Support our HEAVY HORSES

THANKS TO THEIR IMMENSE STRENGTH and patient nature, heavy horses have been part of the European workforce for centuries. In France, Comtois horses – like Fleur and Celine, featured here – were used to pull heavy loads in the mountains. In Britain, Shires, Suffolk Punches and Clydesdales – the three native UK breeds – were used for everything from farming and mining to collecting the rubbish and delivering the post. By 1900, 2.5 million were in harness across the country. In the 20th century, they fell out of fashion with the rise of affordable motorised vehicles. They are now considered ‘at risk’, with only 2,000 Shire horses, for example, worldwide. To learn more and find out how you can help, go to rbst.org.uk/ appeal/heavy-horse.