FOR several generations the farmlands of Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire and Cheshire have been renowned for the production of the finest sheep, dairy and beef cattle. However, these were not the only livestock that were in great demand...

Before motorised vehicles came along there were the big, heavy powerful carthorses that were bred on the farm and also broken in there too. The most popular breeds were the Shire and the Clydesdale and the crosses between the two. If the load could be shifted by horses, then it could be shifted by members of these two breeds. The Shire had great thick strong limbs with fetlocks carrying a lot of hair while the limbs of the Clydesdale, though not quite so thick, were nevertheless very strong.

The port of Liverpool had reason to be thankful to be able to get hold of these big powerful horses needed to move cargoes to and from what had become one of the world's busiest ports.

Farmers kept a few mares which they put to the best stallions available to produce strong foals that they would break in at 3 years old and work them until they were at their best at about 5 years old. Then they would sell them on to be used to do the carting at the ports and at the railway stations, delivering both to and from the ports and the railheads.

At Liverpool, the story is told of a big black Shire horse called Duke who was not harnessed to a cart or lorry but was working in chains hooked up to a huge baulk of timber on the deck of a ship while in the docks.

When the ship's captain shouted: "Whip that horse up, I have a load to take on yet." The carter asked him if he was sure, to which he replied: "Yes". A touch of the whip and Duke fairly hurled himself into his collar and the great baulk of timber came hurtling toward the dockside, bringing some of the stern of the ship off with it. With a snort from the great horse and a good many shrieks from the captain both the baulk of timbers and part of the stern finished up on dry land. I never heard what happened after that but they do say the carter laughed all the way home and Duke had an extra feeds of oats in his stall.

Dialect word: Kit meaning a milk churn.

Thought for the day: Blessed is the man who does not speak until he knows what he is speaking about.