Goldstone Moss 

Goldstone Moss is a tall boy of 201 centimetres and has a weight of 980 kilograms. He is known as Mighty Moss and Mossi. He originally comes from England, where he was used as a driving horse. The 15-year-old gelding has lived with Tine for 8 years. He is a cool but sensitive horse and takes good care of his surroundings. 

Tine Kristensen 

Tine got hooked on equestrian sports around the age of 11, when she bought a fjord horse. Later on, she fell in love with the Belgians. But at an equestrian fair she saw a horse-drawn carriage with Shire horses harnessed to it and fell in love! The bond with the Shire breed has endured and according to Tine, they are very easy going despite their size.

Tine has made some of the gear for the gentle giant herself.

If you dream of owning a Shire 

If you also have a desire to own a Shire, there are some things that need to be adjusted to create the best conditions for the breed, such as making sure they can move around a lot during the day to avoid leg disorders. One of Tine’s tips to bear in mind when buying a Shire horse is to remember to check its legs for leg disorders. It might not be anything serious, but it is important to give the right treatment if the horse, for instance, has mites in its feathers. Equally, it is a good idea to check which blacksmiths have the skills to fix their hooves. Tine has been quite desperate on several occasions, having spoken to several different blacksmiths who have just turned the horse down without seeing it. Although they are big, it does not mean they are hard to deal with.  

Most horse owners want to have many great years with their horse. However, you should be aware that the Shire is a bit like the larger dog breeds - they are not expected to live as many years as the smaller horse breeds.

A friend for life 

While there may be things that need to be adapted to the breed, nothing is impossible as long as there is trust horse and rider in between. When you really get to know your Shire horse, then you will have a friend for life. No matter what type of horse you have or dream of, there will always be challenges, but Tine’s story is a wonderful example that anything is possible as long as you take the time to build trust and take the precautions the individual horse requires.

Shire horses need to consume less. So even though shire horses are a little more expensive to feed than the most common sport horse, there is usually no need to go out and buy a lot of supplementary feed.

Follow your dreams 

When Tine first started to get to know the Shire, she had no doubt that it was a very special breed, that got a huge place in her heart. It is with great passion and love when she talks about her relationship with her Shire horses, and it has to be said that Tine has also become very experienced with the breed. As it is not always an easy breed to have, good support is important. Fortunately, Tine experiences a lot of encouragement from her husband, and Tine especially enjoys the fact that her 4-year-old son also enjoys spending time with Moss.

The considerations 

It is no secret that owning a Shire horse takes a lot. The magnificent, gentle breed is not for everyone, if you ask Tine, who has owned Shire horses for many years. Even before meeting Moss, she had her first Shire, John Little. So, she knew in advance that this is a breed that requires more than just exercise. For example, it is especially important for the breed to be well groomed and looked after in their feathers, to avoid leg disorders with scabs, or a build-up of mites and infections. 

Therefore, there is a lot of time involved in the care of the horse’s legs. Some of the more common challenges Tine has faced since acquiring Shire horses have been finding both a vet and a farrier to treat the large and heavy horses. It has previously required her to make a long drive just to get the horses to the blacksmith. And just how do you do that with horses that weigh about 1 ton? “I have had some aha experiences over the years,” says Tine, as she gets into the topic of transporting the heavy horses. When I arrived at Tine’s house, one of the first sights that greeted me was her Hummer and a horse trailer the size of which I have rarely seen before. Although the trailer was even purchased in order to carry extra pounds, Tine still had to rebuild the inside of the trailer to create the necessary space for Moss as he was longer than expected. 

Extra-large equipment 

Going to horse shows and other events to buy riding equipment can be a cheap experience when you have a Shire horse at home. When Tine finally finds equipment that fits Moss, the considerations are not so great. Because if something turns out to be Moss’s size, Tine buys it straight away, as he rarely requires the sizes on offer. But Tine is also creative, and she actually make some of his equipment herself. She does this simply because it is too hard to find anything that fits - and she also likes when they look a bit different. 

Versatile training 

It is definitely not the same form of training that Tine uses for her Shire horses. When it comes to building confidence in her horses, she is keen for them to get out and about and experience something different. That is why there is not just one discipline in the equestrian sport that she swears by. She does, however, make use of hacking, agility and sometimes even harnesses them up for a ride in the horse-drawn carriage. In addition, she and Moss are also out at shows with other Shire horses, mainly at equestrian fairs where the Shire horse is most often to be seen. Although Tine can feel a certain excitement in Moss when they are out showing, she knows that he trusts her and vice versa. “He really loves to come out and experience different things than we do here at home on a daily basis,” Tine says. One of the most unique things, Tine has experienced with the breed, was with her former Shire horse, John Little. According to Tine, John Little has always been somewhat of a troublemaker - also when they were participating in shows. Therefore, they started to do agility training. It seemed to help activate John Little in a way that made him more relaxed and built up a solid trust with Tine. 

