The Shire Horse, grooming and tacking

[@lucywilson9414]

for such a young horse the way he handles being tacked up and all the noises his tack makes, its amazing! hes really well trained

[@Darby.Brewer]

I'd ridden and owned hotbloods and warmbloods all my life before I got my Clyde on her second birthday. So chill. She may have missed the memo she was a horse. I've also worked at draft barns with Percherons of all ages. Pretty similar deal, even the foals. They seem to come practically bombproof. Very little rattles them. I was worried my girl would make me lose my horse sense until I ended up working at a large eventing barn. Young OTTBs galore. Fortunately, I still had it. My big girl definitely spoiled me though. The big un's are often the sweetest. The ponies and minis are the real challenges. :D

[@alexie832]

I love it when horses have feathered hooves. It's so beautiful

[@MamaKalash]

Such a well-behaved 5 year old! Wish they would praise him a little more and show him some affection for being such a good boy. He's so patient.

[@juleerowley9706]

I thought that...poor baby didn't get one single kind word of praise or a loving pat of affection....I hated it and only watched a minute or two 🤔

[@mariatereza9721]

Seriously? You are mad because they aren't praising the horse enough? Some people show affection in different ways other than praising, I have seen many owners that do all that baby voice praising stuff and still treat their pets badly, at least the horse is treated well 🙄

[@suzannemarienau2760]

Louis is such a beautiful horse and is so well behaved! He has the sweetest face. He does look like a visit from the farrier is needed. I love these gentle giants!

[@jackierogers5064]

Very impressive! A joy to be a silent observer. Thank you for allowing us to visit.

[@alliechampagne1404]

For a four year old, Louis is extremely well behaved! He handles & minds like an old pro! Lovely Shire.

[@stephaniemccord6100]

Got to love those gentle giants. Thought I saw him lick his handler's head when he was drying his foot in the bucket. Too cute.

[@sarafayelawton652]

The Shires are just gorgeous

[@juliaelrod2154]

He knows what's up. He can't wait to get out there. What a pretty boy.🤩

[@joannaburn9514]

What a beautiful majestic young man 😍 He looks fantastic and so well behaved.

[@biddydibdab9180]

What a wonderful, patient horse.🥰

[@juliewinterburn4991]

hes beautiful hes so patient and well behaved .sweet boy

[@rikkejensen6136]

Such a calm and peaceful creature for his young age. Impressive horse! :-)

[@lilaxc1124]

Everyone keeps pointing out stuff like "why are carriage rides a thing horses are treated so poorly" "it's animal abuse" "he's in pain because his hooves need trimming" "he's so thin" "horses should be free to run around". This horse is well looked after, first of all he is not in pain he has been trained to walk like this from a young age. Some horses enjoy working because eating all day is just completely boring for them so it's not "abuse" to make them pull a cart. Most horses generally don't run around because they're too busy eating unless they see a new horse or it's windy or lightly raining etc and because of this they can get colic and become in pain and can get obese, then it can be hard for them to walk.

[@erinonfire70]

Lilaxc yeah i know, in every horse video there are these people who dont know a fig about horse who are like "ooooh ABUSE", "let him run around!" "You dont treat him properly!" You put ginger on his tail so he sticks it up!" Geez if you have a horse you treat him or her well now just enjoy the damn video

[@astrazenica7783]

Horse looks in fine health, perfectly content

[@em-nn9ip]

Annalise Hudson-Gordon pulling and carrying are different, annalise. even that chick with red hair knows that

[@zuzannacechini9265]

"this is a very special dust all the way from Scotland" he says, just as he continuously spills all of it on the floor. omg I died hahahah

[@jbeaupre1800]

Amazing the care that is taken. Well worth it!

[@dinger149]

oh how I wish my dad was still around. as a kid (I'm now 65) I was taken to the shows. dad could plait! many asked him to do my horse.He turned out top class show harness. drive any thing from single to six in hand and was big mates with the boys that did the shows. won many top rosettes and cups. a lost art. the sawdust is or was a well known practice. the show box at home was full of spares like canoba wax raffia grass and the many other things.yes a real past art.

