Clydesdale fans?

[DarenCogdon]

Mine is 'gypsy cob' breeding... but you tell me what you think



Please excuse the state of me and the fact my horse is wearing the contents of his haynet!

Ooh, I like! If i give you my address, can you deliver??

 

[Ancient Hacker]

Starbar that's a lovely, lovely creature. I'd have said a Clydie, but it must be remembered we don't have gypsy cobs where I come from, and not many Clydesdales either. So what do I know? But my untrained eye would have guessed your horse to be all Clydie. But that MANE! It's fabulous! That horse is having a "fantastic hair day"

How does everyone keep the feathers looking so good?

 

[DarenCogdon]

I wouldn't mind a Clydie that comes with a DarenCogdon - he gets his mitts on the most gorgeous Clydies! Daren, tell us your secret, how on earth do you manage to have access to such a wondrous choice of horses? I'm still grinning and very, very envious

Hahaha, flattery might get you somewhere!

In all seriousness, I just seem to.... FIND them! Sally was owned by a friend's friend, but the likes of Bracken and the others, I just seem to come across them. Without word of a lie, I was on my way to a wedding at Troon one day, and I literally bumped into a Clydie standing in a field! (And yes, there are photos of him somewhere!)

I've not finished going through all my Clydie photos yet - I've simply picked the best ones from my Facebook albums, and I have HUNDREDS more on Photobucket.

Anyway, still more to come if nobody's sick of them yet...?!

 

[DarenCogdon]

The "Bracken cuddles" is one of the loveliest pics I've seen in years

It's one of my favourite photos, too. In fact, his owner put it into a competition once - and it won!

Here's the whole collection of photos from that sequence - we'd found the big lump flaked out in the field, and he was practically oblivious to our presence until we were about 20ft away!

And the full version of the "Bracken cuddles" picture:

 

[Ancient Hacker]

Stunning, Daren! The horses are quite handsome, too
Seriously, you seem to have a knack of getting the most wonderful Clydesdales into your life. I think maybe THEY find YOU somehow... some sort of natural affinity.
I'm really getting impatient to get one, but we're moving across the country (more than a thousand miles) next month and then before I've even unpacked I shall be off on the Great Clydesdale Hunt. Well, I'll unpack toothbrush and tack, and leave the rest to other members of the household.

So any tips on what to look for, what to avoid etc - please pass them on to me.
And more pics, of course, for educational purposes, please

 

[DarenCogdon]

I'll leave the buying tips to the proper experts.

But, I shall be posting a few more pics later! Just to keep you going, here's a few shots of Mel, Kirsty's other Clydesdale....

 

[cedar]

Hi Darren
You know me and phantom off fb but I'll share a few pics of him

This is phantom my Clyde gelding. He's a absolute babe
All the horses on here are gorgeous. <3 can't have to many pics of these gorgeous horses!

 

[Ancient Hacker]

Again, lovely pictures from the Clydesdales devotees!
I notice lots of pink muzzles, and (not laughing at me please ) does anyone put sunscreen on in the summer?
I live in a theoretically sunny country, though latter months have felt like a fine Welsh summer here; I wonder if sunscreen would be needed in very sunny climates?

Cedar Phantom is drop dead GORGEOUS; you look very dainty and his feet look mammoth! I hope he's not as clumsy as one of my TBs....

 

[DarenCogdon]

Not really such a daft question!!

Yes, I've always tried to put something on the nose of whatever Clydie I happen to be sharing at the time, although some of them have been more than a little hesitant to let me apply some factor 30!

 

[DarenCogdon]

Hi Darren
You know me and phantom off fb but I'll share a few pics of him

This is phantom my Clyde gelding. He's a absolute babe
All the horses on here are gorgeous. <3 can't have to many pics of these gorgeous horses!

I still love those face markings!

 

[RutlandH2O]

AH, I always put sunscreen on my Clydie, Thunder. He wasn't too fond of me slathering the cream on his muzzle, but if I had a carrot in one hand, he'd grudgingly let me do it.

Are you in Africa? Or did I get that from another poster?

 

[ClaireBlyth]

Hi Ancient Hacker,

Yep I have to smother my boys muzzle in factor 50 as he burns really easily.

Cedar your horse is stunning! How big is he?

 

[DarenCogdon]

An interesting fact for you:

George Watson was the last man to be hanged in Scotland for horse-theft. The horse he stole was a Clydesdale!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13412069

 

[cedar]

Thank you! I'm not really dainty at 5'9 but he is a big lad at 18.1 lol.

I use a mask to cover his muzzle when sunny. He gets really bad sunburn but found sun cream messy and it started to take the hair off
Ha ha he's not clumsy. He knows his size tho and can get through most gates when he wants to!

Darren his face is so distinctive but a pain to keep clean!

 

[cedar]

He's 18.1 clairblyth. Tho never had a stick on him.
I'm 5'9 and this is me stood next to him. Think I'm stood a bit down hill tho

 

[DarenCogdon]

He's 18.1 clairblyth. Tho never had a stick on him.
I'm 5'9 and this is me stood next to him. Think I'm stood a bit down hill tho

He looks a proper powerhouse there!

 

[cedar]

He is definitely that Darren! He should be pulling a cart or plowing a field but I have no clue about that so he can just be my very pampered riding horse

 

[DarenCogdon]

I took a mate out hacking with me one day at Kirsty's yard. He was on a little grey Highland, while naturally I took my usual noble(!) steed....

Mel, topping up her tank:

Dave on Ozzie:

Ozzie has a HUGE crush on Mel - to the point where he'll even take Prince on if he attempts to get past on a ride!

