Clydesdale horses are native to Scotland. They belong to the heavily harnessed species, they are real giants of the equestrian world. The main use of animals is hard work in the field and transportation of goods.

History of the breed

Scotland has long been famous for its strong working horses, which in the Middle Ages lived in the small town of Upperward, where the Clade River flows. At the beginning of the 18th century, Duke Hamilton IV decided to improve the local horses by crossing mares with Flemish stallions brought from Holland.

The descendants of these horses had good traits - they were larger and stronger, and were in good health. The 18th century is the period of the highest heyday of the Clydesdale horse breed. The updated type is so much to our liking local residents that they were willing to pay owners of thoroughbred stallions for the opportunity to have mares with them.

Over time, the breed has become popular not only in Scotland, but also in neighboring European countries. In 1878 a stud book was started. The development of the breed was influenced by the British Shire heavy trucks. Their blood was infused in order to make local horses even larger and more powerful.

In the period from the late 18th to the early 19th century, about 20,000 Clydesdale heads were removed from the country, so the demand for these tireless and strong horses increased. The best stallions and mares were sent not only to Europe, but also to Australia and America. There, Scottish Drafts were used to improve other breed lines.

World War I took a heavy toll on the Clydesdale population. Massive and strong animals served the needs of the army. Immediately after its completion, technical progress developed rapidly. Now machines could do the hard work, and interest in hardworking horses was gone.

A significant part of the population was exterminated during the war, and the remaining horses were used for meat or simply released into the wild, since it was expensive to keep them. The livestock declined sharply, then the Clydesdale breed was ranked as an endangered species..

Thanks to the joint efforts of enthusiastic breeders and government programs, the breed was preserved. Nowadays it is of historical value for the Scots.

Reference. Today, there are more than 5000 representatives of the breed in the world, of which a significant part is concentrated outside Scotland - in Canada and the United States of America.

Exterior

Kleydesdals are distinguished by their large dimensions, but at the same time they are harmoniously folded. Stallions reach a height of 1.65–1.83 m and weigh about a ton. Scottish heavy trucks have:

1. A large broad-browed head with an elongated muzzle and dilated nostrils. The profile can be straight or slightly convex. The eyes are very expressive.
2. A large shortened torso with wide back and muscular croup.
3. Massive straight legs with lush friezes and regular hooves.

The Clydesdale breed often has white blotchy spots on the face, belly, and limbs. They are characterized by a roan, bay, red or brown color; a gray coat is very rare.

Character

Despite its gigantic body size, the Clydesdale is distinguished by its good-natured character. These massive and strong animals readily do their job without showing any temper. One of their advantages is early maturity. It is not inherent in all heavy-duty breeds.

The phlegmatic and kind Clydesdals become attached to their owners and show loyalty. They easily endure the harsh climate, quickly adapt to the new regime, put their best in work, but in return require good care and high-quality nutrition.

How are Scottish heavy trucks used today?

From the 18th to the beginning of the 20th century, these powerful horses were used to transport goods - timber and coal, they were harnessed to heavy carts. Today, the Clydesdale still serves the villagers in different countries... Their strength is needed where technology will not pass, for example, in the forests of Canada and in mountainous areas.

Some representatives of the breed demonstrate their strength and beauty at all kinds of exhibitions and festivals. The Scottish draft is unsuitable for sports - the animals are too heavy and slow.

Features of content and nutrition

Cleydesdale is kept in spacious stalls equipped with windows. A layer of sawdust or straw is placed on the floor. Animals need to be walked for several hours every day. It is important to inspect the hooves after heavy exertion and clean them if necessary.

In the summer, horses are bathed twice a week with a hose. After the procedure, the wool is wiped dry with a clean cloth. The mane and tail are washed with shampoo and combed with a comb.

The nutrition of a heavy truck must be carefully monitored. The diet should contain:

• cereals - oats, barley, bran;
• vegetables and fruits - carrots, fodder beets, apples;
• hay;
• fresh grass;
• minerals and vitamin supplements.

Attention! Lick salt is placed in the horse's feeder. Feeling the need for minerals, the animal will lick the briquette.

