Clydesdale
Height: 16 - 18 hh.
Color: Clydesdales are usually bay, but roan, black, grey and chestnut also occur.
Country of origin: Scotland
The Clydesdale is a breed of draught horse from the farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland, and named after that region. Although it was once one of the smaller breeds of draught horses, it is now a tall breed. Often bay in colour, they show white markings because of sabino genetics. The breed was originally used for farming, and is still used for draught purposes today. They have been used to create and improve other draught breeds.
The breed was developed from Flemish stallions taken to Scotland and crossed with local mares. The first recorded use of the name "Clydesdale" for the breed was in 1826. By 1830 a system of hiring stallions that had begun resulted in the spread of Clydesdale horses throughout Scotland and into northern England. The first breed registry was founded in 1877. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thousands of Clydesdales were exported from Scotland and sent throughout the world. However, during World War I population numbers began to decline due to the war. This decline continued, and by the 1970s, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust said that the breed was vulnerable to extinction. Population numbers have increased slightly in the time afterwards, but they are still thought to be vulnerable.
Color: Clydesdales are usually bay, but roan, black, grey and chestnut also occur.
Country of origin: Scotland
The Clydesdale is a breed of draught horse from the farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland, and named after that region. Although it was once one of the smaller breeds of draught horses, it is now a tall breed. Often bay in colour, they show white markings because of sabino genetics. The breed was originally used for farming, and is still used for draught purposes today. They have been used to create and improve other draught breeds.
The breed was developed from Flemish stallions taken to Scotland and crossed with local mares. The first recorded use of the name "Clydesdale" for the breed was in 1826. By 1830 a system of hiring stallions that had begun resulted in the spread of Clydesdale horses throughout Scotland and into northern England. The first breed registry was founded in 1877. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thousands of Clydesdales were exported from Scotland and sent throughout the world. However, during World War I population numbers began to decline due to the war. This decline continued, and by the 1970s, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust said that the breed was vulnerable to extinction. Population numbers have increased slightly in the time afterwards, but they are still thought to be vulnerable.