Horse Breeds Of The World- Clydesdale

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Clydesdale

History	Scotland's breed of heavy horse originated in the area of Lanarkshire where the Clyde river runs. Today's Clydesdale, which developed more recently than the other British heavy breeds, began to evolve during the second half of the eighteenth century when imported Flemish Stallions were used to improve the stock, descended from pack animals, of local farmers. Before that and during the earlier part of the century, a breeder named Paterson of Lochlyoch had begun to produce horses which, by all accounts, bore a distant resemblance to the modern Clydesdale, as far as color was concerned. Glancer the stallions, to whom many Clydesdales can be traced back to was out of a mare known as Lamit's Mare, who was believed to be a Descendent of the Lochkyoch horses. Later Shire blood was used in the breed's development. Two of the leading Clydesdale breeders in the nineteenth century, Lawrence Drew and David Riddell, believed that the Clydesdale and the Shire were from the same origin, so they regularly interbred the two breeds. In 1877, the Clydesdale Horse Society was formed and the first stud book was published the following year. By that time, interest in the breed ad spread to the other counties and Clydesdales were soon being exported, often in large numbers, to work the wheatlands of North America; others went to Australia, South America and Russia.
Conformation	This horse has a strong, intelligent head, with a broad forehead, wide muzzle, large nostrils, bright, clear eyes and big ears; long, well-arched neck with sloping shoulders and high withers. It has a short back with well-sprung ribs and muscular hindquarters; straight limbs with forelegs set well under the shoulder, long pasterns and a fair amount of fine feather; round and open feet.
Height	Stallions 17.1-18hh and Mares 16.3-17.2hh (hh= Hands High, one hand is 4 inches)
Color	Bay, brown or black. Chestnut is rare. Often with white on the face and white on the legs, which may run up on to the body, particularly as flashes on the stomach.

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