Fun Clydesdale Facts For Kids

Clydesdales, are a Scottish breed that originated in Clydesdale, Lanarkshire, which is the reason behind their name. They are bred for specific purposes and are a crossbreed of some local mares and stallions. On average, a Clydesdale horse height is about 16 to 18 hands. The breed is known for hauling purposes as they are muscular and are bred for working. They have larger hooves which is a major reason for their strong legs. Clydesdale colors can vary a lot between a Black Clydesdale and a White Clydesdale. These breeds come in various colors, such as brown, black, gray, and bay, with white markings on their face and stockings on their legs. The Clydesdale origin would be Scotland and it is one of the famous breeds for hauling and logging.

Budweiser Clydesdale is a type of Clydesdale which is mainly used for advertisements and commercial purposes. They are gentle, with a kind temperament and calm behavior. The Clydesdale weight may vary from 1500- 2200 pounds lb ( 680-1000 kg).. They are usually kept on a farm for livestock or any other purposes. They have an average lifespan of about 20 years, and they need extra care if they reach above the age of 20 as they are prone to several diseases. A Clydesdale is not a female horse; rather, it is the name of a breed, and both their male and female species exist.

To know more about these fascinating animals, we have gathered a set of interesting facts about them for you to read. You can also read  more articles on horses and Przewalski's horses.

What type of animal is a Clydesdale?

A Clydesdale is a type of heavy draft horse breed that belongs to the family of Equidae.

What class of animal does a Clydesdale belong to?

Clydesdale belongs to the class of Mammalia.

How many Clydesdales are there in the world?

There is no such authentic data on how many Clydesdales are there in the world at this moment. But, according to reports of 2010, there were 5000 Clydesdales.

Where does a Clydesdale live?

Clydesdale horses generally live on farms. They prefer meadows, grasslands, and pastures. This Scottish breed was first bred in Clydesdale, Lanarkshire, in the valley of the River Clyde. So they have mainly originated in Scotland. Later they were taken to North America, where the horses weren't able to gain much popularity as draft horses.

What is a Clydesdale's habitat?

A Clydesdale does not need any specific habitat, as they are bred for specific purposes to easily adapt to various habitats. But they mainly prefer meadows, farms, and grasslands.

Who do Clydesdales live with?

A Clydesdale horse is social and it is friendly. They generally live with people, but other than that, they live in herds and are docile.

How long does a Clydesdale live?

This horse breed has a decent life expectancy which is neither too long nor too short. On average, a Clydesdale lifespan ranges from 20 to 25 years. A healthy Clydesdale can also live up to 30 years.

How do they reproduce?

These horses reach their sexual maturity at the age of three or four years old. The breeders then crossbreed these horses with some local horses or mares. A Clydesdale produces one foal in a year and has a gestation period of 11 months. Their offspring are generally born in early spring.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of these horses is Not Evaluated in the Internation Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. However, in the UK, the RBST has classified the species as Vulnerable and DAD-IS has classified as At Risk worldwide in 2020.

What do Clydesdales look like?

The Clydesdale breed is a heavy draft horse breed, and so they are immensely large, powerful, strong, and stocky build. They are usually bay, brown, or even black with white markings. They have broad, muscular chests and are around 16 to 19 hands tall meaning 5.3-6.3 ft (1.6-1.9 m), making them excellent at carrying heavy loads.They have white spots and markings on their face and legs. They are skilled at running and all types of hauling and lifting works as they have strong forelegs. Clydesdale hooves are very large, and so they help them protect their feet.

How cute are they?

Clydesdale horses are cute and adorable, with their muscular body making them eye-catching. A Clydesdale face has white markings  and stockings on legs, which are most significant features. They are peaceful, gentle, docile, and friendly, which adds a spin to their characteristics and cuteness and that is why even children are fond of them.

How do they communicate?

They are social animals, and they also live in groups which makes it obvious that they readily communicate. Clydesdale horses communicate by neighing, rubbing, and nuzzling with each other. They mainly use physical and auditory channels to communicate. They also have myriads of facial expressions to convey their message and communicate with each other.

How big is a Clydesdale?

A Clydesdale is measured in hands where one hand is equal to four inches. A Clydesdale height is 16 to 19 hands tall meaning 5.3-6.3 ft (1.6-1.9 m),when measured from the shoulder to the ground, equal to 64 -72 in(162-183 cm) tall. A Clydesdale's size depends on a few factors such as its feeding, breeders, and health. They are around one quarter smaller than shire horses.

How fast can a Clydesdale run?

Clydesdales can run at an average speed of 20 mph (72 kph), and at times this can increase up to 50 mph (180 kph). Hence, Clydesdale riding is very popular as they are excellent at running.

How much does a Clydesdale weigh?

Clydesdales are muscular and immensely large draft horses that weigh around 1500-2200 lb (680-1000 kg). Their hooves are large, and so their horseshoes weigh around 5 pounds lb (2.2 kg)

What are their male and female names of the species?

As they are horses, the females are known as mares, and the males are known as stallions.

What would you call a baby Clydesdale?

As they belong to the same family as that of horses, a newborn Clydesdale is known as a foal, and a young Clydesdale is known as a pony.

What do they eat?

Clydesdales belong to the equine family, and thus, just like all equines, they are also herbivores. They are fond of grazing, and apart from that, they are fed on hay and feed, which includes minerals, beet pulp, oats, salt, molasses, bran, and water. They need access to fresh water and grass. Clydesdales breed is mainly used for hauling and working, which needs a lot of energy to run or carry huge loads miles away. Hence, their amount of food completely depends on the amount of work they do. They usually consume 25- 40 lb (11.3-18.1 kg) of hay daily when they work. 25- 40  lb (11.3-18.1 kg) of hay is divided into two or three 'courses' and is eaten in 2-10  lb (0.9-4.5 kg) every time they feed. Old Clydesdales eat soft hay cubes, which are soaked before feeding. Some commercial horses such as Budweiser Clydesdales eat artificial and commercial hay, which is mainly fed to increase their energy which increases their working capacity. In contrast, in some cases, they are fed with formulated hay which can suffice their needs while spending hours gearing up.

Are they friendly?

Clydesdales are social and friendly. They are not aggressive and are rather docile and peaceful.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, they would make a good pet. They are bred for domestic and commercial purposes. They are docile, calm, and gentle, which makes them perfect for keeping as pets. Apart from this, they are easily trainable, so anyone can keep them as pets. But they are prone to several diseases, so it is necessary to take care of them by taking the required actions.

Did you know...

The Clydesdale horse has movable ears; that is, they can adjust and move their ears in whichever direction, which helps them adjust their ears according to the direction of the sound.

Clydesdales consume an average of 2% of their body weight daily. Their weight lies between 1600-2200 lb1500-2200 lb (680-1000 kg).

The most trained Clydesdales are sold for prices that may be almost equal to the prices of cars.

What horse is bigger than a Clydesdale?

Shire horses are the biggest breed of horses, with Belgian horses being slightly smaller than Shire horses, but they are bigger than Clydesdales.

How much is a Clydesdale horse?

Clydesdales are very expensive when it comes to their prices, but their prices may vary on their quality, age, color, training, and size. A Clydesdale price has a huge range; generally, prices range from $1000 - $5000.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals, including the takin and the Italian wolf.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our Clydesdale horse coloring pages.