Horses have had a special place in the hearts of humans for thousands of years. These beautiful creatures are not only fantastic companions, but they have also been of great help to humans over the centuries – from helping with farming, to moving goods to policing, horses have had an important role to play in history, and it is easy to see why they are such loved and admired creatures. They also inspire literature and art such as the book Black Beauty and things like this beautiful bronze animal sculpture by https://www.gillparker.com/

Here are a few of Britain’s native horse breeds…

Clydesdale – These giant Scottish horses get their names from the area where the breed was born – the Clyde valley. These hard working horses were used to move heavy goods from place to place, but nowadays there are not as many of them as there once were.

Cleveland Bay – These majestic horses were used by the monarchy for pulling the royal coaches, and it is easy to see why – as well as being graceful they are strong and sturdy, and were also used during the industrial revolution for moving goods to and from the factories.

Shire – These huge horses were created perfectly for their main job – farming. A century ago, and even more recently, Shire horses were a common sight in rural areas, as their enormous build and superior strength made them perfect for pulling the heavy agricultural machinery.

Exmoor – The Exmoor pony is one of the few truly native horses of the UK, and it is a wild horse. If you take a walk across Exmoor you may spot a herd of these wild and beautiful creatures running across the moorland, and a large amount of conservation work has been done to ensure that they continue to thrive there.