[@lorettavanhaasteren2776]

Such an amazingly calm young horse!

[@clarissamatteo4133]

Che cavalli spettacolari. ❤️Davvero grandi e meravigliosi. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@maeeliz]

Such a beautiful horse. 😍🐴🐎

[@rei_cirith]

I love Shires... they've got the most gentle eyes of all horse breeds. Gentle giants, all of 'em.

[@tyravanpelt3028]

the first one to two of the most of

[@rei_cirith]

Tyra Van Pelt huh?

[@canteringon.x6127]

reicirith gentle giants XD Horses aren't gentle. They are friendly but if you said to a horse be calm around my 2 year old please and if they come round the back please don't kick. They aren't going to understand that so they will kick

[@stanfemalesonly745]

Zebby Zoo some are very gentle and very honest.

[@alvakingrock6927]

Zebby Zoo Well duh they stand behind the horse which is a big no-no. You could easily prevent that

[@fi0re_824]

Those walking sounds are satisfying XD

[@rickibowman9810]

Beautiful animal. So graceful.

[@kayla_thomson_x3290]

I have a shire horse!! He's a big fella at 17.5 hands He's massive but I love him dearly He's my big n fat baby boy named Buddy!! I had him since foal and I was only little he's 6 now and im 13 so me and my trainer brought out the best in him and started to work well with him through the years. The bond between us is unbreakable X He's MY LIFE xx We have started Jumping That's one of my best achievements is to jump I worked loads and loads and hopefully these next 4 years he could be an all rounder he's very well behaved and ready to try and do his best x

[@morganroach1703]

17.5hh???

[@FunctionInHighQuality]

I own a Percheron and a Clydesdale, and their hooves look like that. The front hooves will always pancake out like that, they are draft horses and more weight is being forced onto them. But keep in mind that it is ONLY the fronts that do that. The bigger the horse, the more they will pancake out like that. My Clydesdale is 20 hands, his are more flat in the front than my 17 handed Percheron. As for the walking, they are taught to walk that way at a young age, most of the time. My Percheron is ridden and showed western pleasure, and she doesnt pick up her feet real high like that anymore. While my Clydesdale is new under saddle and still has that high step walk about him.

[@AzureHeartSong]

Not true. Both my 17hh Belgian and my 19.3hh Percheron have normal looking feet. They look exactly like a smaller horses hooves, only they are bigger. They are also kept barefoot and are riding horses. The Shire in the video has Scotch Bottoms on. These are a traditional shoe and are meant to stretch the horse's foot out. Not because the horse needs it, quite the opposite is true actually, but because it causes an exaggerated leg lift which people find attractive.

[@alenaluzie1268]

Bullshit your horses feet should be fixed soon!!!

[@jaceyy5331]

ur horse isn't 20 hands. the worlds tallest horse is bloody 20 hands and that's a Belgium draft

[@Lara-234]

@@jaceyy5331 Sampson was actually the tallest to have every lived: Sampson was a Shire horse gelding foaled in 1846 in Toddington Mills, Bedfordshire, England. He was the tallest and heaviest horse ever recorded. Sampson, owned by Thomas Cleaver, stood 2.134 metres high by the time he was four years old, when he was renamed Mammoth

[@raphmaster23]

Look up scotch bottom shoeing, it's just one thing that had no place in working drafts but is done with show draft horses to make them look more flashy.

[@juliaelrod2154]

Draft horses are my favorite. Gentle giants.

[@brookewolfnight]

What a beautiful well behaved horse

[@SarahAParis]

My Shire Horse Dante is a great big sweetie. He loves his bath and grooming, and when you find an itch he'll lean into you while you scratch it. His lips sag, and he sticks out his tongue and starts grunting. It's so cute.

[@richardjones4259]

I think Louis enjoys being pampered.

