Shire Horses

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HOOK NORTON BREWERY SHIRE HORSES

There are few better sights than Hook Norton’s beautiful shire horses, stamping their feet and snorting on a cold winter’s morning, fully harnessed to a loaded brewers dray weaving its way through local Cotswold villages and country lanes. These wonderful ‘workhorses’ have been an integral part of brewery life since its founding day back in 1849 and for many, many years were the reliable backbone of its delivery system. At present, the Brewery has three Shire horses, Brigadier, Balmoral and Cromwell. Our horses live the life of luxury onsite in their purpose built onsite stables accompanied by 18 acres of rolling Cotswold countryside for them to graze at their leisure.

Hook Norton Brewery is incredibly proud to be one of only two breweries, bringing tradition into the present day by continuing to deliver our award winning ales by horse drawn dray. Whilst a handful of other breweries have Shire horses, these remain predominantly for promotional events whilst we remain true to our heritage, keeping them as key colleagues in our delivery team.

At present the Shire horse breed remains at critical risk of extinction due to their rapid decline in numbers, our open stables and knowledgeable Shire horse team aim to raise awareness of their plight to help secure their future for years to come. Hook Norton Brewery is proud to have gained status as an ‘Approved Shire Horse Society Centre’ earning this accreditation in October 2021, more information can be found on the Shire Horse Society website.

Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with their activities.

Where to see the Shires

Traditionally, the horses would make local deliveries from Wednesday through to Friday, covering a 4 mile radius from the brewery to include to the Sun Inn, Pear Tree and the Gate Hangs High (weather permitting).
The Shire team is busy training up our young Shire Horses, which unfortunately means deliveries are currently on hold. We hope to commence full horse drawn deliveries, to all three pubs, in the autumn and will endeavour to keep our website and social media updated accordingly. The tour of the brewery includes a tour of the stables and we aim to have the horses in the stables during your visit subject to operational or weather reasons.

Our working team of shires can be seen around the county appearing at numerous public and private events over the year and can be seen at the below 2025 events:

12 January – Moreton Show Blessing of the Plough
7th, 8th & 9th March – National Shire Horse Show
5th April – Wedding
26th April – Adderbury day of dance
10th & 11th May – Blists Hill Victorian Town
24th May – Shropshire Show
31st May – Scuttlebrook Wake, Chipping Campden
21st June – Hare & Hounds Wardington
28th & 29th June – Bloxham Rally
12th July – The Black Bear, Tewkesbury
13th July – Greatworth Summer Fayre
27th July – British Driving Society onsite meet
29th, 30th, 31st July – Newforest Show
6th September – Moreton Show

The 2025 diary is open and we are now taking bookings for the year ahead.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like the horses to appear at your event: shirehorse@hooky.co.uk

Hook Norton Brewery is now proud to offer hands on Shire Horse experience days, more details can be found here.

Take home a piece of brewing history with our Shire Horse collection available in our brewery shop and online.

Listen to Nick’s Interview

Hook Norton Brewery’s Head Coachman, Nick Carter was interviewed for the “From the Horsebox” podcast – listen here:

Hook Norton Brewery’s Head Coachman, Nick Carter. (buzzsprout.com)

See our Shire Horses in action

A Look Back Over 2023 for our Shire Horse Team
BBC South Today 2021
A Look Back Over 2021 For our Shire Horse Team
Horse of the Year Show 2018 with Martin Clunes

A day in the life of one of our dray horses, 11 year old Shire horse, Lady Grey. Delivering our beer to the Pear Tree Inn and to the village butchers to use in their lovely sausages!