors allowed. No, that’s not a typo; when referring to the Suffolk horse, the color chestnut is all the time spelled chesnut.
“Plain” – for need of a greater phrase to explain this sensible color – chesnut is most popular, however in accordance with breed requirements, a specific amount of white is appropriate on the face, as is a “scattering” of white or silver hairs on the physique. White to the fetlock is allowed, however thought of a fault and isn’t acceptable in stud stallions.
Immediately’s Suffolk is a little bit taller than the 15.2hh of the unique Suffolk, Crisp’s Horse. In line with their breed society requirements, a mature Suffolk might be between 15¾ and 17hh. Suffolks are squarer and chunkier within the physique than Shires and Clydesdales, with an enormous shoulder and proportionally quick legs, so they could not have the extravagant knee and hock motion of the opposite three breeds.
Clues from turnout
The Suffolk is proven with a ribbon in a plaited tail. Just like the Shire, it wears standing wire flights in hand, however might be discovered proven with a single plait down the mane and a ribbon on the wither in ridden lessons.
Learn how to cheat your method via a chat on the Suffolk horse
In line with the RBST, the Suffolk horse is probably the most endangered of our draught breeds, being the one one within the “precedence” class. The Suffolk’s numbers have been decimated put up WWI by the mechanisation of agriculture, till simply 9 Suffolks have been registered in 1966. Fortunately, they’ve regained reputation.
Impress your folks with: Do you know that to date, a Suffolk hasn’t received the Ridden Heavy Horse of the Yr championship? Richard Telford got here an in depth second in 2016 with Eyke Diamond.
The Percheron horse
Learn how to spot a Percheron
Similar to the Suffolk, an excellent Percheron received’t have a lot feather. However you received’t discover them in “chesnut”. As a substitute, a Percheron horse is gray or black, with a minimal of white, though the society recognises that color will are likely to lighten in older horses.
Like its chestnut rival, the Percheron can also be squarer in look than the Shire or Clydesdale. Mares must be a minimal of 16.1hh, and stallions or geldings a smidge greater, being at the least 16.2hh.
Clues from turnout
Depend on color, as a result of once more, manes must be braided no matter intercourse, and tails must be plaited with a ribbon, so not a lot to go on from turnout!
Learn how to cheat your method via a ringside chat on the Percheron
Although we’re not totally certain how lengthy the Percheron horse has been on British soil, we all know it’s been round a very long time, with the primary one showing way back to William the Conqueror’s invasion of England.
In line with the British Percheron Horse Society, it’s additionally believed that hundreds of Percheron-esque horses have been imported to Britain from North America in the course of the latter half of the nineteenth Century for omnibuses and different mild draught work in massive cities. These days, you will have seen Percherons being ridden by police, together with on the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
Impress your folks with: Though there aren’t as many Percherons competing within the ridden lessons as there are Clydesdales and Shires, they’re profitable. In 2017 followers noticed a Percheron win at HOYS – Hales Hector was ridden to victory by Family Cavalry Corporal of the Horse, Jamie Bradbury.
Now simply keep in mind to have this information open in your cellular as you’re watching, and also you’ll know what’s what very quickly!
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Credit score: Alamy Inventory Photograph
Credit score: Alamy Inventory Photograph
Credit score: Peter Nixon
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H&H exhibiting editor
Bethan joined Horse & Hound as exhibiting editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Displaying World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she began exhibiting as a young person and has loved wins at main exhibits up and down the nation, together with Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, in addition to HOYS, RIHS and London. She is especially captivated with Welsh breeds and can also be a Welsh language commentator.
