The Clydesdale

Giants with style and elegance

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The Clydesdale originated from Scotland and was first used as an agriculture horse. Today, Clydesdales are still used for draught purposes, including agriculture and carriage driving, and they are also shown and ridden, as well as kept for pleasure. Clydesdales are a popular breed when it comes to carriage services and as parade horses because of their beautiful, feathery white feet and enormous (in more ways than one) presence. They are shown in lead-line and harness classes as well as at national exhibitions.

A HISTORY

The breed was established in the 18th Century by the 6th Duke of Hamilton, who raised horses on his estate in the lowlands of Clydesdale in Scotland, the old name for Lanarkshire, famous for the River Clyde. During the mid-18th Century, the Duke imported Flemish stallions into Scotland and bred them to some of his mares. John Paterson of Lochlyoch also bought Flemish horses at around this time, probably from England. The progeny from both these Scottish studs proved considerably larger and stronger than the local stock, and established a strain that became a major influence until around the mid-19th Century. At around this time, Shire blood was introduced by Lawrence Drew and David Riddell, local men dedicated to improving the breed.