Meet Mairi the Clydesdale

Only ten years old, Mairi stands 1.83 metres to the shoulder and weighs in at just under a tonne! She was given to the Museum as a gift and confidently demonstrates historic the farming machinery at events. Mairi doesn't work for nothing, as payment for a hard day's work she gets her favourite treat in her feed, half a bag of carrots.

The Clydesdale Breed

The Clydesdale horse is a native breed which comes from Lanarkshire. The breed dates back to the 18th century, when native horses of Lanarkshire were bred with Flemish stallions in an effort to produce greater weights and substance.

During the first decade of the 20th century, Scotland had around 140,000 farm horses plus an unknown number in towns and cities, most of which were Clydesdales.

Clydesdales were conscripted by the army to serve in First World War. During the Second World War, the agricultural industry was required to generate produce in ever greater quantities, and this could only be achieved by extensive use of the tractor. Sadly, horses were replaced by mechanical power.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the Clydesdale was recognised by the Rare Breed Survival Trust as “vulnerable”. Over the years and with the increase in breed numbers, it is now categorised as “at risk”.

Qualities of the Clydesdale

• Male or female, a Clydesdale should look handsome, weighty and powerful.
• Hoofs must be wide and springy.
• The hair covering the hoofs should be silky.
• The forelegs and hindlegs must be planted closely together.
• The head should have a nice open forehead, broad between the eyes, a flat profile, wide muzzle, large nostrils,  a bright intelligent eye, big ears and an arched long neck.
• The back should be short and strong.
• Colours most common are bay and brown with white markings but blacks, greys and chestnuts are occasionally seen.

Clydesdales today

The popularity of the Clydesdale is growing continually. Although there are only approximately 700 registered brood mares in the United Kingdom and about 100 registered stallions, more people are using Clydesdales, not just for showing and driving, but for farm work, horse logging and even riding.