Clydesdale

Clydesdale is a heavy draft horse breed that originated around the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Around 1715, the breed was enhanced by mating a Flemish stallion with local mares later, Shire blood was introduced. Clydesdales were introduced to North America in 1842, but they never gained popularity as draught horses. With significant white patterns, the colour is usually bay, dark brown, or black, hence sometimes it is called black Clydesdale. The breed is characterized by feathers (long hair) on the legs, handsome heads, and well-formed legs and feet, and is known for its high leg action while walking or trotting. The Clydesdale Horse Society of Great Britain and Ireland, founded in 1877, is the British breed association. The Clydesdale Breeders of the United States took over the American Clydesdale Horse Association, which was founded in 1879. A Clydesdale is available in Star Stable Horses, hence sometimes called Clydesdale SSO. The fully raised colt can be bought for 750 SC.

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Etymology

Clydesdale is called from Clydesdale, an old name for Lanarkshire, which is famous for the River Clyde. Flemish stallions were imported to Scotland in the middle of the 18th century and bred to Scottish mares, resulting in foals that were larger than the existing local stock. The Duke of Hamilton had an unknown dark-brown stallion and a black unnamed stallion purchased from England by John Paterson of Lochlyloch. In 1826, at a Glasgow show, the name "Clydesdale" was first used in connection to the breed. Another hypothesis, that they sprang from Flemish horses transported to Scotland in the 15th century, was promoted in the late 1800s. Even the creator of that theory admitted that their parents' common scenario is more likely.

History

The Scottish Clydesdale Horse Society was founded in 1877, while the American Clydesdale Association (later called the Clydesdale Breeders of the USA) was founded in 1879, serving both American and Canadian breed aficionados.

In 1882, the first American stud book was produced. To compete with the Clydesdale Horse Society, the Select Clydesdale Horse Society was created in 1883. It was founded by two breeders who were committed to improving the breed and were instrumental in the introduction of Shire blood into Clydesdale. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Scotland exported a large number of Clydesdales, with 1617 stallions departing the nation in 1911 alone. Export certifications were given for 20,183 horses between 1884 and 1945. Other countries in the British Empire, as well as North and South America, continental Europe, and Russia, received these horses. Many of Scotland's horses were sent to Australia and New Zealand in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

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The Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society was founded in 1918 as the breed's governing body in Australia. Clydesdales were produced so intensively in Australia between 1906 and 1936 that other draught breeds were virtually unknown. "Excellent Clydesdale horses are bred in Victoria and New Zealand," it was reported in the late 1960s, "but, at least in the former place, it is regarded advisable to keep up the type by periodic importations from England."

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Physical Description

Size

The length of a horse is measured in hands from the ground to the withers (one hand equals 10.2 cm or 4 in.). Male Clydesdales are 17 to 19 hands tall (1.7-1.9 m or 5.7-6.3 ft.). The average male weighs between 771 and 998 kilogrammes (1,700-2,200 lb.). Adult females range in size from 16 to 18 hands (1.6-1.7 m or 5.3-5.7 ft.). A female's weight ranges from 680 to 771 kilogrammes (1,500-2,000 lb.).

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Body Shape

The body of a horse is built for speed. Antelope, for example, is as fast as the horse but not quite as large. The Clydesdale is a large, powerful horse with a barrel chest. Originally, it was bred for haulage and farm work.

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Colouration

Clydesdales are most commonly bay Clydesdale, but they can also be black Clydesdale, grey Clydesdale, or chestnut Clydesdale in colour. Their coats might be plain or feature roan patches or patterns. Leg stockings in white are prevalent, but solid colours are sometimes seen. Wide white blazes or bald facial markings are common, resulting in eye-catching combinations. Clydesdales in the bay and black often command a premium, especially when they have white facial markings and the traditional white stockings. Although roans are often disliked, breed groups do not make this distinction. They tolerate horses with body markings and do not consider any colours to be undesirable.

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Limbs

Horses are adverbial (adapted for running). They've evolved to a nomadic existence in the open countryside. These animals' leg and foot specialisations allow them to run quickly and powerfully. The ulna is shrunk in the forelegs, allowing the radius to carry all of the weight. The radius and ulna are joined together. The fibula in the hind legs is reduced in size such that the tibia bears all of the weight. The fibula and tibia are attached.

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Hooves

The weight of the body is carried by the central or third digit in odd-toed hoofed mammals (toe). The third digit, which is the longest on all four feet, is where the major axis of the foot passes. Only the third digit of each foot is functioning in all horses. The remaining digits are just decorative (reduced and nonfunctioning). The functional digit of a horse's foot is surrounded by a hoof composed of keratin (a tough, fibrous protein that also composes a human's fingernail). The hooves of a horse protect the horse's feet from the ground. Unguligrade refers to a horse's posture. They walk on their toes or hooves, which are located at the tips of their digits. Humans have a plantigrade stance, while cats have a digitigrade stance (on their toes) (on the soles of the feet). A full-grown Clydesdale horseshoe measures more than 51 cm (22 in.) in length and weighs about 2.3 kg (5 lb.). 

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It's more than twice as long and four times as hefty as a riding horse's shoes. Excess hoof growth is cut away when a horse is shoed. Eight nails, each 8 to 10 cm (3-4 in.) long, are then used to secure the shoe to the hoof. Because these feet bear the biggest burden when pulling, shoes for the hindfoot have outward-curving tips for added support and traction. Every six weeks, the shoes are repaired.

