Clydesdale horse
A powerful draught horse from Scotland, known for its feathering and active gait.
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The Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society states that the breed is famous for its quality, cleanness of joints, and hardness of bone.[1] The heavy horse breed known as the Clydesdale gets its name from the River Clyde's valley in Scotland.[2]
Biology and range
The Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society notes that a good hoof head with wide open heels is preferred, otherwise a horse may develop unsoundness.[1] Clydesdales are at risk for chronic progressive lymphedema, a disease causing progressive swelling and fibrosis of distal limbs.[3] The breed was originally used for agriculture, hauling coal in Lanarkshire, and heavy hauling in Glasgow.[2] Today, Clydesdales are still used for draught purposes including agriculture, logging, and driving.[2]
The Australian Draught horse was created using European draft breeds including the Clydesdale imported in the late 1800s.[4] The quality of hooves, legs, and overall movement are carefully evaluated by breed associations.[5] A mange-like skin condition affecting the lower leg, commonly referred to as "Clyde's itch," is believed to result from a specific type of mite infestation.[6] Pink, unpigmented skin on a Clydesdale's face is susceptible to sunburn.[6]
What the specialist sources record
The Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society breed standards state that the Clydesdale should have a deep, wide chest of large girth indicating strong constitution.[1] The same source notes that the hock is one of the most important points, as strain on the muscles during action is concentrated there.[1] The breed standards describe that in trotting, the horse should bend the legs at the knees and hocks, and from the hind view the inside of the hooves should be seen at every step.[1] According to the same source, Scotland had a practice of hiring out stallions between different districts, with documentary evidence of this system existing from 1837 onward.[2]
The International Museum of the Horse further records that the initial American stud book for the breed came out in 1882.[2]
References
- "Breed Standards", Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society. facts only, no text reused. clydesdalehorse.com.au
- Wikipedia, "Clydesdale horse" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Clydesdale", International Museum of the Horse (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Clydesdale horse" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL) in Draft Horses", University of California, Davis (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Clydesdale horse" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Foundation Breeds", Clydesdale & Heavy Horse Field Days Association Inc (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Clydesdale horse" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Breed History", Clydesdale Horse Society (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Clydesdale horse" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society of Australia - Frequently Asked Questions" (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Clydesdale horse (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Clydesdale horse (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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