Heavy Horses in Bracknell
Bracken and Bramble’s farewell summer
Bracken and Bramble, Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s much-loved shire horses, are due to retire this autumn after 16 years’ service.
The Council is planning to give the horses, who have become very popular with residents, a fond farewell in their final summer of duty.
As well as continuing to work with the Council’s landscape team, Bracken and Bramble will appear at events across the Borough before retiring to the Redwings Horse Sanctuary near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk.
The horses have become a common sight around Bracknell Forest since they started working for the Borough in May 1992. Their work includes collecting landscaping waste, pulling grass-cutting equipment and watering the town centre’s floral displays. At weekends the horses regularly attend school fetes and fun days and at Christmas they have given Father Christmas a ride to his grotto in Princess Square Shopping Centre.
The two shires were purchased from Radford Shires in Bath. On their arrival a competition was held in a local newspaper for suggestions for their names. Since then Bracken and Bramble have become local celebrities in their own right, regularly appearing in the local press.
Bracken
Bracken is a 17.3hh bay gelding. He is 22 years old and was one of the lead horses when Colin Horler of Radford Shires broke the world record when 20 horses were driven by one man.
Bramble
Bramble is a 17.3hh bay gelding. He is 19 years old and is less experienced than Bracken but he is a very friendly gentle giant who likes attention.
Redwings Horse Sanctuary is the largest horse charity in the UK. It is based on the A143 between Great Yarmouth and Beccles. Entry is free, so Bracknell Forest residents can visit if they are on holiday in the area.
The Council does not intend to replace the horses at the moment due to the planned redevelopment of Bracknell town centre. Shire horses are a long-term commitment and they may not be appropriate for the new town centre.
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