| The Clydesdale horse is a draft horse bred and | | | | with hard farm work. |
| "developed" in Scotland. | | | | Exports of horses in the late 19th century to North |
| Dail Chluaidh - Gaelic for Clydesdale is said to be the | | | | America and strict breeding programs to maintain |
| origin of this heavy horse breed. It is a district in the | | | | quality of the breed helped to increase the population |
| Strathclyde region in Southern Scotland. | | | | considerably with now annually over 600 new |
| This breed has been on the edge of extinction in the | | | | registrations. |
| 1960 - 70, but thanks to dedicated horse breeders, its | | | | The Clydesdale Breeders of the USA are a |
| population is slowly and steadily increasing in numbers. | | | | respectable association with the sole aim to preserve |
| It is classified as a rare breed. The Rare Breeds | | | | and grow this breed of horses. |
| Survival Trust considers it as a "vulnerable" breed. | | | | Modern use is for showing and advertising of |
| The Clydesdale horse in his modern appearance is | | | | breweries and other, various businesses by pulling |
| slightly different compared to his ancestors from the | | | | brewery wagons and various and colorful types of |
| 19th century: through well-planned and cautious use of | | | | tradesmen carts. |
| new blood lines the hair coat contains now more white | | | | Also it gains more and more friends amongst horse |
| hair. | | | | back riders: show jumping, dressage, endurance rides, |
| Clydesdale and Shire horse have been used to | | | | recreational riding and driving etc. Crossbreeds perform |
| mutually improve some of each others breed | | | | very well in various equestrian disciplines. |
| characteristics: | | | | Some Scottish City Councils help to preserve the |
| The big Scott increased in size and got white hair on | | | | breed whilst using Clydesdale horses for PR reasons |
| the whole length of the leg; | | | | and for work within urban council departments. |
| The Shire breed became finer, improved skin health of | | | | This horse breed is gaining more and more interest |
| the fetlocks and would develop a silkier feathering. | | | | from companies offering wedding carriage hire |
| The modern "Gentle Giant" has increased in height and | | | | services to provide weddings with an impressive |
| his body is still well proportioned, showing quality. | | | | framework. |
| Beside all this he preserves a kind and gentle | | | | Like in continental Europe, where working horses in the |
| temperament, which makes him a reliable and easy to | | | | forest industry have been re-established for a long |
| handle horse. | | | | time, the Clydesdale pays also its contribution to the |
| These versatile horses are bred by farmers and horse | | | | protection of our environment: it is used during wood |
| enthusiasts who have to invest heavily into this kind of | | | | harvesting for pulling logs out of woods. |
| hobby and to ensure the survival of the breed. | | | | It has been proved that a horse does not cause |
| The horse does not have to "earn" its living any more | | | | devastating damage to trees and forest grounds. |