A Barnsley farm, Cannon Hall Farm, is celebrating the birth of a rare Shire filly foal, marking an important milestone for a breed now on the at-risk register due to declining numbers. Silver, a Shire mare at the farm, gave birth after a 12-month pregnancy, adding to the critically low population, with only 134 filly foals born in the UK last year. Farmer Robert Nicholson highlighted the breed’s historical significance as the backbone of British farming and expressed concern over the shrinking gene pool, emphasizing the need to protect Shire horses for future generations.

Cannon Hall Farm, a registered breeding center and member of the Shire Horse Society, actively works to preserve the breed and engages the public by inviting name suggestions for the new filly and sharing updates on social media. Shire horses were once essential for farming, heavy transport, and industry in the UK, valued for their immense strength before machinery took over, making the preservation efforts crucial to maintaining this heritage breed.