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Posts Tagged ‘clydesdale horses for sale’

This heavy draft horse traces its roots to the early 19th century in the Lanarkshire (formerly Clydesdale) district of Scotland. The demand for these horses was strong in the commercial scene as well as the agricultiral scene.

The coalfields of Lanarkshire and the streets of Glasgow are where the Clydesdale horses first made their work debut. To achieve the desired traits of a horse with a longer stride and larger feet, that were necessary on draft horses who worked on the soft soils of the Scottish lands, English and Belgian stallions were imported and bred with the smaller local mares. The result was the founding line of the modern-day Clydesdales.

Due to the excellent reputation of the Clydesdale horses, they were exported to The US, Cananda and as far south as Australia by the Scottish breeders. Today the Clydesdale is almost exclusively the only draught breed in its native Scotland, and is still favored in the other four countries as well. There is in fact a hugely popular brewery in the US which uses Clydesdale horses to pull promotional beer wagons at special events. They make the horses available for viewing close up, so you can walk in to their make-shift stables. They are regarded as company goodwill ambassadors. One might say very good ones as well.

Clydesdales nowadays normally range from 1600-2000 lbs. They stand 16 to 19 hands (162.5 to 193 cm, or 64 to 76 in) to the shoulder. Though larger than the original Scottish breed, the large feet, solid legs and characteristic looks of the original Clydesdale horses have been retained. 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 most common colour is bay, and the legs normally display long white hair, or feathers, from the knee down. Once can, however, still see Clydesdales in black, brown, and chestnut. And those are perfectly acceptable for registration as purebreds.

The overview of theses horses is one of a sturdily built, incredibly strong yet agile horse. They carry a great deal of finesse due to the way they naturally hold their heads high. One can see the strength, agility, and docility in their stance even while they are stationary. When seen working, Clydesdale horses are truly magnificient and unforgettable!

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