Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-10
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
EoRsEs FoR CALIFORNIA.

An important Importation of valuable En-
glish horses to California has just taken place
IN the arrival OF special carload of Shire
working horses at Spring Valley Ranch, near
BockliE, Placer county, belonging to j. 2.
Whitney These horses are fresh from the
fen lands Of Derbyshire, in England, and are
brought out by Mr.. Whitney especially for
breeding purposes. The Shire horses are but
little known outside of England, and few, If
any, have ever been brought to the United
States as they are not plentiful in England,
aud are confined principally 70 the fen lands,
or shire counties, from which they take their
zane. They are the largest and strongest
horses 10 the world, and surpsss the Clydes-
dAles. Sutillks and Psrcherons, well known
NJ this country. They are the veritable de-
slendants % the large aud famous warehouses
% the lrusades and William the Conqueror
times, when Inen went forth in heavy arm OF
g. DO battle These horses are noted for
tGsir great bone and weight Of body, and
are said o. furnish the best working hsrses Of
London, Liverpool and Manchester. They
are also used extensively about the railroad
stations iu England for moving freight and
other trains. instead OF using locomotives, as
Ia this country. Here their great strength
aud intelligence is the subject Of general re-
marx. by reason Of the precision with which
they move large NUMBER Of cars, and with
out accident o. themselves.
It is stated that some twenty years
$40 stnd-book was commenced Of
these horses, under the patronage Of
some of the most distinguished noble
men ol England. who finally formed the
Cart Horse Society, under whose auspices
tie great agricultural and working horse
shows sro now held. The Marquis Of West
minister. the Earl Of Ellesmere, the Earl of
H0Wi7 sud Sir Eiward Coke, are the promi-
ueut ieaiers % the society and breeders Of
these horses az the present time.
a characteristic, 0T thee horses Il the great
width of boue in tke forelegs aud their hairy
feet and it is claimed that their feet are
n10re enduring for the hari pavements Of the
Great cl.ica than any other breed. Their
uatura sphere Is that Of work, which they
are SAID Oh fail into almost without break-
ing. s. naturally a. a duck takes 10 the
water
MANY 1f these horses reach weight Of
from e. 2ll to 2, COO pounds with exceptional
creates weight. as that Of spark, the famous
SHIRE horse belonging 20 Walter Gilbey. The
har-a. although not fat, weighs ,. $50 pounds
The horses brought to Rocklin are all two
years old weighing from LJO0 10 l. 500
pound no attention IL paid 20 color in
breeding them in England and their colors
range from black 70 white aud from roam 10
ch-stuaf. although the horses imported by
hlr. Whitney are all bay, and very fue
stock. rhs champion horse. British Oak
two years old, weighs $50 pounds, and is a
splendid dark bay Of perfect proportions as a
draught horse, aud carried off the two first
prizes SO the horse shows OF st. Ives aud Ely
in June and July last A. the best twU-yesr-
old hnrse also a field prize as the best horse
and champion Of the field Of Ely, without re-
gard g. sex or age, competing with many
horses which had before carried off first
prizes lie Is not over l6l hands high, with
. round body aud heavy limbs, measures IL
inches around the shin bone in the smallest
place, is a. gentle as a kitten, aud is valued
al SO 900.
1t is claimed that these horses cannot be
kept ~ IN their bone and weight away from
the fen lands Of the shire counties, but a
near approach TO their perfection in England
will, it is thought by those acquainted with
this breed, surpass any other draught horses
~ this country,