Draft Horse Breeds still Popular?

The word “draft” originally comes from “draught,” an old word that means “to pull something.”  From early times the draft horse was used as a source of “power” for farming, hauling freight and moving people around the country.    Before the shift in the early 20th century to the tractor and increasing use of motor transport these stunning horses were to be found everywhere.  The draft horse is well known as a hose of  enormous bulk, huge  muscular strength, patience and docility . . . and even though we lost a great number to the point in some cases of near extinction, due to the efforts of some very dedicated people the draft Horse was saved, we are still building up the numbers of these horses and in line with that they have over the lst few years enjoyed a renewed interest in this particular type of horse.

With this renewed interest we are seeing them back on the streets where they belong,  and to many to actually see them under saddle is appealing to a whole new generation of horses lovers.  We have a long way to go before we even come close to the numbers but the encouraging news is that the numbers are growing worldwide.

Most draft horse breeds are bred for the region in which they were developed. For example, the Clydesdale draft horse breed came to being in Clydesdale, the Irish Draught in Ireland and the Belgian was born in Belgium where it was more suited to the climate and soil. The French draft horse breed is known as the Percheron, while the ever popular Shires hail from England.

To be considered a true draft horse, they must be of a solid build usually weigh around 1,400 to 2,000 lb (910 kg).  And depending on if they are classed as a Modern Draft or Traditional Draft  range from approximately 16 hands high to 19hh.  The draft horse has decended from a mixture  of sources and also with some natural selections and man’s intervention into what we see today.

The Great Yorkshire Show

History

The first show of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) was held in 1838 with the intention of exhibiting farm animals, machinery etc. The show was judged a success despite the requirement for the police to restore order after people tried to force their way in the show which was held in Fulford on the outskirts of York.

In following years the show was moved around Yorkshire returning only periodically to York, it took on the name Great Yorkshire Show in 1843. This peripatetic existence continued until 1950 when the costs of moving the show around every year became prohibitive. In that year the YAS purchased a permanent site at Harrogate and the first show at the new Great Yorkshire Showground was held in 1951.

The show has only rarely not been held, it was canceled between 1915 and 1919 due to WW1, between 1940 and 1948 due to WW2 and in 2001 due to Foot and Mouth. The show has now become very popular attracting well over 100,000 visitors each year.

Modern Times

The Great Yorkshire Show of recent times is very different from the early shows, with many stalls devoted to food, leisure, clothes, fashion and crafts as well as farm implements, in the main arena the working displays of Shires and Clydesdales always attracts a crowd and I belive this year will be no diffferent.

The show is held every July across 3 days and one of the first events which I do hope will show off the coaching skills of the heavies [and no doubt there will be the lighter horses] in the main ring on Tuesday 3.30 to 5.00.  I do hope that the Heavy Horses will steal the day.  On Wednesday it starts at 7.30am to 11.00am in the main ring, where you will see the magnificent Clydesdale and Shires who no doubt will be looking their very best.   In the past we have also been privileged to see the ladies mounted on hunters [ a cross of the heavy and the lighter horse]  And in addition as we now have occassionally the ridden class of the heavies you may be surprised to see the Shire or Clydesdale in this event.

Continuing on in the afternoon you may see some heavies in the coaching event, but the main event in my opinion will be on Thursday from 1.00 pm to 2.40 which is The Heavy Horse Teams, where you will see these gentle giants really showing off there skills, anything from logging competiton to wagon and team work will be on show it will be worth the look.

Last year the attendance at the 150th show was attended by the Queen was oustanding and this year will continue on the tradition.  Opening times are 7.30am and 7.30pm except the last day when the show closes at 4.00pm, parking is free and there is lots of transport from York, Leeds and other towns with shuttle buses from Harrogate rail and bus stations.

Healthy Horse Feeding

Most adult horses need three to four flakes of hay a day when they are stabled and moderately used and exercised. A flake of hay is a section of a square bale that weighs about four pounds. This hay should be provided in three or four smaller meals per day so the horse has something to munch on throughout the day, more like natural grazing. Fresh water should be supplied at every feeding throughout the day and the water needs to be freely available at all times. The best hay for horses is first or second cut hay that is a mixture of alfalfa and timothy and is sold as horse quality. Avoid third and fourth cut hay if at all possible as it has a much lower nutritional value. Hay that has a moldy smell or appearance or that is dusty should not be fed to horses under any conditions. Improperly cured hay or moldy, dirty hay can lead to fatal conditions in horses.

