History

The Clydesdale is Scotland’s only extant heavy horse. It originated in the Clyde Valley in Lanarkshire as a result of crossing local mares with heavier Flemish stallions which were imported at the beginning of the 18th century.

The breed was essentially founded between 1715-1720 by the 6th Duke of Hamilton and the breeder John Paterson of lochlyloch whose interest was in producing strong draught horses suitable for hauling coal from the newly opened mines in Lanarkshire. Consequently, great emphasis has always been given to breeding individuals with very sound legs and good feet. The feet are large, rather flat, but very open with well formed frogs, and are ideally suited to work on very hard surfaces like city streets.

The Clydesdale is now distinctive in both type and appearance; Height 16.2-18hh (1.65-1.80m). Colour Bay or Brown, Black, Grey, and Roan also appear. Heavy white markings on the face and legs, and on the underside of body are general. The legs often appear long and carry an abundance of silky feather; the joints are big and the hocks broad, with cow hocks not viewed as a fault but as a characteristic of the breed. The Clydesdale is also famed for its action as been flamboyant style, a flashy spirited bearing and a high stepping action that makes him a singularly elegant animal among draught horses.

Never less, the Clydesdales worked the prairies of Canada and America and can claim to be the breed that built Australia. The Clydesdale is also one of the most popular heavy horses across the world and can be found in Europe, New Zealand, Russia and Japan.