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Clydesdale

Equus ferus caballus

Bay Clydesdale draft horse with white feathered legs
Photo: Bonnie U. Gruenberg — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Scotland's feather-legged draft giant — the famous bay horse with white 'socks' and big, dinner-plate feet.

TypeDraft / heavyBest asDraft & drivingOriginEurope / UK

How to spot it

A tall, powerful draft horse of about 16 to 18 hands (163 to 183 cm), usually bay with a white face, white legs and silky white feather over large, round feet. It moves with a high, proud action.

Temperament

Gentle, steady and sociable — the classic 'gentle giant', calm in traffic and crowds, which is why it is the breed of the brewery hitch and show parade.

What it's bred for

Developed in Lanarkshire, Scotland for farm haulage and heavy carting. Today it is a driving, showing and promotional horse, and crosses well to produce big riding horses.

Care & upkeep

The leg feather must be kept clean and dry to prevent skin trouble, and a horse this size eats a great deal. Heat and humidity are hard on heavy drafts, so manage shade and workload carefully.

Health & lifespan

Around 20 to 25 years. The feathered legs are prone to chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL), a slow swelling that needs lifelong management.

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