Cubed and pelleted hay is available through feed stores, however it is not recommended for horses. It tends to cause colic and digestive problems as horses gulp it down then drink, causing swelling in the stomach. Likewise, grains can also cause the same problem, so talk to your vet or horse nutritionalist before starting any specialized feeding that includes more than the recommended daily ration of oats, sweetfeed or other grain supplement.

In addition to hay, some grain and lots of fresh water your horse should have turn out time on grass when available and should also have access to a mineral salt block. In some areas the vet may recommend additional mineral or vitamin supplements to make up for deficiencies in grass and hay content. Always check with your vet first, too much of a particular mineral can cause toxicity problems and various health reactions in horses.

Save your Dog’s Life

Knowing the Irish Wolfhound more!

Characteristics of Irish Wolfhounds

Although in history these dogs were used as war dogs and guard dogs, the Irish Wolfhound today does not make a great guard dog. While they do have a penchant to hunt, these dogs love people and require a great deal of interaction with the family.

The Irish Wolfhound is actually the tallest hound in the entire world and they are a stately and proud dog. Their coats feel rather rough to the touch, and they come in a variety of different colors, including brindle, pure white, red, brown, black, gray, and fawn.

They typically live to be about seven, although there are dogs that live to be as old as ten. Increasing numbers of breeders, however, are now selecting for longevity and this will hopefully increase the lifespan of the Irish Wolfhound in the future.

What Irish Wolfhounds Need

If you decide that you want to own an Irish Wolfhound, it is important that you take into consideration the special needs of these dogs and take care of them properly to promote the best health possible. They need plenty of room to stretch out and a daily long walk.

Irish Wolfhounds need to be with people and need plenty of interaction, so before you purchase one, you need to be sure that you have the time to properly take care of your dog.

It is important that you train your Irish Wolfhound well or he may get out of hand. Starting to train from the time your dog is a puppy will help you avoid problems later in the dog’s life.

Having an Irish Wolfhound can bring a great deal of joy and pleasure to your life and these dogs make wonderful companions. If you are ready to invest some time in a dog, take care of a dog properly, and you want a dog that will keep you company, you may want to consider having an Irish Wolfhound as a pet.

Irish Wolfhound Health

If you have an Irish Wolfhound in your home playing with the kids, remember that most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Irish Wolfhound is no exception. Be on the look out for canine hip dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness), heart problems (cardiomyopathy), bone cancer, bloat (Gastric Dilation-Volvulus, the second leading killer of dogs, can kill within the hour, this space is too limited for a complete explanation but you should read up on this). Feeding more then once a day and avoiding exercise right after meals may help guard against bloat, and Von Willebrands disease (a problem with blood clotting). This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.  I shall be adding more specific content later on as my aim is for you to enjoy the company of your Irish Wolfhound and more importantly DO NOT feed commerical dog feed to your friend.  I never fed Catriona any she was always fed her own home cooked casserole and I would like you to check out this website.  http://tinyurl.com/aj4cwf However, be warned it is very detailed

The Irish Wolfhound

The Irish wolfhound was originally a war dog, used to drag men out of chariots or off horseback, but was also used as a hunting hound and as a guard. There are numerous references in Irish mythology to its prowess in all these fields. The Irish wolfhound was used to hunt the Irish elk and the wolf and was used singly or in pairs rather than in a pack, hence the need for great size. When the last of the wolves in Ireland was killed (the elk had become extinct long before), the breed dwindled and almost died out. The process was not helped by the demand for this magnificent hound around the world. It was given as a gift to kings and princes.

Irish Wolfhounds are sweet-tempered, patient, generous, thoughtful and can be trusted with children. Dignified and willing, they are unconditionally loyal to their owner and family. Not a guard dog by nature, but may be a deterrent simply due to his/her size. They tend to greet everyone as a friend, a big dog with a gentle heart.

