Why Do Clydsedale Stallions Have Hair on Their Hooves?

Clydesdale horses were developed in the early 19th century in the part of Scotland that was known as Clydesdale at the time. Today the area is called Lanarkshire. The breed was created by a cross of local horses and Flemish and English draft horses.

  1. Feathering

    • The excess hair on a Clydesdale's legs is called feathering. Feathering is not a trait singular to Clydesdales, however; many draft breeds have a lot of feathering on the legs.

    Spat

    • Hair that extends down and covers part of the hoof is called spat.

    Original Purpose

    • The feathering and spat originally were left on the horse's hooves to protect the legs as the Clydesdale was working in the fields.

    Feathering Today

    • Modern show and harness Clydesdales keep the feathering on the legs so that it highlights how their legs move, since lifting the knees up high is part of the Clydesdale's breed characteristics.

    Clipping

    • Even horses that don't have feathering may still be Clydesdales, since people who use the horses for pleasure riding might not want to care for the excess hair and choose to clip it off instead.