"Clydesdale" Photographic Art Print

The Clydesdale is a breed of heavy horse which takes its name from the old name for Lanarkshire, centred around the river Clyde. The breed originated when Flemish stallions were imported to Scotland in the mid-18th century and were bred to local mares, in a bid to create a draught horse which was larger than the existing local horses. The first recorded use of the name "Clydesdale" was in 1826, with the first breed registry being formed in 1877. The horse was originally used in agriculture and for hauling coal and other heavy goods. Due to its strength and temperament, the breed quickly became very popular and soon spread throughout Scotland and into Northern England. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they were also exported across the world.

The conformation of the Clydesdale has changed greatly over time. Originally it was a compact horse which was smaller than other draught breeds. However, the 1940s saw a move towards selective breeding which produced larger horses. Today's Clydesdales typically stand between 16 and 18 hands high with some mature males being even larger. They have a characteristic convex face and they are powerfully built with an arched neck, sloping shoulders, thick legs and large hooves. They are often bay in colour, but can be black, grey, chestnut or roan and many will have white markings on their face and legs. They also have extensive feathering on their legs which accentuates their active gait giving the impression of great power and strength.

During the first World War numbers of Clydesdales began to decline due to war conscription and once the war was over the decline continued largely due to mechanisation of farms. Following the second World War the number of breeding Clydesdale stallions dropped to 80 by 1949. The trend continued and since the 1970s the Rare Breed Survival Trust has classed them as vulnerable which means that there are fewer than 900 breeding females remaining. Clydesdales are still used in agriculture, logging and driving. Due to their calm disposition, they are very easy to train and so they also make very successful showing, ridden and pleasure horses. Clydesdales have been afforded celebrity status by their association with one of the world's most famous beer brands. At the end of the Prohibition era in America, the Budweiser brewery bought a number of Clydesdales to pull their hitches and they have since become an international symbol of both the breed and the brand. The British Household Cavalry also use the breed, with their imposing height and white legs, as drum horses to be used in parades and ceremonial state occasions.