Maes-Knoll Shires
The Shires have been kept at Avon Valley for around fifteen years now and can be seen on display within the park and also in fields as you drive into the park. They belong to Kevin and Mandi Wide who have been breeding these magnificent animals for over 22 years.
During the winter they are housed within a specialist American Barn which was constructed in 2006 along with a fully functional all-weather surface, another improvement to Maes-Knoll Shire’s facilities.
At present 6 horses are kept at the park, they are of varying age and are from oldest to youngest:-
Westfield Princess or Winnie
Snelson Eliza or Eliza
Colstons Courage or Charlie
Maesknoll Gareths Girl or Molly
Maesknoll Tudor Rose or Misty
Maesknoll Isabelle or Izzy
We attend various shows all over the country and try and breed from the mares on a regular basis to keep the shire breed up and running.
Brief History
Shire Horse are an old breed and goes as far back in records to the 15th century, it was used as a war horse and is most famous for working on the farm and pulling the plough. Mechanisation in the earlier part of this century was one of the major factors as to why the shire horses died out after the Second World War.
It only through careful breeding and the enthusiasm and dedication of a lot of small breeders that the shire horses survived to be what they have become today. The Shire is still the largest and most powerful draft horse in Britain. It was, and still is, used by brewers in cities in stylish teams to pull beer wagons, in weight-pulling competition and in plowing competition and can be seen in regular attendance at county and countryside shows all over the country.
