Tour Scotland Winter travel video of snow falling, during Storm Darcy, on sheep and Clydesdale Horses on visit to Highland Perthshire. In the Highlands of Scotland sheep rearing was only introduced on any significant scale in the late 18th or more usually the early 19th century, by the estate owners. The way this was carried out is often regarded as a dark chapter in Scotland’s history, as the highland social structure was destroyed in the process. This is what is known as the Highland Clearances, when the population of small farmers who used to raise black cattle and drive them in herds to the lowlands to sell were unable to produce enough rent to keep the estate owners satisfied. They were evicted from their homes, often with little regard for their well being, as their goods were thrown out of their small cottages which were then demolished. The people had to go to the cities, to emigrate or to live along the coasts while the whole of the interior of the Highlands was more or less depopulated and sheep flocks, managed by shepherds from the lowlands were brought in to provide a more profitable enterprise for the estates. In Bronze Age times sheep were widespread and took a role equal to that of pigs and cattle, while later on they were the dominant animal. Wool was one of the first textile materials to be spun and woven and formed the clothing of the people, especially when the wet and colder period of the Iron Age took place. In Roman times Britain was famous for producing high quality woollen products and while this declined to some degree in the post Roman Dark Ages, nevertheless it was important in AngloSaxon times and records show that woollen cloaks were desirable items and good for the climate. At the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 and the Domesday survey that soon followed, sheep were recorded as the dominant farm animal by far and they continued to be so for the next several centuries.
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.
After heavy snowfall for many, Scotland braces for at least another five days of cold easterly winds bringing snow and ice to most parts of the county, weather forecasters have said.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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