Tour Scotland video Clydesdale Horse Perth Perthshire

Tour Scotland travel video of a Clydesdale Horse on visit and trip to a field just South of Perth, Perthshire. The Clydesdale is a Scottish breed of draught horse. It is named for its area of origin, the Clydesdale or valley of the River Clyde, much of which is within the county of Lanarkshire. The first recorded use of the name Clydesdale for the breed was in 1826; the horses spread through much of Scotland and into northern England. After the breed society was formed in 1877, thousands of Clydesdales were exported to many countries of the world, particularly to Australia and New Zealand. The Clydesdale was originally used for agriculture, hauling coal in Lanarkshire, and heavy hauling in Glasgow. Clydesdale horses are big. They range in height from 64 to 72 inches from their foot to their shoulder. That's about six feet tall, so that means that many Clydesdales are taller than the average adult man. They can also weigh up to 2,000 pounds, or 907 kilograms, which is one ton. Even Clydesdale foals are very big. A newborn foal can weigh up to 180 pounds, or 81 kilograms. Clydesdale horses are usually a reddish brown color that is sometimes called bay. They can also be brown, chestnut, and black. Some Clydesdales have white faces and bellies, and small white patches on other parts of their bodies. Their coats are thick. One thing that all Clydesdales have in common is feathering, the long hair that grows around their ankles. This feathering, paired with their thick coats, helped Clydesdales to survive in the cold winters of Scotland, where the horse is from. Most Clydesdales have white feathering. All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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