This large breed of draught horse can be traced back to the 19th century Clydesdale, now Lanarkshire area of Scotland. The demand for these horses was strong in the commercial scene as well as the agricultiral scene.
Clydesdales were originally worked in the coalfields in Lanarkshire, and also for pulling carts through Glasgow’s streets. As they would be working on the Scottish soil, large feet and long legs were needed, so stallions were imported from England and Belgium for breeding purposes. As a result the founding line of the modern Clydesdale horse was created.
Such was their reputation, the breeders in Scotland ended up exporting the Clydesdale horses to the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The Clydesdale horse is now almost exclusively the only large draught horse in Scotland where it originates, though it is still sought after throughout the world. There is in fact a hugely popular brewery in the US which uses Clydesdale horses to pull promotional beer wagons at special events. They allow these superb horses to be viewed at close distance in their temporary shelters. Clydesdales are often thought of as goodwill company representatives. Most would say rightly so.
With regards to weight, Clydesdales are normally between 1600-2000 pounds. They usually stand 16 to 19 hands (162.5 to 193 cm, or 64 to 76 in) to the shoulder. While this is larger than the original Scottish horse, today’s breeders have retained the large feet, the sound legs, and the distinctive looks of the ancestral Clydesdales. The colors of the coats are very vivid, the face is usually white, and the most popular trait for a performing team of these magnificent horses is four white socks which reach the knees. The legs are usually “feathered” in white hair from the knees down, and the most common color is a bright bay. It’s not uncommon however to see Clydesdales in black, brown and chestnut colours. Those are accepted when purebred registration is applied for.
The overall take on this breed is that of a thoroughly well-built horse which is full of strength and activity. They naturally adopt a high-head position giving them a proud appearance. The Clydesdale shows it’s calm temperament, strength and prowess even when simply standing still. Once seen in operation, the Clydesdale horses leaves a lasting impression, and can be described as awe-inspiring!
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