Feeding a 980-kilogram horse 

Due to the size of the breed, care should be taken not to feed them too much carbohydrate, sugar and protein.  The best way to ensure that the Shire horse’s needs are well met is through a good basic diet. On a daily basis a horse like Moss eats about 6.5 litres of soaked beet pellets including vitamins and minerals, and alongside this he gets about the equivalent of 20 kilos of silage, as these are a source of the nutrients that 


– Tine Kristensen
Once you really get to know them and gain their trust, you have a friend for life.

The bigger the horse does not equal a scarier horse, at least not according to Tines four-year-old son.

Goldstone Moss is the tallest horse in Denmark and is an attraction when he and his owner Tine are out at shows and fairs. The trust between the two is unique and was evident as soon as I stepped into the courtyard. I visited Tine and Moss, and we got to talk about what it really takes to trust a horse that big, how to build trust between horse and rider when one party is not used to seeing all the world’s impressions.

The journey from England to Denmark

It was at the world’s largest show for Shire horses, the Shire Horse Show in England, with no less than 400 Shire horses, that Tine met Moss (ed. Goldstone Moss) for the first time, and then the lightning struck. With great joy in her voice, Tine recalls that she could not take her eyes off the 201-centimetre-tall dark brown horse. Even after returning to Denmark, she could not get him out of her mind - it was love at first sight.

Back in 2014, Moss moved in with Tine, after a long journey from England. Moss was previously owned by an 89-year-old British man who had used him for driving. As a result, Moss was used to seeing the world with blinkers on and had no idea what to expect after his arrival in Denmark. “The first time I got up to sit on Moss’s back, I could feel him puffing himself up,” Tine explains. He was not used to having a pair of equestrian legs hanging off his side, especially with all the other impressions coming at him from the outside world. Moss had only been ridden a little bit, when Tine brought him home, so it was a whole new world that opened up to him when he arrived in Denmark.

For as long as Tine Kristensen can remember, she has been in love with the big horse breeds. Horse breeds so big that they can do a lot of damage, if something goes wrong. But the trust and friendship between Goldstone Moss, the Shire horse, and Tine makes anything possible.

By Louise Wichmann // Photo: Erik Kunddahl

The Trustworthy

Giant

– Don’t be intimidated by the size

The bigger the horse does not equal a scarier horse, at least not according to Tines four-year-old son.

Tine has made some of the gear for the gentle giant herself.

If you dream of owning a Shire 

If you also have a desire to own a Shire, there are some things that need to be adjusted to create the best conditions for the breed, such as making sure they can move around a lot during the day to avoid leg disorders. One of Tine’s tips to bear in mind when buying a Shire horse is to remember to check its legs for leg disorders. It might not be anything serious, but it is important to give the right treatment if the horse, for instance, has mites in its feathers. Equally, it is a good idea to check which blacksmiths have the skills to fix their hooves. Tine has been quite desperate on several occasions, having spoken to several different blacksmiths who have just turned the horse down without seeing it. Although they are big, it does not mean they are hard to deal with.  

Most horse owners want to have many great years with their horse. However, you should be aware that the Shire is a bit like the larger dog breeds - they are not expected to live as many years as the smaller horse breeds.

A friend for life 

While there may be things that need to be adapted to the breed, nothing is impossible as long as there is trust horse and rider in between. When you really get to know your Shire horse, then you will have a friend for life. No matter what type of horse you have or dream of, there will always be challenges, but Tine’s story is a wonderful example that anything is possible as long as you take the time to build trust and take the precautions the individual horse requires.

Goldstone Moss 

Goldstone Moss is a tall boy of 201 centimetres and has a weight of 980 kilograms. He is known as Mighty Moss and Mossi. He originally comes from England, where he was used as a driving horse. The 15-year-old gelding has lived with Tine for 8 years. He is a cool but sensitive horse and takes good care of his surroundings. 

The considerations 

It is no secret that owning a Shire horse takes a lot. The magnificent, gentle breed is not for everyone, if you ask Tine, who has owned Shire horses for many years. Even before meeting Moss, she had her first Shire, John Little. So, she knew in advance that this is a breed that requires more than just exercise. For example, it is especially important for the breed to be well groomed and looked after in their feathers, to avoid leg disorders with scabs, or a build-up of mites and infections. 

Therefore, there is a lot of time involved in the care of the horse’s legs. Some of the more common challenges Tine has faced since acquiring Shire horses have been finding both a vet and a farrier to treat the large and heavy horses. It has previously required her to make a long drive just to get the horses to the blacksmith. And just how do you do that with horses that weigh about 1 ton? “I have had some aha experiences over the years,” says Tine, as she gets into the topic of transporting the heavy horses. When I arrived at Tine’s house, one of the first sights that greeted me was her Hummer and a horse trailer the size of which I have rarely seen before. Although the trailer was even purchased in order to carry extra pounds, Tine still had to rebuild the inside of the trailer to create the necessary space for Moss as he was longer than expected. 

