The horse breed developed in England for heavy farm work and known for feathered lower legs is the Shire.
Shire horses are a British draft breed descended from large medieval working horses. Farmers used them to pull ploughs, carts, wagons, and heavy loads before tractors became widespread. Their great size, muscular build, and calm temperament made them especially useful for demanding agricultural and transport work.
The long hair around a Shire’s lower legs is called feathering. It is a characteristic shared with several other draft breeds, so feathering alone does not prove that a horse is a Shire. Clydesdales also have conspicuous feathering, while breeds such as Arabians and Thoroughbreds generally do not.
Shires can be black, bay, brown, or grey, often with white markings. The breed has also been used in ceremonial and commercial carriage work. Like many heavy horse breeds, Shires declined sharply when mechanized vehicles replaced working horses, but breed societies and specialist owners continue to preserve them.