It is important to water the horse properly. She needs to consume 40-60 liters of water per day. In hot weather and under intense loads - more. The main rule is that you cannot water a hot horse, you need to give it a rest. You can offer water only an hour after hard work..

The Cleydesdale horse breed has interesting story... Several times it was on the verge of extinction, but thanks to the Scottish and English enthusiasts, it has survived to this day. Draft trucks are still highly valued in their homeland, and rural residents do not neglect their help. Kleydesdal is also used as improvers for other breed lines.

Country of origin: Scotland (UK)
Suit: roan, black, bay, gray
Height at withers: 1.63 - 1.73 m
Usage: agricultural work
Exterior: When evaluating a breed standard, the legs of the horse are examined. Flat and thin are not allowed. The standard hooves should be wide and flexible enough without any suspicion of firmness.

The Clydesdale horse should not have a wide forehead, it has rather large nostrils, clear and intelligent eyes, large, mobile ears, and a long, well-set neck. The back is short. Horses of this breed give the impression of their very endurance and strength.
With such a great height and very powerful development of muscles and bones, the Clydesdals have a wide stride and a free trot.
The color is mainly bay, of various shades, there is often a white mark on the head, on the legs there are four large white "socks" that reach the knees.
Representatives of this breed are very hard-working, early maturing, but they also require good conditions maintenance and quality feeding.

History:
The breed got its name from the Clade Valley, a small Scottish river that flows into the North Sea.
Back in the Middle Ages, the Upperworth area, which is crossed by a small river, became famous for its powerful and strong horses. The breed began to be fixed approximately in 1715 - 1720. In those days, the IV Duke of Hamilton bought Flemish horses in order to cross them with local Scottish-type mares.

Later, horses from England were brought to Scotland, which also contributed to the formation of the Clydesdale breed. The final formation of the Clydesdale as a rock took place around mid XIX century, when from Central England, the town of Midland, the old English breed of Black Horses was brought.

Among all British heavy-drawn horses, the Clydesdale were the first to have a dedicated organization dedicated to their breed. It was called the "Clydesdale Horse Society", and was founded in 1877, it is he who owes the merit of selection. The stallion is the founder of this wonderful breed - Glancer 355.

In 1878, a studbook was created, which contributed to the popularization of the breed around the world. The Cleydesdale horse was exported to the South and North America, to Russia and Australia.
Today the Clydesdale breed is practically the only native horse in New Zealand and Scotland.
Usage: Horses of this breed play important role in agriculture in Scotland

If you are tired of everything (especially people), and desperately need at least a little bit of magic, then we suggest that you go to the small island of Fula, which is located in Scotland (Great Britain), where small fabulous creatures live - miniature horses. There are even more of them than people. Sounds like heaven, doesn't it? But this is a real place, and it is located off the coast of Scotland! There are only 30 people here, while there are many tiny ponies who are just waiting for you to visit them ...

The Shetland pony is one of the smallest representatives of the pony, but even with such a small size, these horses are very, very strong and hardy. They range in size from the minimum fixed size of 71 cm to the officially permissible maximum of 11 palms (107 cm). This breed differs from the rest with its strong and short legs, slightly arched back and saggy belly. They have a very elegant small head and a very thick mane. The pony's tail and mane are thick and long; but this is more pronounced in females than in males. Usually, these animals give birth to only one cub, which is born with spots. At one time, these tiny horses were even used as guides for people with visual impairments.

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Unique horses native to Scotland, they are considered one of the most popular heavy draft horses on Earth. It is about horses of the Cleydesdal breed.

The name of the breed comes from the Clyde River, which flows in the south of Scotland. The Cleydesdal is a relatively young breed, the first horses became known in the 18th century.

Several Flemish stallions were brought to England, they were crossed with horses working breed, which the Scots used in their subsidiary plots. The result of crossing exceeded all expectations: the offspring possessed all the best qualities received from their parents.

But the selection did not end there: at the end of the 19th century, the Cleydesdals were poured with the blood of another well-known heavy draft - Shire, apparently, the breeders thought there were few available qualities of the breed (they decided to enlarge the Cleydesdals slightly). At the same time, thanks to the colonial conquest of England, the Cleydesdale spread throughout the world: they were taken overseas (to the North and South America), and then to Australia. The Kleydesdalis also multiplied in Europe.

