Lincolnshire Dray Horse
The Shire is a breed of draught horse originating from England. The Shire has a great capacity for weight-pulling; it was used for farm work, to tow barges at a time when the canal system was the principal means of goods transport, and as a cart-horse for road transport. One traditional use was for pulling brewer's drays for delivery of beer, and some are still used in this way; others are used for forestry and for commercial advertising. Shires have held some of the world records for the largest horse and for the tallest horse. The Shire breed was established in the mid-eighteenth century in England, and a breed society and stud-book were established in the 1870s. Today, there are stud-books and breed associations in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and Canada. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, there were large numbers of Shires, and many were exported to the United States. With the progressive mechanisation of agriculture and of transport, the need for draught horses decreased rapidly and by the 1960s numbers had fallen from a million or more to a few thousand. Numbers began to increase again from the 1970s, but the breed is still considered "at risk" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
| Life Span | 25-30 years |
| Weight | 380-550 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Lincolnshire Dray Horse
Finding a responsible Lincolnshire Dray Horse breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells horses commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Lincolnshire Dray Horse. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Lincolnshire Dray Horses appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
Looking for a Lincolnshire Dray Horse breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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