To Save the Beautiful Clydesdales

 

Do you know anything about the Clydesdales breed of horse?  Do you remember the horse from those famous Budwiser advertisements?  Well, those were Cydesdales.  However, you might not be able to see them anymore in the future.  Before they go extinct, take the time to know more about this breed of horse.

 

Origin

Clydesdales are draft horses that originally came from a region in Scotland of which it is named after. This breed has been around us for several hundreds of years.  It is just a sad note that through the years this breed is diminishing in population.  There was a time in history that the population of these horses in Scotland plummeted to around 140, 000.  Even worse, its current population has dropped to an alarming 5,000 worldwide.  Because of this, the breed is recorded as endangered by the Rare Breed Survival Trust in England.  Breeders are making tremendous efforts in propagating the breed which has already to the birth of a humble yet hopeful number of 600 foals a year in the United States.

 

Physical Features

This breed’s head is arched and big. It has ears that are small in proportion to the size of its head.  The eyes are wide which gives it an expression of cleverness.  Unlike other breeds, this horse’s neck is not arched and is surrounded with thick layers of muscles.  The size of Clydesdales is over 18 hands and its weight can reach up to more than 2,000 pounds.  The body of this breed is thickset and strong which was useful especially in the past when it was bred to pull plows, milkwagons and vegetable carts.  The legs have some feathering around it.  Further below, the hooves are twice as large as that of the other breeds.  Even with the bulky appearance, this horse still manages to be graceful and elegant.

Color

The common colors of a Clydesdale are bay, chestnut, roan, and sometimes black. There are usually some white patches on the coat.  A white flame pattern on the nose and around the legs is a distinguishable feature of this breed.

 

Breeding Clydesdales 

Should it come to your mind that you would breed Clydesdales, you need to know these things beforehand.  You can start with selecting a fine stallion, also known as sire, and a mare which is also known as a dam.  It is important that the dam should be healthy and capable of producing substantial milk for the foal.  A period of about 11 months is used for the development of the embryo which is a given for all equines.  Clydesdales are fast-growing which can be proven by its rate of growth of four pounds a day.  When successful, you can then have a beautiful scruffy horse that originated from Scotland that you can use as a parade and show animal.