Facts about Clydesdale
- 09
Export records show that Scottish breeders sold Clydesdale horses to North America throughout the 1800s, establishing populations that fundamentally shaped the development of Canadian and American agricultural infrastructure.
- 08
During World War I, Clydesdale horses transported over 475,000 tons of supplies and ammunition for the British Army, with approximately 2 million draft horses total serving across all allied forces.
- 07
Modern Clydesdale registries require horses to have bay, black, or brown coloring with white blazes and socks, eliminating chestnut individuals from breed standards since the early 1900s.
- 06
Clydesdale horses typically stand 16 to 18 hands high, making them one of the tallest draft horse breeds in the world with some individuals reaching 19 hands at the withers.
- 05
Selective breeding for Clydesdale temperament began in earnest during the 1800s to produce calmer horses suitable for urban delivery work in Scottish and English cities.
- 04
Anheuser-Busch's famous Clydesdale team, which debuted in 1933, has appeared in Super Bowl commercials since 1986 and remains one of the most recognized horse teams in American advertising.
- 03
In 1886, a single Clydesdale named Prince of Wales competed at the Highland Show and set records for pulling power that influenced breeding standards for over a century.
- 02
The feathering around Clydesdale hooves can grow up to 8 inches long, requiring regular grooming to prevent mud accumulation and hoof disease.
- 01
Weighing up to 2,000 pounds, Clydesdale horses were originally bred in Lanarkshire, Scotland during the 1700s for hauling heavy loads.