Clydesdale Horse

Family: Equidae
Description

     The modern Clydesdale stands at 16.2-18 hands high and has a straight facial profile and long legs with long, silky hair called "feathers." They have longer legs and more streamlined bodies than most draft breeds. Cow hocks are considered a feature of the Clydesdale breed, although it is often seen as poor conformation in horses.
     They are beautiful movers with a high stepping gait, which has made them popular as flashy carriage horses. The most common Clydesdale colors are bay, brown, black, chestnut, and roan. Clydesdale markings generally consist of a white stripe on the face or a bald face and white lower legs
Horse Care and Feeding

     The Clydesdales are large horses. They eat about twice as much as other horses, which is about 25 to 50 pounds of hay a day, plus about 5 pounds of concentrated feed if they are being exercised.
     Since Clydesdales are large horses, they need more room than other horses. A 24' x 24' stall is the minimum size a Clydesdale should be kept in as long as they are turned out into a paddock daily.

Horse Training and Activities

     The Clydesdale has a very pleasing disposition. It is proud, alert, intelligent and willing. They are commonly used for pulling carts or carriages.
     In the show ring, Clydesdales are shown in halter, cart, and hitch classes. They also make good riding horses and people use them for trail riding, jumping, and dressage. Their calm personalities make them a good horse for therapeutic riding programs that help disabled people learn to walk by feeling the movements of the horse's walking.

Common Health Problems

     "Scratches" or pododermititis are more prevalent in horses that are subjected to wet muddy conditions for extended periods. Horses with white feet seem also to be more susceptible to scratches.