Saskatchewan Clydesdale Association

About the Clydesdale

Three words --- "strength, agility and docility" --- depict in brief, but in striking fashion, the three main characteristics of the Clydesdale. The initial impression is that of strength and activity. All parts need to be in proportion to each other to present a balanced appearance.

A Clyde should have a strong head befitting a draft horse with a broad face, wide between the eyes; a flat slightly Roman-nose but never dished profile; a strong muzzle; a bright, clear, intelligent eye and a blaze of white covering at least all of the flat part of the face. Ears should be of good size pointing straight up and slightly forward; a well arched long neck springing out of an oblique shoulder with high withers. The back should be short with a good spring of rib, strong and well attached at the loin to a well rounded quarter.

The feet should be large, broad and deep with a short toe, round at the hoof heads and open with a good hell; the knees should be big and broad in front; the pasterns should be a reasonable length and sloping to cushion the leg; short flat and broad cannon bones and well muscled quarters.

Feather grows from the back of the knees and increases in amount until it reaches the ground. It should not be coarse, wiry or curly but long and silky in nature. There should be ample amount to go with the amount of bone and size of foot. Hair on the front should grow from the lower ankle joint and top of the foot to cover the hoof.

To enable the stride and action the Clyde exhibits, the withers should be high and the shoulders should show obliqueness. The Clyde's action is clean lifting of the feet, not scuffing along. The inside of each hoof should be visible from behind with each step. He should have plenty of vertical action both fore and hind with the ability to reach for ground.

The chest of the Clyde is narrower than in other draft breeds. The fore legs must be planted well under the shoulders --- not on the outside like on a bulldog --- straight and plumb from the shoulder to the fetlock joint. The hind legs must be planted closely together. Hocks should be high on the leg being broad, clean, flat, and sharply developed with thighs sloping together to throw the hocks close to each other. The shank from the hock to the fetlock must be plumb straight. The Clyde must naturally stand with hocks together; his heals in and toes out. Ankles and feet should be same as front feet but hinds need as strong an outside wing as possible.

The Clyde excels in straightness and snappiness of movement. To get this the legs must be carried squarely under him, they must follow each other in a straight line and points of the hocks should be inclined inwards rather than outwards.

Most common colours are bay or brown with characteristic white markings on face and legs; blacks and roans are occasionally seen.

For anyone desiring an active yet tractable, intelligent, stylish yet serviceable draft animal --- the Clydesdale merits serious consideration.

2008 SHOWS

About the Clydesdale