Shire horse births 'wonderful' for 'at risk' breed
BBCThe arrival of three rare shire horse foals at a Nottinghamshire farm has been hailed as "wonderful news" by an animal conservation group.
Once a common sight in farms and industry, shire horses are now considered "at risk" by the UK Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST).
The charity estimates there are about 227 shire horses in total in the UK, according to its latest figures.
Sarah Flintham, from Hockerwood Farm, Upton, said the new foals Adele, Turpin and Athena were born to three separate mothers earlier this month.
Ms Flintham said: "It's massively important for us because we strive all the time to do our best.
"[They're] a rare breed, they aren't easy. They're rare for a reason.
"For the world to keep the shire breed going would be wonderful and for us commercially, we need to keep them going, they're our thing."
She said the third foal, Athena, had to be bottle fed after losing her mother but she had now been adopted by another mare.
'Cautiously optimistic'
Christopher Price, from the RBST, said the arrivals were "absolutely wonderful news".
"Shire horses, in common with many larger equine breeds, have been really struggling in recent years," he explained.
"They were everywhere. Working in not just farming but industry and general transport.
"After the war, when everything became more mechanised, they started to disappear.
"If it wasn't for the sake of a few determined and tenacious breeders, they might have disappeared altogether."
Mr Price said shire horses were on the trust's watch list, an annual appraisal of native UK livestock, although he was "cautiously optimistic" about their future.
"They are majestic and wonderful animals to see," he added.
"Thankfully... we are starting to see them come back into use."
He said the animals were often seen in ceremonial events, like weddings and funerals, as well as being used as therapy horses and for land management.
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