According to the Shire Horse Society, the breed could be extinct in Britain in ten years.This is a damn shame, if it turns out true. My uncle used shires on his farm and they were just as useful as and had a good deal more charm than any tractor.
In fact, one of my fondest boyhood memories was riding my uncle's shires bareback along the beach in Yorkshire, which generally ended up with getting chucked into the surf when they decided to gallop.
Imagine getting thrown from a hairy Challenger tank going at speed and you get the idea.
