The Shire

The Shire is a large impressive draft or war horse: a mature stallion stands between 16.2 and 19 hands and weighs up to 2,200 pounds. Mares and geldings are slightly less massive. Shires may be bay, brown, black or grey in color and have relatively large, wide-set and expressive and intelligent eyes. Powerful shoulders, massive hindquarters, rounded loins and extremely powerful legs with abundant feathering of the feet complete the picture. Shires are intelligent and display an eagerness to learn and are easy to handle despite their great size and strength (an average Shire is capable of moving a 5-ton load.)

It is commonly believed that the great war-horses, also called destriers, were developed during the Middle Ages to support the great weight of the armored knight. Actually, a good suit of armor was not over 70 pounds in weight; and therefore, the horse would only be expected to carry some 250 to 300 pounds. The real reason large horses were useful was because their weight gave greater force to the impact of the knight's lance, both in warfare and in the tournament. A destrier weighed twice as much as a conventional riding horse; and when the knight struck a conventionally mounted opponent, the impact could be devastating.

Gypsy Vanners

There is saying, “Gypsy Gold does not clink and glitter, it gleams in the sun, and neighs in the dark”. This proverb refers to the magical relationship between gypsies and their most treasured objects, their horses.

For centuries Gypsies have bred and used colorful horses to pull their ornately decorated carts and living wagons thru the country lanes of the realms. The horses they used were heavy boned and feathered horses, which are strong, sensible, docile, and incredibly hard working. The beautiful colors of these horses were not only pleasing to the eye, but also made them instantly recognizable, which helped to prevent them from being stolen or swapped discretely for inferior horses. The heavy feather on their legs, along with long flowing manes and tails added to the overall flash and flare long associated with their owners.

Traditionally, the gypsy vanner horse is involved in every aspect of family life, faithfully pulling the caravan wagon by day, while still being amenable and patient enough to teach the gypsy children to ride when the day is done. The horses are tethered at the campsite with the family caravan when they are not working, in all types of weather. They live, and thrive on only the grasses that happen to be growing along the side of the roads. The heartiness and exceptional disposition of these horses are their trademarks. They are known for being one of the most docile and gentle horses in all the realms.

The Gypsy Vanner is a hearty small draft horses which usually stand between 13 and 15.2 hands. Their exceptional stamina allows them to go all day at a steady trot while pulling a loaded living caravan with the whole gypsy family. They are sturdily built with solid bone and, in order to be a “traditional gypsy horse”, they must have a good deal of feathering and hair. The vanner comes in all colors, with the most common being the "pinto" patterns, piebald and skewbald. Although they have been bred for a particular type for generations, they are originally descended from several draft horse and pony breeds, namely the Shire, Clydesdale, Irish Draft, and Friesian horses along with Dales, Fell, and Connemara ponies.