Clydesdale Horse: Breed Profile

have been replaced by machinery. Theyre frequently seen at fairs and exhibitions.
Clydesdales also frequently serve as drum horses in parades. Each horse carries two drums that weigh more than 120 pounds apiece along with an officer who rides. Clydesdales selected for this purpose must be at least 17 hands high 68 inches.
Furthermore with their calmness agility and strength they make excellent trail horses. Those same traits also make them valuable therapy horses.
Colors and Markings
Clydesdales are most often bay in color though they also can be black gray or chestnut. Their coats can be solid or have some roan markings or spots. White stockings on the legs are common but solid colors occur as well. They often have wide white blazes or bald facial markings resulting in flashy eyecatching combinations.
Bay and black Clydesdales frequently command a premium particularly when they sport white facial markings and the familiar white stockings. Roans tend to be least preferred but breed associations make no such distinction. No colors are undesirable in their view and they readily accept horses with body spots.
Unique Characteristics of the Clydesdale
The most obvious defining characteristic of a Clydesdale is its large hooves. Theyre typically the size of frying pans weighing around 5 pounds each. In contrast an average thoroughbred racing horse has a hoof about a quarter of that size. Besides the hooves Clydesdales also are known for their four white legs with lots of feathering. They have a highstepping walk and trot giving them a proud impressive presentation.
Diet and Nutrition
A grown Clydesdale eats between 25 and 50 pounds of hay and 2 to 10 pounds of grain or feed every day. Thats about twice as much as averagesized horse breeds. Likewise they require more water than an averagesized horse. To maintain a healthy weight their feeding needs might change based on their age and activity level.
Common Health and Behavior Problems
Clydesdales are generally healthy horses with a calm and gentle temperament. But they are prone to certain health problems. Some develop chronic progressive lymphedema a disease that causes swelling in the legs. Clydesdales also can develop skin infections under their thick leg hair if its not properly maintained. 
Grooming
Clydesdales require some extra grooming care. For one grooming takes longer just because of their size. Also the feathering on their legs must be shampooed regularly to remove dirt and debris and it needs to be dried completely to prevent skin irritation. Clydesdales