Discover the World of Clydesdales: 14 Fun Facts About These Majestic Horses You Won't Believe!

1. Clydesdale Dance Masters

Don't let their size fool you, as Clydesdale horses are the ultimate masters of Arabian Nights on the dance floor: These gentle giants are incredibly agile and can perform impressive moves at public events, all while maintaining their composure amidst noisy crowds and new settings like a true knight in shining armor.
Source => animals.howstuffworks.com

2. Original Horse Strongmen

Step aside, Hercules: Clydesdale horses were the original strongmen of the pre-industrial era! These behemoths of the horse world were able to pull up to 2,000 pounds at a walk, and nowadays, they flex their muscles in competitions by dragging concrete blocks weighing over 9,000 pounds for 30 feet. And if that wasn't impressive enough, two Belgium champs once pulled a jaw-dropping 22,000 pounds.
Source => horseracingsense.com

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=> Fun Facts about Horses

3. Natural Leg Warmers

No need for knee-socks at this party: Clydesdale horses come with natural leg warmers, in the form of uniquely feathered legs that keep their lower limbs protected and dry in cooler, damper climates.
Source => horserookie.com

4. Giant Horseshoes

If the shoe fits... or in this case, the horseshoe: Clydesdale horses use gigantic horseshoes that can measure up to 22 inches from front to back, which is more than double the size of a typical horseshoe, all in order to support their colossal weight of up to 2200 pounds.
Source => helpfulhorsehints.com

5. Skyscraper Clydesdales

Feeling small next to skyscrapers? Try standing next to a Clydesdale: Scotland's muscular contribution to the equine world tips the scales at a staggering 800 kg (1,763 lbs), stretching between 16 to 18 hands (1.63 to 1.83 m) tall, and flaunts fancy feathered ankles to boot. Even more impressive? These hairy-legged hefties are gentle giants, perfect for taking experienced riders on behemoth-sized adventures.
Source => horseandcountry.tv

6. Cinderella Can't Compete

Step aside, Cinderella, your glass slippers are no match for these big guys: Clydesdale horses have gigantic hooves, with their horseshoes measuring over 22 inches and weighing around 5 pounds, nailed to their hooves with 3-4 inch nails, and reset every six weeks for their comfort and heavy load-hauling abilities!
Source => seaworld.org

7. Gentle Giants with Spirit

While you might think Clydesdale horses are the bodybuilders of the equine world, strutting their massive muscles in a horsey Herculean manner, they're actually known as the "gentle giants" with a spirited side: Clydesdales not only display great strength and stature, sometimes exceeding 183 cm in height and 1000 kg in weight, but they also possess a lively and active demeanor, iconic for pulling carriages, gracing parades, and even becoming the Budweiser Brewery's globally recognized mascots.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Clydesdale Masterclass

Ever fancied a horse masterclass with Clydesdale connoisseurs? Hold your horseshoes, and look no further! At the National Clydesdale Sale, you can trot right into free educational seminars led by jaunty horsemen and horsewomen, imparting their wisdom on the majestic art of owning and showing Clydesdale horses.
Source => clydesusa.com

9. Hefty Horse Appetites

If you think you spend too much on groceries, try feeding a Clydesdale horse – these majestic giants could give a grocery bill a swift kick! Giddy up on this factoid: Each hitch team Clydesdale consumes around 40 to 50 pounds of hay and 20 quarts of feed daily, washing it all down with an impressive 30 gallons of water. Feeding time happens twice a day for grain and up to seven times a day for hay – talk about hearty appetites keeping these muscles in motion!
Source => seaworld.org

10. Wallet-Busting Horse Ownership

Hold your horses and hide your wallets, because owning a Clydesdale is no neigh-nsense joke: These majestic beasts can chow down on a whopping 60-100 pounds of feed per day, racking up monthly food costs between $175-$240 and saddling owners with thousands of dollars in annual expenses!
Source => karinabrez.com

11. Paul Bunyan's Undercover Clydesdale

Did you ever wonder if Paul Bunyan's "blue ox" was actually an undercover Clydesdale in disguise? These gentle giants could give Babe a run for his money in the strength and endurance department: Originally bred for farm work like pulling heavy loads and plowing fields, Clydesdales are not only massive but also intelligent, gentle, and easy to train – making them the superstars of parades and exhibitions nowadays.
Source => grangecoop.com

12. Scotland's Treasured Horses

Hailing from the stables of Scot Highlander, these horses didn't just neigh, they neeeighhver give up: Clydesdale horses were bred in Scotland for heavy labor and industrial work, but their broad open hooves were better suited for urban tasks such as logging, driving, and agriculture. Their numbers now fall between 500-900, classifying them as vulnerable by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and making them a treasured symbol of Scotland's past.
Source => nms.ac.uk

13. Fluffy Equine Panda Bears

Clydesdale horses are like the panda bears of the equine world – big, fluffy, and astonishingly chill: These gentle giants have such a calm demeanor that they make excellent beginner horses and reliable police mounts, all while rocking fancy feathered legs which, rumor has it, require daily brusha brusha to keep skin infections at bay.
Source => strathornfarm.co.uk

14. Need a Ladder to Ride

They say, "Go big or go home," but with Clydesdales, you might need a ladder just to hop on: These gentle giants prove that size doesn't always matter when it comes to beginner-friendliness, as their calm and patient temperament makes them perfect companions for riding enthusiasts at any level, as long as you've got the right saddle set up.
Source => thesprucepets.com