Dog Secrets CLICK HERE

Just as a matter of interest even before I came across this very eye opening report I never did feed Katriona commerical food.. She was given a rice based casserole with natural gravy and raw chicken feet, fish and occassionally some Kangaroo..  But this report is be warned horrific and what I do not like is that some of the commerical foods and biscuits are now commonly found to be actually promoted by the local Vet, this may offend some but what a way to get business at the expense of an animal.

Traditional versus Modern

This excellent photograph, taken 66 years ago, shows the late Jim Cradock with James Forshaw & Sons’ celebrated stallion, The Dean, setting forth on his route from Wem, Shropshire, in April 1938.  Mr Cradock travelled stallions for many years on behalf of the renowned Carlton Stud at Newark.  However, Mrs Minnie Cradock, emphasised that ‘The Dean’ was her husband’s favourite, because of his wonderful temperament and soundness. Jim considered it a privilege to have the care and companionship of such a noble animal.

The Dean, a brown with four white legs, was foaled in 1928 and was named after his breeder, Stanley Dean, of Heaton, Bolton. His sire being Lincoln What’s Wanted 2nd (LWW2), and his Dam was Blurton Shy Maiden, his beautiful feather came from his Dam’s line which included the legendary Lockinge Forest King, the horse that endowed the Shire breed with its excessive feather in the early 1900s.  The Dean was remarkable in his own right, after winning his class for four consecutive years, 1934-37, in the breed’s heyday of the huge London Shire Horse Society shows. Yet from a six to a nine-year-old he was never considered for champion. Why? Because he was only 16.3hh. However there was considerable interest and support for this most practical division, often described as the ‘short-legged class.’  The Dean, despite his smaller stature, still weighed a ton (2240lb) and he was the breed’s ideal model depicted in a series of photographs until the standard was changed in 1949 with the Shire Horse Show champion, The Bomber.

As it was shown the Shires were going to the lighter finer feather and bone of the Clydesdale type.  Hence today we have two types of Shire, I personally lean towards the older style of Shire referred to as the traditional working Shire type.  The English Standard indicates a Stallion to be at least 17 hands whereas the American Standard will accept a minimum height of 16.2hands which leads us to the ‘short-legged class’ of old.  Notice the differance between the two types of Horses….Photograph of Father Abraham who is Westie’s Sire was provided by ”John Edwards, Toora Shires”.

I would like to acknowledge that this content and the photograph are derived from an article originally published in a magazine that has been around since the early 70’s which is dedicated to all draft horses,  it is called “Heavy Horse World” and worth subscribing to if you want to know anything about this type of horse.

The Gentle Giant

Giants, as what history dictates are large and violent creatures and of a wild nature. But this giant that I’ll be sharing is not even one of those types. I am referring to one of mother earth’s elegant creatures, the Shire Horse.  It originates in the UK and today we have two types the traditional Shire [which I favour] and the Modern Shire has an average height of 17.2 hands.  They can have four white legs (other than the grey) and most people call the hair down the back of the legs and over the hoof “feather” when in fact the hair over the foot is known as the “spats”.

The recognised colour of the Shire Horse can be black, bay and grey.  Other colours such as roan and chestnut are not recognised.  The Shire is decended from the medieval “Old English Black Horse” and used to carry knights in armour into battle.  However, in the late 16th century the cavalry needed lighter and faster horses.  From the late 17th century until the introduction of the tractor in the 1930’s the horse was the main power on farms, around the docks, railways and in town.  Here is a classic picture of a Shire Stallion of the day he was “Edingale Enterprise” a really nice looking boy.  They were commonly seen around the docks, railyards and  pulling beer wagons of ale for delivery to the local public houses.

Nowadays, we are seeing them pulling barges along the waterfront, logging in the forest, promotional parades and a few have appeared in major motion pictures of late.  We still need to promote this magnificent horse around the world, as even though numbers are increasing they are still listed as at risk on the endangered list. We are seeing them crossed with throughbreds and other select types of mares to produce the heavier hunter type seen in the showjumping and dressage arena.  An area that I feel needs encouraging is teaching the younger generation to become young handlers.