Wonder how many hands those Clydesdales are? I had them walk by me in a parade and they're big.
This fella sounds huge.
Clydesdale, breed of working horse, and the national horse of Scotland. A comparatively new breed, the Clydesdale was developed in the Clyde Valley of Scotland during the 18th century. The Sixth Duke of Hamilton brought Flemish draft mares to Scotland to increase the size of local draft horses. A Scottish farmer later crossed this new line of horses with a black Flemish stallion, which had a wide white stripe running down his face. That coloring and the flowing, high-stepping action of this stallion became hallmarks of the Clydesdale breed.
The Clydesdale has a large, solid body. It stands about 163 to 173 cm (about 64 to 68 in, or 16 to 17 hands) high at the withers (the sides of the ridge between the shoulder blades). The long legs are muscular with solid joints and the front legs are straight below the wide chest. The back is short, straight, and wide, the medium-length neck is arched, and the head is long and straight. The hooves are broad and bell-shaped.
The coat of the Clydesdale originally was colored black, gray, roan (gold, brown, or black hair mixed with white hair), bay (reddish), and brown. Bay and brown have emerged as the dominant colors. The lower legs are white. The mane traditionally is braided to emphasize the heavy, arched neck.
The Clydesdale looks more like a show horse than a heavy draft horse. An impressive appearance, coupled with a hoof shape suited for work on city streets as well as farming on soft ground, the Clydesdale was a popular delivery horse in both European and American cities. This horse is still used for farm and delivery work, especially in its homeland. Its popularity in the United States has increased with tours by the Budweiser Clydesdale team, which pulls an old-time beer wagon in exhibitions.
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