En bit rasstandardhistoria…

 The feet should be firm, deep, and wide at heel; the pasterns not too long and straight; flat bone; short between fetlock and knee. A stallion should not measure less than 11 inches below the knee, and girth from 7 ft.9ins.to 8 ft.3 ins; should not stand more than 17 hands; should have a wide chest; head big and masculine, without coarseness; eyes prominent and kindly; the head and eyes together should denote intelligence and good temper, shoulders well thrown back; full flowing mane, short back; well-arched ribs; deep middle; large muscular development of the loins; long quarters with tail well set on; the lower part of the rump wide and well let down; good big second thighs; large, flat, clean hocks; plenty of long, silky hair on legs; or, to sum up in a few words, a horse should in form be long, low and wide; and in constitution be thoroughly free from all hereditary disease. A main point is action. He should, above all, be a good mover in the cart-horse pace-walking: and, if required to trot, should have the action of a Norfolk cob or a Percheron.  

Detta skrevs 1879 och trycktes i “ the Cart Horse Society Stud Book  volym 1, 1880 ” av hedersmedlemmen Frederic Street som både satt ”on Council ” och i ”Editing Committee”. Detta är den första tryckta rasstandarden. 

Nisse

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Ett kort ur familjearkivet. Här står min far tillsammans med en släktings helsvarta Shire,  "Dick" som stod i Pilling, Lancashire.. Året är 1945       /Nisse

Farfar Brandt i Canada på 30-talet körandes ett femspann Shires.    /Nisse