Extra-large equipment 

Going to horse shows and other events to buy riding equipment can be a cheap experience when you have a Shire horse at home. When Tine finally finds equipment that fits Moss, the considerations are not so great. Because if something turns out to be Moss’s size, Tine buys it straight away, as he rarely requires the sizes on offer. But Tine is also creative, and she actually make some of his equipment herself. She does this simply because it is too hard to find anything that fits - and she also likes when they look a bit different. 

Versatile training 

It is definitely not the same form of training that Tine uses for her Shire horses. When it comes to building confidence in her horses, she is keen for them to get out and about and experience something different. That is why there is not just one discipline in the equestrian sport that she swears by. She does, however, make use of hacking, agility and sometimes even harnesses them up for a ride in the horse-drawn carriage. In addition, she and Moss are also out at shows with other Shire horses, mainly at equestrian fairs where the Shire horse is most often to be seen. Although Tine can feel a certain excitement in Moss when they are out showing, she knows that he trusts her and vice versa. “He really loves to come out and experience different things than we do here at home on a daily basis,” Tine says. One of the most unique things, Tine has experienced with the breed, was with her former Shire horse, John Little. According to Tine, John Little has always been somewhat of a troublemaker - also when they were participating in shows. Therefore, they started to do agility training. It seemed to help activate John Little in a way that made him more relaxed and built up a solid trust with Tine. 

Feeding a 980-kilogram horse 

Due to the size of the breed, care should be taken not to feed them too much carbohydrate, sugar and protein.  The best way to ensure that the Shire horse’s needs are well met is through a good basic diet. On a daily basis a horse like Moss eats about 6.5 litres of soaked beet pellets including vitamins and minerals, and alongside this he gets about the equivalent of 20 kilos of silage, as these are a source of the nutrients that Shire horses need to consume less. So even though shire horses are a little more expensive to feed than the most common sport horse, there is usually no need to go out and buy a lot of supplementary feed.

Follow your dreams 

When Tine first started to get to know the Shire, she had no doubt that it was a very special breed, that got a huge place in her heart. It is with great passion and love when she talks about her relationship with her Shire horses, and it has to be said that Tine has also become very experienced with the breed. As it is not always an easy breed to have, good support is important. Fortunately, Tine experiences a lot of encouragement from her husband, and Tine especially enjoys the fact that her 4-year-old son also enjoys spending time with Moss.


– Tine Kristensen
Once you really get to know them and gain their trust, you have a friend for life.

Tine Kristensen 

Tine got hooked on equestrian sports around the age of 11, when she bought a fjord horse. Later on, she fell in love with the Belgians. But at an equestrian fair she saw a horse-drawn carriage with Shire horses harnessed to it and fell in love! The bond with the Shire breed has endured and according to Tine, they are very easy going despite their size.

Goldstone Moss is the tallest horse in Denmark and is an attraction when he and his owner Tine are out at shows and fairs. The trust between the two is unique and was evident as soon as I stepped into the courtyard. I visited Tine and Moss, and we got to talk about what it really takes to trust a horse that big, how to build trust between horse and rider when one party is not used to seeing all the world’s impressions.

The journey from England to Denmark

It was at the world’s largest show for Shire horses, the Shire Horse Show in England, with no less than 400 Shire horses, that Tine met Moss (ed. Goldstone Moss) for the first time, and then the lightning struck. With great joy in her voice, Tine recalls that she could not take her eyes off the 201-centimetre-tall dark brown horse. Even after returning to Denmark, she could not get him out of her mind - it was love at first sight.

Back in 2014, Moss moved in with Tine, after a long journey from England. Moss was previously owned by an 89-year-old British man who had used him for driving. As a result, Moss was used to seeing the world with blinkers on and had no idea what to expect after his arrival in Denmark. “The first time I got up to sit on Moss’s back, I could feel him puffing himself up,” Tine explains. He was not used to having a pair of equestrian legs hanging off his side, especially with all the other impressions coming at him from the outside world. Moss had only been ridden a little bit, when Tine brought him home, so it was a whole new world that opened up to him when he arrived in Denmark.

For as long as Tine Kristensen can remember, she has been in love with the big horse breeds. Horse breeds so big that they can do a lot of damage, if something goes wrong. But the trust and friendship between Goldstone Moss, the Shire horse, and Tine makes anything possible. 

By Louise Wichmann // Photo: Erik Kunddahl

– Don’t be intimidated by the size

The Trustworthy

Giant

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