Shire Horses
Here at Hermann Farm we are dedicated to the preservation of the Shire horse which is making a comeback from near extinction. The Kallmeyer family, who owned the farm from 1908 to 2006, played a vital role in breeding, raising and training mules and draft horses to be shipped overseas to assist in both World Wars. As part of our commitment to restoring Hermann Farm as a Living History venue we maintain a herd of majestic Shire Draft Horses to provide our visitors with an opportunity to witness, admire and engage with these majestic animals.
The English Shire was being documented as early as Medieval times. Spoken of as The Great Horse or The War Horse they were notable for their strength, courage and gentle behavior during calamity. Because of their size and docility, these resilient Gentle Giants were often relied upon by armed forces to pull heavy equipment into places of conflict.
The name “Shire” was given to these horses in reference to counties or Shires in England such as Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire where these unique horses were originally bred. King Henry VIII is credited with improving the breed's size and stature by restricting the use of the name Shire to only be used for horses over 15 hands or taller. Shires are also credited with greatly advancing agriculture and commerce in both England and the United States, however, with the widespread use of mechanized agriculture the breed nearly approached extinction.
Even though the Shire Draft Horse has seen a resurgence in numbers during the past few years, the Shire is still designated a critical breed by the Livestock Conservancy. Hermann Farm is promoting the Shire and increasing awareness for its preservation by participating in parades, conducting educational tours and continually demonstrating the power and grace of this “Great Horse” that can truly pull its own weight.
Hermann Farm Stone Barn
Our Shire Draft horses love their new home, but they still enjoy their free time out on the beautiful rolling pastures of the Farm. The horses are out on pastures at night during the summer when it is cooler and there are fewer flies. During the hottest part of the day they have access to the cool interior of the Barn. During the winter the routine is the opposite. The Shires are turned out on the pastures during the day and then are usually in their stalls at night. When they are working doing carriage rides or farming this routine changes depending on weather and pasture conditions.
Our Black Shires have unlimited access to hay grown on the farm when in their stalls or grass out in the pastures. Additionally they are fed 10 to 15 pounds of grain per horse per day depending on each horse’s needs. If you would like to know more about our beautiful Shire Draft horses, you can book a tour called the “Shire Experience”. On this tour you will spend 90 minutes interacting with our Horses and the Shire Horse Handlers. This is an opportunity to engage and learn more about the care and training of these magnificent animals.
