Shales Horse

Origin
England

History
The Shales horses are direct descendants, and the modern equivalent, of the Norfolk Trotter or Roadster which was the pride of 19^th-century England. Original Shales, Blaze´s son, founded the dynasty of Norfolk Roadsters and is responsible for the present-day Shales Horse. The prepotent blood of the Roadster had a great influence on the breeds of both Europe and the US. It is an important element in the development of most of the warmblood breeds as well as many of Europe´s heavy horses. It is also at the very root of the American Standardbred harness racer.
The trotting Roadster originated from the same source of eastern blood as the Thoroughbred racehorse. The Trotter was a utilitarian horse developed largely by the agricultural community to meet their requirements for a traveling horse that could be either ridden or used in harness. For such a purpose the trot was an essential pace. Up to the 19^th century, these Roadsters were used more under saddle than otherwise. Their owners, in the English sporting tradition, took great pride in the prowess of their horses and delighted in staging matches. It was only when the roads had improved sufficiently that the emphasis shifted to the harness horse, but for many years, the Roadster continued to excel in both roles.
The modern Shales Horses have been bred by the Colquhoun family since 1922, when the mother of the present breeder, Elizabeth Colquhoun, bought a two-year-old colt by Findon Gray Shales in Devon. Findon Gray Shales  had been bred by Charles Monson. The Monson family at Walpole St. Peter, in Cambridgeshire, had a Hackney strain that produced predominantly gray hunters up to the Second World War. Then, Findon Gray Shales with Black Shales had stood at the Duchy of Cornwall Tor Royal Stud for some years. The colt bought by Elizabeth Colquhoun  was bred by HRH the Prince of Wales and was called Royal Shales.
Versatility has been the hallmark of the Shales breed. Indeed the granddaughter of Royal Shales out of Katinka, who male line went back to the Thoroughbred , was a mare called Silver Shales and was hunted and driven, and was a top-class polo pony as well.
Shales horses have an enviable record for producing competition stock. Crosses, for what is now a rare breed, are confined to the occasional Thoroughbred, a practise that was followed in the development of the Hackney into the 19^th century.

Description

• Head:
  of great quality and dominated by large, generous eyes and wide nostrils
• Conformation:
  -neck of medium length, gracefully arched with a perfect setting of the head
  -good slope to the shoulders and great depth through the chest
  -sloping quarters showing length from hip to hock and prominent muscling of the second thighs
  -clean and large hocks
  -flat and well made joints
  -short shanks with a notable bone structure
• Average height:
  15 h.h.
• Colour:
  grey and chestnut
• Temperament:
  blessed with the stamina of their forebears, they are hardy and very good-tempered
• Today:
  Shales horses, "quality cobs", are still ridden and driven in the old tradition.