As you can see, we had a nice day for it!

The ears say it all: "What the bloody hell is that?!"

Prince, off-roading:

Nearly home:

Mel

Prince - who never seems to stand still for a photo!

Two of my favourite things: Clydesdales and cats!

And yes, I did try putting them both in my car!!

 

[ClaireBlyth]

Wow Cedar, he looks really big! My boy is 17.1h and I'm 5ft 10" he is really big in the chest & has a huge cresty neck from his stallion days.

Can I ask all the Clydie owners/loaners & shares where you get your bridles from & what size, as I need a new one but obviously having sizing issues!

 

[Ancient Hacker]

AH, I always put sunscreen on my Clydie, Thunder. He wasn't too fond of me slathering the cream on his muzzle, but if I had a carrot in one hand, he'd grudgingly let me do it.

Are you in Africa? Or did I get that from another poster?

Hi RutlandH20 - I am indeed in Africa (South); this is why I'm wondering about the sunscreen. It's hard to find a purebred Clydie here. Recently my non-riding hubby nonchalantly mentioned, sort of in the same tone as one would say "Well, I'm off to clean my teeth" that he wouldn't mind a Clydesdale. So of course I'm trying to find one before he changes his mind; because once I have the creature in my possession, it will take years of schooling up before I can trust it to carry the beloved spouse Yes, I know, it's a wicked plot!

As a child I was always told to avoid buying horses with a "pink mouth", because of the sun. Our paddocks always provide plenty of shade and shelter, but the sun can be quite intense. With sunscreen and some ingenuity I don't think the problem is insurmountable

PS So much eye candy on here tonight, thanks to everyone who is so generously sharing!

 

[DarenCogdon]

Wow Cedar, he looks really big! My boy is 17.1h and I'm 5ft 10" he is really big in the chest & has a huge cresty neck from his stallion days.

Can I ask all the Clydie owners/loaners & shares where you get your bridles from & what size, as I need a new one but obviously having sizing issues!

There's usually adverts in Heavy Horse World magazine, but I haven't got a recent issue to hand just now.

However, try giving Annie Rose a call at Cumbrian Heavy Horses, and she might be able to help.

 

[RutlandH2O]

AH, I know I should go and look this up on the internet, but what is your latitude? If you have shade your horses will seek it out in very sunny, hot weather. My black Shires always use their field shelters in summer (mostly to get away from the flies). Thunder was very pale, especially in the summer, but he used the shelters as much as his black mates. I have one Shire with a pink muzzle, and I always apply sunscreen in summer. All the others have black muzzles and never have sun problems.

Are you close to making a Clydie decision? Have you contacted breeders yet? All very exciting!

 

[cedar]

Phantoms show bridle was got from heritage saddlery. They are on eBay. THey do an xxl bridle which fits even his big head perfectly not to expensive either.

 

[ClaireBlyth]

Thanks Cedar, I will have a look.

It's so cool to see this thread still running, but we could always do with more piccies!!!

 

[DarenCogdon]

I've not quite exhausted my supply of photos!

 

[Ancient Hacker]

An interesting fact for you:

George Watson was the last man to be hanged in Scotland for horse-theft. The horse he stole was a Clydesdale!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13412069

Thank Heavens the death penalty is a thing of the past in most civilised countries because I can tell you that I am sorely tempted by the pics I'm seeing here.

I'm busy packing to move right across the country next week; for each 6 boxes I pack, I allow myself a quick catch-up on the Clydie thread.
So a BIGTHANK YOU to all the Clydie clan for helping me get through the soul-crushing tedium of packing

 

[Tayto]

I have recently bought a Clydesdale x cob and she has what looks like really bad dandruff in her feathers. It's not on the skin just big clumps of white think dandruff like stuff. The vet said it was nothing to worry about and just to comb it out. Does anyone else experience this with their feathery horses and if so how do you treat it?

 

[Ancient Hacker]

AH, I know I should go and look this up on the internet, but what is your latitude? If you have shade your horses will seek it out in very sunny, hot weather. My black Shires always use their field shelters in summer (mostly to get away from the flies). Thunder was very pale, especially in the summer, but he used the shelters as much as his black mates. I have one Shire with a pink muzzle, and I always apply sunscreen in summer. All the others have black muzzles and never have sun problems.

Are you close to making a Clydie decision? Have you contacted breeders yet? All very exciting!

Hi RutlandH20, we're moving next week to the other side of the country, so we'll be near Cape Town. I don't know the latitude either but there are one or two very good Clydesdale breeders.

Hopefully when faced with a choice I'll get one with not too much "pink". That being said, living as I currently do in African Horse Sickness territory, I'm not averse to sloshing creams and potions on horses at all hours, to keep insects away. I am considering looking at some x-bred clydies too - inspired by this thread which has shown me such incredible variety.

I've never had a "heavy" horse so this is new territory for me. I'm used to TB types and I'm terribly excited at venturing forth and adding something entirely different to the herd - though technically the Clydesdale will be for my husband. You can see where this is going, can't you! TWO Clydie types

 

[Ancient Hacker]

I've not quite exhausted my supply of photos!

Best news I've had all day

 

[DarenCogdon]

I have recently bought a Clydesdale x cob and she has what looks like really bad dandruff in her feathers. It's not on the skin just big clumps of white think dandruff like stuff. The vet said it was nothing to worry about and just to comb it out. Does anyone else experience this with their feathery horses and if so how do you treat it?

There's a couple of good Facebook groups who could help you out here if you don't get the answer you need.