These gentle giants originated in the Clyde Valley, in the county of Lanarkshire, Scotland.
In the middle of the 18th century, local farmers bred them to carry out draught work. The native mares were crossed with Flemish stallions, to create the Clydesdale we know today.
At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain, when the coal industry boomed, the Clydesdale's strength was employed for hauling coal. As road surfaces improved and pack horses were replaced with horse drawn transport, larger, stronger horses: the Clydesdale was ideal.
Today they are popular for showing and competing in ploughing matches they have also been successfully crossbred with Thoroughbreds to produce heavy-weight riding horses and hunters.
APPEARANCE
The Clydesdale has a flat face, with a wide muzzle and flared nostrils. They eyes are alert and the ears long. Its arched neck is set into sloping shoulders, the wither are high and the back is short and strong. The quarters and gaskins (second thighs) are muscular. The Clydesdale has round, wide feet. Its tail is high-set, and there is long, silky feather on the legs.
HEIGHT
Stallions are 17.1 to 18hh - mares are 16.3 to 17.2hh.
COLOUR
Brown, bay and black are the most popular colours. There is plenty of white in the legs, over the knees and hocks, on the face and sometimes the body.
PERSONALITY
Clydesdales are kindly tempered and easy to train. With the combination of their excellent character and power, they are ideal work horses.
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