Shire Horse Society Australia Gelding Perpetual Trophy

1930s horse hoof made into an inkwell with sterling silver embellishment. The trophy includes two silver medals from the Shire Horse Society UK and is mounted on a black lacquered timber base. The hoof belonged to Comrade, a famous Shire gelding who lived in the early twentieth century. The silver plate at the front includes an engraved list of some of his 1st placings at prestigious shows in 1920, 1921 and 1922. These shows included the Royal of England Show and the Royal Lancashire Show. His highest success was winning the Shire Horse Society Championship Cup in 1922. On Comrade's death, his owner had each of his front hooves mounted in this way and gave one to each of the men who had handled, prepared for show and looked after the famous gelding. The great nephew of one of these men donated the item to the Shire Horse Society Australia in 2013, prompting their decision to create a new Perpetual Trophy.