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The
Society was established in 1878 to promote
the Old English Breed of Cart Horse. After
85 years of maintaining and improving standard,
the Shire Horse Society in 1963 was forced
to assess its situation. The dwindling interest
in the breed and the horse’s virtual
disappearance from the industrial and agricultural
scene led the Society to wonder whether it
should continue.
However, the few remaining
stalwarts elected a dynamic and very young
President, appointed a pro-active Secretary
and moved from London to Peterborough. Interest
began to revive and soon became enthusiasm.
Membership and the numbers of breeders and
owners have grown with ever-increasing momentum.
Stallion hiring societies have been revived
and new ones formed. Export of horses has
steadily increased. Shires are now exported
to all parts of the world, and there are
Societies in Ireland, Germany, France, Holland,
Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Canada
and the USA. New Societies have recently been formed in Austria and Denmark.
The Society’s Patron
is Her Majesty The Queen, who was also the
President in 1978, the Centenary Year. Society
Membership stands at about 3000 members,
of which 1000 are actively involved with
horses. Also supporting the Shire Horse
Society are some fourteen local Societies.
The Society publishes a Stud
Book each year and entries from Members
and non-Members are accepted on payment
of the appropriate fees. Stallion approval
inspections are mandatory before full registration
in the Stud Book.
The Shire Horse Society is
based at the East of England Showground,
Peterborough. The annual National Shire Horse Spring
Show is held on the Showground in mid-March
and attracts up to 250 Shires.
Officials of the Society
President: His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
Honorary Treasurer and Chairman of Executive
Committee: P Robinson
Chairman of Editing and Training Committee:
R H F Fuller
Chairman of Marketing Committee: R L Sandling
Chief Executive Officer: Andrew Mercer BA
(Oxon)
Field Officer: John Ward
Registrations: Angela Whiteway
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