The Clydesdale horse was first used in Lanarkshire working in the coalfields, as well as towing wagons through Glasgow streets. The desire was to breed a horse with large feet and long legs to aid work in the Scottish soil, so stallions from Belgium and England were imported to breed with the smaller mares. This resulted in the foundation of what we know as the modern day Clydesdale horse.
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. Nowadays, Clydesdale horses are one of the only breeds of draught horse in Scotland, and is still highly sought after by any other countries. In fact there is one very large and popular brewery in the United States which uses Clydesdales, exclusively, for pulling replicas of its original beer wagon in parades and at special events around the country. They make it possible for you to view these horses close-up in their temporary stables. They are regarded as company goodwill ambassadors. Most would say rightly so.
Today's Clydesdale typically weighs in from 1600 to 2000 pounds (113.6 to 142 stones). They usually stand 16 to 19 hands (162.5 to 193 cm, or 64 to 76 in) at 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. Coat colours are usually highly vibrant and coupled with a white face, with the most recognised and popular horses displaying four white feathered socks which start at the knee. The most common colour is bay, and the legs normally display long white hair, or feathers, from the knee down. You can however see Clydesdale horses in other colours such as brown, chestnut and even black. And those are perfectly acceptable for registration as purebreds.
It's widely regarded that Clydesdale horses are strong, agile and intelligent despite being a well-built horse. They naturally hold their heads high and seem very proud, almost aristocratic. The Clydesdale shows it's calm temperament, strength and prowess even when simply standing still. Once seen in operation, the Clydesdale horses leaves a lasting impression, and can be described as awe-inspiring!
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