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Head

The muzzle of the head is quite long, allowing room for the teeth. The profile of a Clydesdale is somewhat convex ("Roman"), as opposed to the more concave profiles of other breeds. While the horse is grazing, the eyes are much above ground level. This gives the horse a larger field of vision to keep an eye out for potential danger. The ears have a lot of movement. A horse's ears can be moved in the direction of a sound.

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Hair

Horses have two types of hair: coat hair, which is fine and relatively short, and horsehair, which is coarser and longer. The forelock (hair on the forehead), mane, tail, a tuft of hair on the back of the fetlock (the lower part of the leg), and feather (the long white hair on the Clydesdale's ankle) are all made of horsehair. Long, coarse hairs around a horse's muzzle and eyes are densely packed with nerves and serve as delicate touch organs. The domestic horse's mane falls to the side and covers the neck. It stands erect on the Przewalski's horse, the sole kind of wild horse.

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Teeth

Horses have 40 to 48 teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives, depending on the breed. Tablelike surfaces are spanned by ridges on the back teeth, forming a grinding surface between the upper and lower jaws. In contrast to other mammals, who move their jaws up and down, humans move their jaws in a sweeping side-to-side motion.

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Temperature

Clydesdale's body temperature is 38°C (101°F).

Clydesdale Breeding and Uses

Clydesdales were bred to labour hard and for a long time. They were formerly utilised as war horses, transporting heavily armed men. They've drawn agricultural implements, forestry logs, freight and milk waggons, and a variety of other hauling jobs. They are now utilised for riding and driving, and they are regularly combined with thoroughbreds to produce powerful, level-headed sport horses. They are still used infrequently in agricultural and logging labour, although machinery has mainly replaced them. They're commonly seen during industry events and exhibitions. In parades, Clydesdales are usually used as drum horses.

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Each horse is equipped with two drums weighing more than 120 pounds each, as well as a rider. Clydesdales chosen for this task must stand at least 17 hands tall (68 inches). They also make outstanding trail horses due to their tranquilly, agility, and strength. These same characteristics make them good therapy horses.

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Diet and Nutrition

Every day, a fully developed Clydesdale consumes between 25 and 50 pounds of hay and 2 to 10 pounds of grain or feed. That's roughly double the amount of average-sized horse breeds. Similarly, they require more water than a typical horse. Their eating requirements may vary depending on their age and degree of exercise to maintain a healthy weight.

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Common Health and Behavior

Clydesdales are generally well-behaved horses with a kind and calm demeanour. They are, nevertheless, prone to specific health issues. Chronic progressive lymphedema, a disorder that causes swelling in the legs, affects some people. Clydesdales' thick leg hair can potentially cause skin diseases if it isn't properly maintained.

Clydesdales Facts

1. Clydesdale Horses are One of the Biggest Breeds in the World.

The average height of a Clydesdale is around 18 hands. They can grow to be over 6 feet long in some cases. As a result, the Clydesdale horses will almost certainly weigh more than a tonne.

2. One of the Biggest Horses in the World is a Clydesdale Horse.

Poe, a massive Clydesdale horse from Ontario, Canada, is one of the world's largest horses, standing at 20.2 hands tall. He weighs in at a colossal 3,000 pounds. He's only 0.3 hands shorter than the horse who now claims the world record for being the tallest living horse.

3. Clydesdales Horses have Strong Heredity for Feathering.

The hair that surrounds the horse's hooves and ankles are known as "feathering."

The featherings have always been present in this breed since its inception. This characteristic is thought to have been developed or evolved spontaneously for the horse to withstand the harsh winter temperatures of Scotland. Other breeds, such as Shires horses, use the strength of the feathering genetics to produce feathering in their breed patterns.

4. It Is Very Simple to Own a Clydesdale Today for Humans.

Anyone interested in purchasing a Clydesdale horse can do so easily over the internet due to various websites. There are numerous listings available right now, most of them are priced under $10,000. There are also less expensive Clydesdale horses, but keep in mind that, while the lower initial cost may appear appealing, the average Clydesdale will require up to twice as much feed per day as other breeds.

5. The Clydesdale Horse Was Once a Popular Warhorse.

Because of its mass and size, this breed of horse was one of the most common when battle featured the use of cavalry and horses as an advantage. It also has an incredibly calm temperament, allowing it to adapt to a range of situations without being scared. This is why, despite their enormous size, they remain such a loving and well-behaved horse.

6. Clydesdale Horses as a Breed are Likely to Have Injuries and Other Dermatitis Concerns Like Rain Rot.

Because of the depth of their hair and the nature of their feathers, this is the case.

When Clydesdale is put out in wet or swampy conditions and their legs aren't let to dry properly, mild to severe injuries are common. Rain rot is also more likely to affect this breed.

7. Clydesdales have Incredible Pulling Power.

In a short period, a single Clydesdale horse can pull up to 8,000 pounds. They can also pull a vehicle weighing between 200 and 400 pounds for several hours each day. Although they have no known pulling records, their drawing force is among the strongest ever measured.

8. Clydesdale Horses are Extra-Talented Show Horses.

Clydesdales are excellent in both hitch and halter classes. They make wonderful therapy horses due to their patient and responsible temperament. They excel at show jumping and dressage as well.

9. Even Clydesdale Foals are Considerably Heavy.

A Clydesdale foal can weigh up to 180 pounds as a baby Clydesdale and yet be considered a "normal" foal. A mare should produce up to 100 pounds of milk each day to support such a huge baby Clydesdale.

Clydesdale is a heavy draft horse breed that originated around the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Clydesdale Horse Society was founded in 1918 as the breed's governing body in Australia. Clydesdales were produced so intensively in Australia between 1906 and 1936 that other draught breeds were virtually unknown.