The noble Clydesdale breed was developed in the Clyde Valley 200 years ago by cross breeding Shires with Belgium and Ardennes horses. 100 years ago, it is estimated that over 50% of the deliveries made in UK alone were pulled by Clydesdales.
A rare breed? At one time there were known to be only 72 Clydesdales left in the world. Through careful breeding and the hard work of enthusiasts, the breed is returning to its former glory. Seamus and Sirius are our heavy horses, weighing one tonne each, and capable of pulling considerably more.
Seamus and Sirius are working horses, trained carefully to work closely with their human and each with their own distinct personalities. Seamus is the uncle of Sirius, and for this reason is known as “Uncle Seamus”.
Seamus is a leader, he can be stern, but he is brave and loyal beyond measure. He can be identified because he is a lighter, almost pink colour known as “strawberry roan”.
Sirius is best described as amiable, friendly and uncomplicated. He is broad in his back, and darker in complexion but with a larger white flash on his face.
Our boys are working horses, and are as at home pulling a carriage as they are engaged in woodland management pulling half ton tree trunks from the undergrowth, or haymaking in the summer sun. Here at Cotswold Working Horses, we are members of both the Clydesdale Horse Society, but also the British Horse Loggers whose friendship we value highly.
Book a carriage drive, pub jaunt or picnic – or join us for a horse weekend stay. Or find out more about Forestry and Pasture Management with heavy horses.
Clydesdales eat what other horses eat, grass and hay mostly, but more of it. Just over night, each horse in its stable will polish off a half a bale of hay. Alfalfa is a much loved treat and full of goodness for a horse, but we avoid the scenes of yesteryear where children would sneak waiting horses a bun from their hands. Not because they don’t love a bun, but actually more because we don’t want them to expect to find buns in every child’s hand!
We can’t answer this because we have never left them to run out! Over night, our boys usually have around 10 gallons available, and sometimes they drink it all.
Horses are measured in Hands (hh). Each Hand is 4 inches. Our boys are both 18 hh.
It is said that a full grown adult can pull twice his own weight. We have never put that to the test, but we know that each Clydesdale will do all it possible can to pull whatever you ask of it, even to the point of hurting itself. We do not attempt to pull more than a quarter of a ton dead weight at any one time.
The term “Feather” is used to refer to the long white hair that grows around the bottom of the Clydesdale’s legs. We don’t know what evolutionary purpose was fulfilled by those beautiful feathered feet. We just know that when washed, they flow with the horses movement in the most graceful way.
Clydesdales are not fast horses. The question is like asking how well can a fish climb?
The Clydesdale is bred from two types of horse who are known for their gentle personality, that is the Shire, and the Ardennes. This is almost certainly where they get their good nature from.
THE BOYS
Where in this wide world can man find nobility without pride,
Friendship without envy
Or beauty without vanity?
Here, where grace is laced with muscle
And strength by gentleness confined.
Ronald Duncan 1954
The Suffolk Punch will keep the road
The Percheron goes gay
The Shire will lean against his load
All through the longest day
But where ploughland meets the heather
And earth from sky divides
Through the misty northern weather
Stepping two and two together
All fire and feather
Come the Clydes!
Will H. Ogilve.
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