[@simoneu.nathaus7292]

Wow...BEAUTIFUL LOUIS...much love from Germany ! 👏👏👍💗😍

[@denisefuentes1352]

I would be talking to him the whole time. Beautiful

[@ayane4151]

Louis is ADORABLE

[@Dawniee]

He's beautiful! But I think those hoofs need trimming a bit :P

[@Gingersnap27239]

they are fine they have longer hoofs then opther horses to prtect agenst the pavment these horse are well cared for

[@8literbeater]

Gingersnap27239 He is wearing shoes to protect the hooves. It's pretty silly to say that these horses are well cared for, when his hooves are obviously overdue for a trim.

[@Gingersnap27239]

8literbeater they are not overdue for any trim Clydesdale tend to have longer feet then other breds. My friend who is a vet and the farrier we use says they look fine it is the owners prefrence but that length is very common on that bred. those horses are treated like kings and very well cared for. I saw them in person so i would know

[@alphasnowsong]

Gingersnap27239 I may not know much but I'm pretty sure the video is about a SHIRE not a Clydesdale and I know plenty well they arnt the same thing. Just because their both draft horses doesn't mean they are the same thing. Along with that what does any of this have to do with a Clydesdale

[@alphasnowsong]

jacques dubois try to be more mature instead of attacking people when your clearly not being Threatened. You would probably have more people respect you if you didn't lose your temper so quickly :/

[@yeahwelcometotheinternet._9766]

What a cute horse!

[@tazmunster7646]

Beautiful. Hope you all survive the madness.

Gorgeous horse!! Loved the video, thank you :)

[@M3rVsT4H]

I am genuinely amazed and impressed by the amount of Farriers on the internet. Not to mention the surprising number of heavy horse experts. How lucky are these horse owners, there they were thinking they had a Shire who was well cared for. But it turns out they have a clydesdale with overgrown toenails. Great work internet!! You've saved the day again.

[@iimdone]

Shires are amazing. I have a virtual one as my profile pic from this awesome MMORPG game i play. Seeing a real life one makes me lighten up and they're, honestly, just the cutest horse breed i know at the moment. Louis is adorable ^^ (Those hooves need filed tho * - *)

[@aaliyahngamlert7591]

EVERYONE COMMENTING ABOUT HIS FEET READ BELOW Horses that pull brewery carts etc around are more than likely walking on Tarmac roads and other rough surfaces His shoes are made special to ensure his feet don't wear down because if he was to wear normal shoes they would wear down super fast , They protect his feet and are a lot thicker and heavy duty than normal shoes , hope this helped x

[@BRPFan]

Is that a John Deere harness? With all the Deeres in the harness? Amazing horse 👍👍👍

[@sergeantmasson3669]

I/we have an 8 years old black shire mare that I brought home when she was just 4 months old. Her owners didn't want her because she has 3 white socks and one black sock. Initially, I/we wanted another Morgan to be with our 4 month old Morgan filly but Olivia bonded with me instantly. Both are now 8 years old and they are best buddies despite their size differences.

[@monkmonkmonkandmonk8343]

Beautiful horse! :)

[@dooorisscpowerhhh2860]

When the shire walks im like "Omfg! so fricking CUTE!"

[@douglasgriffiths3534]

Louis is very handsome.

[@zenderman4913]

I love the sound of shire horses when they walk

[@acegamer_mcpe5064]

He's so handsome Such a amazing Breed of horse I have a Dark bay throughbred😄

[@KaregoAt]

I've never seen healthy hooves that long on a horse, not even a shire, and there are two shires at the stable I go to. They're so long they're starting to curl upwards! Sure, their hooves are bigger and wider than a warmblood's, but those look outrageous! He is walking very unnaturally, especially with his hind legs. It could either be the long hooves or the impact shock to the joints from walking with shoes on a hard concrete floor. The hooves can't cushion and take the impact like they are meant to when the horse has shoes on.

[@biddyboo8]

Exactly why, if and when I get a horse, I won't be using shoes.

