Forge Mill Farm at Sandwell Valley Country Park has welcomed two rare new additions – a duo of young Shire horses.

Members of the public are being invited to choose names for the two fillies, aged two and three. Shire horse numbers are in rapid decline – with only around 1,500 left in the whole country. The farm is hoping to continue with a regal theme for the horses’ names – as the last pair of shires at the farm were called Duke and King. 

To suggest a name for the horses, go to the Sandwell Valley Country Park Facebook page and choose your favourite from the list. Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for leisure Councillor Bill Gavan said:

“The horses have only been at Forge Mill for a couple of weeks and they are settling in well. The younger one is still a little nervous and the older girl is very friendly.

“Shires are majestic creatures and we’re looking forward to them becoming a real attraction for our visitors. We’ll be looking at the possibility of breeding them in the future to keep the line of Shire horses going.”

The Shire horses join Forge Mill’s rare Bagot goats. The council is part of a scheme run by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust to breed the rare goats as there are fewer than 200 registered breeding females left.

Forge Mill Farm can be found on Forge Lane, West Bromwich and admission is free (although there may be a small charge during school holidays and on some weekends, including Bank Holidays).