A fine looking horse.
Posted on 03/08/2013 5:58:37 AM PST by 1rudeboy
An Irish draught horse named Shayne, who was believed to be the world’s oldest horse, was put to sleep last month after a long, happy and healthy life of 51 years.
The DailyMail reports on Shayne, who was put down after a battle with arthritis left him incapable of standing up on his own.
Shayne was living at the 40-acre Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary in his final days, where he enjoyed up to five hours outside a day, and a healthy diet of four meals daily.
Sue Burton, the founder of the Sanctuary in Essex, England said, “Shayne was a happy horse, a lovely old boy and we are proud to have known him.”
“He was great to own and we are delighted to have had him and we shall miss him dearly.”
Burton attributes Shayne’s longevity to the fact that he had a pleasant personality, and that his previous owners never overworked him.
“He was such a lovely horse with a great character and he showed how good a horse of this age could look,” said Burton.
Shayne, who stood at 15 hands and weighed over 1,050 pounds, was put to sleep after he collapsed on February 22.
Shayne’s remains were taken for cremation at Row Green Equine and Pet Crematorium in Braintree, where he was cremated without fee.
Ella Martin, from Row Green, said, “It was an honor to be asked to collect Shayne.”
“We have worked with Remus Horse Sanctuary for many years and as a token to Sue and her team we offered to cremate him free of charge, a fitting tribute.”
The previous title of oldest living horse in the world was held by Welsh/Arab steed Badger, from Pembrokeshire, Wales, who died aged 51, in in 2004. Last year, the Guinness World Records team said nobody had laid claim to the title since Badger's death.
Staff at the sanctuary believed Shayne to be 51 based on the date of birth given by his previous owner, and medical checks, which included examining the condition of the horse’s teeth for length, wear, and how deep the grooves are.
As Shayne's birth was believed to be before horse passports were introduced, there would only be paperwork detailing the exact date if he were a purebreed.
A British Horse Society spokesman estimated that Shayne's years made him the human equivalent of more than 100. However, the spokesman said 'the older they get, the harder it is to tell,' especially when horses get past their average life expectancy of early thirties.
On average, every horse year beyond the age of four is roughly the same as 2.5 human years.
Elderly Shayne fell a little way short of laying claim to being the oldest horse in history. That title belongs to 'Old Billy' who was foaled in Woolston, Lancashire and had reached the age of 62 when he died in 1822.
I can make a General in five minutes but a good horse is hard to replace.
--Abraham Lincoln
The BBQ was later that afternoon.
Amazing! RIP, sweet horse.
But, what kind of draft? This horse sound the size of a short Thoroughbred. Hardly the weight of a draft I expect.
A fine looking horse.
“Irish draft” actually is the name of the breed.
Well, given the iron horse is a locomotive engine, it’s a bit tougher choice.
Thank you Bill Gates and others;
So Long, Old Friend
I know. My point is just how small can it be? 1000lbs is not heavy for a draft.
I had a Shetland that I had to put down several years ago that was in his late forties. My Arabian Stallion lived to 36 and was still breeding at 34.
I’m guessing that he dropped weight as he grew older. If they were feeding him four times a day, it suggests that they were trying to keep his weight up.
WOW! Great post and thread.
Usually the smaller the horse, the longer they live. Shayne was a big guy (obviously not Clydesdale size, but definitely a draft horse) and it’s really remarkable that he lived this long.
But he has an alert, kindly look, and I think horses, like human beings, have “personalities” which determine everything from how well they get along with people (thus letting them receive more care) to how long they live.
I have a little horse (pony sized but not a pony breed) who’s heading towards 27. He’s not a great riding animal and never has been, but he is a real love-sponge and I think that’s what keeps him going.
Awww, he actually looked a little wrinkled. Bless his sweet heart.
Some years ago at the St. Paul, OR, rodeo, the announcer told us that one of the bucking horses was 27. I don’t remember whether he got the rider off.
The horse, that is, not the announcer.
Thanks for the first great laugh of the day!!
He'll be back..either in Taco Bell or Burger King..
I don’t know much about horses, but have heard that keeping a stallion is a lot of work. Why would that be?......GG
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