[@KaregoAt]

Fatrick Stare Good to hear :) There's really no need for shoes, and if you need extra protection or traction for different terrains or for winter, you can just use Easyboots or something like that. They allow for movement in the hoof and still protect it and provide grip when needed.

[@bri8482]

Most draft horses wear special shoes to create a square shaped hoof. It is found in pulling and shoe drafts not so much riding drafts. It's believed to help their traction when they worked on dirt roads. And not all shoes are bad. Many horses need them due to a conformation fault or injury all obviously human error but they do help the horse and only hinder them when not done correctly. And he is walking weird because it seems to have a sickled hock and they are also trained to have an exaggerated gait. But the poor horses at your barn need some urgent care if they are curling up thats just not healthy no matter what the breed.

[@KaregoAt]

+Hedgehog Hugger I was talking about the horse in the video, his hooves are starting to curl. The horses at my stable both have very healthy hooves.

[@AzureHeartSong]

They are called Scotch Bottoms and they were originally designed to give the pulling horses a bigger surface area so they would be able to walk over snow or marsh ground easier. However, modern day drafts wear them for 2 reasons. They are traditional and they force the horse to walk with exaggerated movements. Drafts in show are shod like this as a rule. It's pointless, damaging, and stupid in my opinion. I ride a Belgian draft horse and she is kept barefoot and trimmed accordingly. She is a capable athlete and loves to run. None of that would be true if I forced her to wear Scotch Bottoms.

[@ilovethosedirtyboots1392]

I bet that horse doesn't smell like a horse I bet it smells like peaches and cupcakes. I've never seen more healthy horse in my life! I bet he loves what he has!

[@tanjakivimaki9222]

he is such a cutie pie.... love him

[@eholmes5840]

Where I come from (Lincolnshire) this stuff is a big thing. It interesting to see what my ancestors were doing

[@tanyagarcia3721]

What a patient horse

[@MsGroovalicious]

What a beauty daddies little boy is!!!!!!!!!!

[@davidhill1220]

What a sweetie Thank you Patricia

[@stellaritchie1776]

I come from Glasgow and when I was a wee girl I helped to look after one called bill is loved him so much he was a good horse in loved looking after him he was a coal horse xx

[@elleschimmel7854]

He was walking really heavily he seemed to be picking his feet up really high. It may just be me but my Belgian doesn't walk like that

[@equestrian2169]

i taught the same thing

[@abrahamstone1415]

me to not only you i fell the same way

[@KM-px8cs]

It seems to be from him needing a farrier and not liking the horse shoes.

[@mariarypdal1279]

Same

[@Ella-ct4yo]

yea it looks a bit cruel.

[@Roses6858]

beautiful horse

[@jenniferjuniper97]

Louis deserves a pint! Cheers for the vid.

[@melindafowler6857]

I love your darft horses!

[@deniserippee6741]

I hate it when people put or do things to animals in order to make it more pleasing for people to look at ....i.e. the shoes they said they put on gorgeous Louis are made for him to lift his legs higher because people like it???? Do what is right and comfortable for the horse. What a lovely horse Louis is.

[@friedagrohmann8392]

omg this is a verry nice horse ...😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@celinasverden7215]

Wow the shire it's cute and high!

[@lisastallingskeelor3328]

This horse knows he’s a looker. You’ve DEF got to be an experienced horse person to understand how to put all that tack on.

[@JustAnotherEquestrianCCJ]

so cute!! I love shires, but his hooves look a little to long :/ and ik shires hooves are big i have been around them but i think his need trimmed!!

[@fandomtrash95]

a little :3

[@Gingersnap27239]

they are fine

[@sbeventing]

+JustAnotherEquestrian they're completely fine! It is a type of foot called Scotch Bottoms! Scotch bottoms date back to over 200 years ago! So there's no need to be saying that when Scotch Bottoms have been around for hundreds of years =)

[@susandemeritt2216]

JustAnotherEquestrian same

[@lateishadennis6937]

wow he's wow so strong and cute

[@jenniedorsey5294]

The horses are beautiful

[@HmainTomlinson]

His feathers are sooooo white! Like the idea of saw dust to dry them!