But the flourishing of the breed did not last long British heavy trucks: Second World War made her own adjustments and knocked down the livestock of these horses, why? It's simple - mechanization came, cars began to be used in the transportation of goods, the need for heavy trucks was partially eliminated ... but Great Britain, thanks to its ability to maintain ancient traditions, managed to preserve this breed of horses.

Kleydesdal - owners of thick long hair.

Distinguishes the Cleydesdale appearance and excellent working qualities. These horses grow up to 183 centimeters at the withers, and their weight can be ... from 820 to 1000 kilograms! For comparison, the female weighs the same. These horses have a large head and a straight profile (sometimes hump-nosed). The ears of the Cleydesdale are large, and the neck is muscular. The eyes are expressive and large. These Scottish draft horses have high legs, they look very sturdy and strong, in addition, the lower part of them is decorated with tassels. The hair of the breed is short, but the tail and mane have a significant density and decent length.

The Cleydesdale is a breed from Scotland.

There are few varieties of colors in this breed: gray, brown, bay, black and red. Often the muzzle and limbs of the Cleydesdals have white markings that can extend to the lower torso. By their nature, these horses from Foggy Albion are distinguished by good nature, they are very balanced. They are characterized by such positive qualities as: obedience, intelligence, endurance, unpretentiousness, the ability to adapt to any, even very harsh climate. Such traits make the Cleydesdale irreplaceable. workhorse for people employed in agriculture.

But unique performance is not the only strong point of these horses: in addition to all the skills and excellent character, the Kleydesdals also have an excellent exterior. Their appearance is even considered aristocratic, and this allowed the Cleydesdals to become servants of the British royal court. These horses are used for trips of monarchs and royal guards.

As is the case with many other breeds, there are several stories circulating about the origins of the Clydesdals. Many Scots believe that these horses are the result of a long selection process based exclusively on local breeds. The existence of such a "patriotic" version is quite understandable, because the Clydesdale is the national pride of Scotland. However, the reality, apparently, was somewhat more complicated.

Traditionally, it is believed that the history of the breed is about 300 years old, and it appeared as a result of crossing of local draft breeds with heavy horses imported from the hated England. Moreover, at its origins there are two completely dissimilar people: the duke and the farmer, who could not intersect during their lifetime, but left a common mark in history. The 6th Duke of Hamilton was a true English aristocrat and, accordingly, an ardent admirer of horses. It was he who brought several Belgian heavy trucks to the county of Cleydesdale - modern Lancashire. However, no one planned to create a new breed then, and the Duke used the Flemings simply as an encouragement for his peasants: getting a foal from a strong and beautiful Belgian heavy truck was a real dream for any person working on the land. This is how the mixing of Flemish and local Scottish blood began.

The second founder of the breed was John Patterson, a farmer from Lochlioch. He brought only one Belgian heavy draft horse to Cleydesdale, but he managed it so well that he was able to create a stable population of horses that resembled modern Clydesdale horses according to surviving descriptions. These were roan animals with white markings on the legs and abdomen, which later, by the way, began to be considered almost a sign of the purity of the breed.

Unsurprisingly, new horses - strong, powerful and very beautiful - quickly gained popularity among farmers and miners in Lancashire. By the end of the 18th century, Scottish heavy trucks were learned in northern England, where the emerging breed was treated with great interest.

A victorious march across the empire

The 19th century became the most important stage in the history of the young breed. Britain was at the zenith of its power, and by the end of the century the Clydesdals could be found even in the most bearish corners of the empire. And this became possible thanks to the selfless work of Lawrence Drew and David Riddell, who put their lives on improving the breed and its official recognition.

Glancer 335, born in 1806, is considered the first Clydesdal today. It was his descendants: the magnificent Prince of Wales 673 and Darnley 222, as well as the Shires that Lawrence and David used in their work. In 1877, through their efforts, the Clydesdale Horse Society (CHS) was founded, and a year later the first pedigree book appeared. By this time, Scottish heavy trucks were already being exported outside the British Isles to the dominions of the Victorian Empire, and the Clydesdale were especially fond of in Australia and New Zealand, where they were used in agriculture and mining. Interestingly, the Australians, who are well aware of the difficulties the first settlers had to face, never miss the opportunity to pay tribute to the hardworking animals and still like to repeat: "These horses created our country!"

