What Are Some Features That Make Clydesdale Horses Different From Other Horses?

Clydesdale horses originally came from Clydesdale (now called Lanarkshire) in the south of Scotland. They were bred as draft horses and are known for their size, strength and willing nature. Their distinctive coloring and kind temperament make them equally popular as working or pleasure horses. They are also an impressive sight at shows and competitions and achieved worldwide fame as the Budweiser Clydesdales. The breed, known as gentle giants, can now be found across Europe and the U.S.

  1. A Brief History of Clydesdale Horses

    • Historians trace the origin of the breed back to the mid-18th century in Scotland. Native horses used for farming were crossed with Flemish stallions to produce a much larger, stronger horse. The new breed was capable of a greater workload, and it became popular for breeding and export to Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. Clydesdales also served in both world wars as draft animals in Britain and Europe.

    The Features That Make Clydesdale Horses Distinctive

    • Clydesdale horses have much in common with their English counterparts, Shire horses, but they tend to be a little smaller than Shires, and more compact. They have shorter backs than horses bred for riding and powerful, well-muscled shoulders. The legs are covered with a quantity of silky hair, known as "feathers." Unlike many other heavy horses, Clydesdales are energetic and lively, making them a pleasure to work with.

    The Colors of Clydesdale Horses

    • Thanks to their Flemish ancestors, most Clydesdales tend to be dark colors. The most common colors are bay (brown with a black mane and tail) and dark brown, but blacks, greys, roans and chestnuts are also seen. A typical Clydesdale will also have a considerable quantity of white on the face and legs, sometimes covering the underside of the belly, which is a characteristic of the breed.

    The Modern Clydesdale

    • The features that make Clydesdale horses different from other breeds (their strength, size and temperament) have also make them well-liked across the globe as riding and work horses. Although Clydesdales are still characterized as being an at-risk breed and they are on the Rare Breed Survival Trust register, their numbers are increasing steadily. It now seems likely that their endangered status will change in the near future, thanks partly to the efforts of U.S. and European breeders.