[@mollyalice920]

"today is a special day because Louis is on camera" *dies inside from cuteness*

[@susandemeritt2216]

Omg I love horse and he is amazing

[@annaliejansevanrensburg2186]

Beautiful horse! :) My daughter is getting one. Any tips and advice!

[@IcelandicHorseLvr]

why are his hooves sooo looong ??!!! u really need to get them fixed !!

[@isabellamarinal]

Shire Horses have naturally long hooves and its actually painful for them if you cut their hooves shorter!

[@angeloddrev]

Isabella showing her ignorance right there lol

[@JackieGreen71]

Working Drafts have a different style of feet work done. The splayed wall helps them grip the ground better when pulling heavy loads on non-hard surfaces(much like a camels toes splay on sand). So.. his feet are fine.

[@silverkitty2503]

its not to do with the breed but what they do agricultural horses or cart horses often wear longer shoes ...some do some don't ..i've only ridden and cared for shires that were riding horses only so it's not something i know about so much ...but it's to with traction and also protecting their partners feet (like side by side) horses are shod for their hooves and the type of work they do. If he was to be ridden he would need a hoof make over! And they can be ridden and his hooves would change gradually for the work he does now the shape doesn't over flex the tendons ..but with other work it might ...this is why you need really really professional farriers

[@leilanil476]

Plow horses get longer squared off feet, but nothing as close to this. This is horrible.

[@vikina6100]

Wow he is beatiful

[@noster_9062]

He's really cute ^^ And yeah his hooves need to be fixed but he looks really happy though ^^

[@Pk-sr2hs]

If you do not mind me asking, one of my horses have white socks too. I was wondering what kind of shampoo you are using for the feathers?

[@L2design]

KING LOUIS!!! WHAT A GORGEOUS HORSIE!! SPECIAL INDEED!!!

[@johnnydough4048]

Everyone is talking about the horses feet I'm mad that the tail is docked

[@jessicataicreates5534]

Me too. I hate to see horses with docked tails!

[@janw491]

Absolutely hate docking but it is illegal now and if you look really close it may not be docked. It may be shaved with only a “ top knot” of hair being left. I certainly hope so! 5:59 and 6:26

[@sarah_max20]

@@janw491 docking a shires tail is not illegal. They do that so the loose hairs don't get caught and knoted in the equipment, and/or wagon. Its also done for style. Back off.

[@dafeef5555]

@@sarah_max20 "In the United States ten states prohibit docking of horses’ tails entirely or unless rendered necessary (i.e., medically, to benefit the animal, or in case of emergency). New Hampshire permits the procedure only with permission from the state veterinarian. Docking is banned in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It is permitted in Luxemburg and Spain (excluding Catalonia and Andalucía)." www.avma.org/resources-tools/literature-reviews/welfare-implications-horse-tail-modifications

[@sarah_max20]

@@dafeef5555 thank you, I did not know that. Think I misunderstood the comment, sorry. I thaught they were talking about the whole USA. I was talking about Vermont. Thank you, I learned something new today! No need to show me the link,mi believe you. Seriousl, I've been riding for eight years and didn't know this. You also copied from Google..😄🐎 I appreciate the information!

[@lindsaygonzales3598]

Anyone else notice the duck feet?!

[@nickwhalley3567]

my mum loves them and we have horse but she is getting one today 🐎

[@erin_749]

I like how everyone is just talking about his hooves.

[@onetuliptree]

beautiful horse, but walks like feet hurt

[@thatlilsavannah2041]

yeah I noticed that, I wonder why it look very unhealthy

[@abrahamstone1415]

its not healthy savannah bowen

[@thatlilsavannah2041]

Abraham Stone yea i thought so

[@stevic.9858]

tahoedewey they DON'T

[@Olivia-kn1ur]

tahoedewey it's the horses gait

[@emilieguillon-equitation421]

Very interesting. Sorry for all the négative comments

[@57Pinky_Promise65]

What a beauty❣❣❣❣❣

[@laceyjamiesonrip7695]

Beautiful horse I want one that big as I am very tall

[@Tamar-sz8ox]

The stable is beautiful I wonder when it was built ?