Only according to official CHS data from 1884 to 1945. more than 20 thousand Clydesdals were exported from Britain. Many of them were sent not only to British possessions, Europe or Russia, but also to America, where at that time there was a rapid development of new territories. And although the first Scottish heavy trucks on the continent appeared in Canada, it was the United States that was destined to become their second homeland. In 1879, the American Clydesdale Association (ACA) was founded, and by the early 90s. XIX century. the Clydesdale population in the United States numbered thousands of horses.

The beginning of the 20th century did not bring any significant changes, except that the influx of Shire blood became more active, as a result of which the Clydesdalene slightly increased in size. The popularity of Scottish draft trucks grew throughout the world. This was mainly due to the intensive development of agriculture and the mining industry, which still could not do without horse-drawn transport. In 1911, 1617 stallions were exported outside the British Isles - an absolute record!

On the verge of extinction

Then no one could have imagined that after just a few decades the Clydesdals would not be found in the daytime with fire, and the breed itself would be on the verge of extinction. It all started with the First World War. The Kleydesdale, being excellent draft horses, quickly attracted the attention of the military and were mobilized in large numbers for the needs of the front. Four bloody years hit hard on the Scottish heavy draft population, but the end of the massacre in Europe did not bring salvation, since the one that began in the 1920s. the rapid mechanization of agriculture knocked out the last support from under the torn rock. Horses, even those strong and hardy, could not compete with tractors, and the beauty of the Clydesdals worried very few at that time ... Somewhere heavy trucks were sent under the knife, and somewhere - for example, in Australia - they were simply released. But the result was usually always the same - death. From 1921 to 1941 in the United States alone, the number of Scottish draft trucks has declined by more than 4,000. The Second World War, which burst out against this background, only by a happy coincidence did not put an end to the history of the Clydesdals. In 1946, there were still about two hundred licensed stallions in England, but in 1949 their number was reduced to 80, and the process did not stop ...

Hope for revival

In 1975, it was officially recognized that the unique breed was on the verge of extinction, and since then active work has begun to restore the Scottish heavy draft stock. Today, the breed has not yet left the risk zone, but the increased popularity of village ecotourism and emerging in recent times interest in traditional farming methods allows us to look with optimism at the future of heavy trucks in general and the Clydesdals in particular. This is evidenced by the success of the numerous shows of the Clydesdals, which are now held both in their homeland in Scotland and in America.

Huge Scots are especially delightful for children. No wonder what the last years these beauties have appeared in many tourist centers on family farms. Hopefully, today's timid rebirth will not be interrupted by another blow of fate, and these magnificent horses will have a predictable future. Including in Russia, where, as you know, they have been widespread since pre-revolutionary times and made a great contribution to many Soviet breeds.

Exterior

The Kleydesdals are renowned for their beauty, strength and versatility. These calm giants - Scottish heavy wagons - can reach 180 cm at the withers and weigh more than a ton - are distinguished by a large head with a somewhat humped nose, small ears, heavy bangs and expressive eyes. The neck of the Clydesdale is short, strong and slightly arched. The chest and shoulders are strong and well muscled, the back is short and the withers are well defined. The legs are very strong, with well-formed joints, large friezes and large hooves, which are usually twice the diameter of the hooves of light riding horses familiar to us.

The motor qualities of the Clydesdale are assessed mainly at the trot, which for such giants is very energetic and creates an unforgettable experience. At the gallop, Scottish heavy trucks get tired quickly, and they do not need it.

The colors traditional for these horses are roan (especially in Scotland itself), red, black and, of course, various shades of chestnut. Characteristic feature Clydesdaleis are large white markings on the head, legs, and abdomen. Gorgeous friezes on the legs are usually also white, although they are also painted in the main suit. Occasionally, one or more of the legs may remain dark. Genetically, white spots on the body of the Clydeslodes are associated with the overo gene, so horses with the Sabino apprentice are also rarely found among the Scots. They are especially popular in America. In addition, like all piebald horses, the hooves of the Clydesdals are striped.