Ray Keeley and Winnie.
On arrival, Maria Carrick, niece of Stephen Carrick, owner of the Shires’ farm, called two mares, Queenie and Winnie, over to meet us. They easily poked their large and imposing heads over the field gate.
Imposing they may be, but we felt no fear or fright from these two beautiful creatures. Quite the contrary, we felt welcomed and experienced a feeling of friendship. We were six in number and all of us are well rounded in years. We have all had many life experiences over time, but this experience was truly elevating.
Shires are a very ancient breed, deriving from the Old English Black Horse that was bred to carry medieval knights into battle dressed in their shining steel plate armour.