[@carolynneser4067]

magnificent but i thouight tail docking was banned, or is it only for dogs? would seem a horse needs his tail even MORE to keep the flies off ..

[@sfwarhawk]

Big horses, such as Clydesdales, Shires, and Draught Horses get their tails docked because the owners do not want the tail getting stuck in the machinery or other stuff that the horse is carrying or pulling.

[@landey549]

He is so cute

[@arack071]

IT SO CUTE!!!! 😍

[@beckysummer7281]

All shire horses walk like that. I have one called Zoey and she walks like that and his hooves are fine x

[@palominiocrazy2432]

LOUIS IS SO CUTE

[@skaikoi4410]

Beautiful horses. I just love drafts. btw I'm now gonna use pin sawdust when I have stables!

[@kellymcheart6498]

the hoofs...the need to be fixed!

[@AzureHeartSong]

It's a traditional shoe called a Scotch Bottom. They are supposed to be that way.

[@kellymcheart6498]

AzureHeartSong ah ok thanks

[@bobewel3432]

I have 5 draft horse ( 2of them shires) and none of their hooves look like that

[@AzureHeartSong]

+Bob Ewel Do you show them?

[@bobewel3432]

+AzureHeartSong 4 of them show and one of them pulls carts

[@AzureHeartSong]

What I find interesting is the way you groomed and tacked up your horse. When I was driving horses, I put the collar on first, then the saddle, then the britching, then the hames. I would throw the tugs over its back until it was time to hook up. After my horse was harnessed, I'd plait or braid the mane. Grooming took place before the harness was put on, obviously. Our horses did not wear Scotch Bottoms either. They were shod normally with 2 toe clips.

[@srequestriansr8825]

Buetiful baby of yours I love Louis

[@sylvieh5209]

I know everyone in the comments is saying this but if you don't get his hooves trimmed soon then you could be seriously damaging his feet and ability to walk.

[@livopalborn1332]

Could somebody educate me on what sort of shoe Luis may be wearing, and why it causes his hoof to look ingrown? Also, does it have something to do with him picking his feet up high?

[@monikazielinska3352]

She or he looks so cute😳😳😌😁😳😁😌😳😁😌

[@Tamar-sz8ox]

He’s a handsome boy ❤️

[@jaydendoutt]

actually my grandpa owned big horses like him and that is how shores feet are they lift there feet high bc of the wheight I belive

[@StoryTimeforSleep]

No...they lift their hooves that way because they are walking on their heels, will trip over the toe and the horses (shire) hooves are grown that way for an exaggerated action...same as Tennessee walking horses are made to have elongated toes. It ruins them eventually.

[@Darby.Brewer]

@@StoryTimeforSleep Okay, for one, I love your name. For two, you're dead on. My Clyde was this way before I got a proper trim on her.

[@AppaloosaDreams]

@@StoryTimeforSleep oh.... I thought, something was not right about his hooves damn shame, :(

[@xStateofSleepx]

His feet are extremely flat, poor boy... needs a good farrier to do some corrective work there. The strain on his fetlock joints must be massive, especially at his size.

[@JackieGreen71]

Working Drafts have a different style of feet work done. The splayed wall helps them grip the ground better when pulling heavy loads on non-hard surfaces(much like a camels toes splay on sand). So.. his feet are fine.

[@LeSuperFishe]

xStateofSleepx of course there flat its a draft you moron

[@dawnshoweranimates8214]

Draft horses have a different style of hoof. They're more bulky and and long for gripping purposes.

[@Kevin.Souder]

How much does it cost to get everything you have on the Shire? I have a Belgian I'm teaching to drive and I'd love everything you have!

[@horsearemylife5556]

A horse I ride(teddy) is a 17.2 Frisian/Percheron gelding. The horses are beautiful but the hooves need trimmed