Clydesdale fans?

For a little while this year, I was helping to look after a fairly neglected Clydesdale mare called Cherry. I'm not entirely sure why or how she ended up the way she was, but she didn't look too brilliant. Thankfully, before she moved to a new yard, she was starting to look a damn sight better than she had. She was a lovely, sweet wee horse, and I hope whoever has her now takes good care of her.

I'll not post all the photos of her, as she was in a hell of a state, but I will post the better ones....

(Excuse the quality of some photos - crap mobile plus freezing cold temperatures!)

First time I met her:
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Itchy bum!
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Out in the wild:
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I quickly got attached to the wee horse (and I do mean "wee" - 16.2 isn't what I'd call big for a Clydie!), and who could blame me!
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"Hand over the mints, ******-lugs!"
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One thing that always seems to grab me about a Clydesdale is this:
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"Bye, uncle Daz!"
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Anyway, wherever she is now, I hope she has a good life. She deserves it.
 
Back when I had not long started mucking about with horses (and when I still had hair!) I bumped into this lad at the Royal Highland Show. He seemed a bit fed up, with lots of screaming kids disturbing him, so I went over to see him and give him a fuss.

Well, did the big man not put his head against me and practically fall asleep?!

His name is Jamie, owned by George and Ruth Skinner (who I hope still have him!), and at the time he was only 4 years old and standing about 17.2hh.

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And here he is again, a couple of years later:
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Another year at the Highland (I think it might have been the year after I met Jamie), I bumped into this stunning creature:
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Now, at the time, I was starting to work on a novel about a boy who owned a similarly-coloured horse, so naturally I HAD to get some pics of her!
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I later found out her name was Kate, and the first time I saw her she had a foal at foot (although strangely the photos are not on Facebook!).

Here she is, obviously knackered from a whole day of looking gorgeous!
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Excuse the strange angle of the photos - she had fallen asleep on my ARM!
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But she managed to wake up later on!!
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There's a funny postscript to these photos, though. One day, I logged onto Facebook to do the usual first thing in the morning, and I had a friend request from a chap in Ireland. So, I duly added him (not thinking of any significance at the time), and then I noticed he'd like all the photos I'd taken of her. Because he OWNED her! He'd bought her a couple of years ago and she is now living (pampered!) in Ireland, and has recently had another foal! :)
 
cedar said:
Stunning bunch :) are you going to the royal highland this year Darren?
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Sorry, Cedar, Daren has commitments in Cape Town;) He and his horses have a "forever home" with me :D

Failing that, I thing it's time I made a plan to come to the Royal Highland next year if there is to be some Clydesdale glory to admire.
 
cedar said:
Ha ha can I come aswell ancient hacker ;)
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Of course! The only criterion is that you must be accompanied by Clydie-type handsomeness, to qualify for a "forever home". I should warn you though that South African weather is not quite as perfect as we like people to think.:eek: In truth, I've seen better weather in North Wales, quite a lot!
 
cedar said:
If phantom has plenty of food he would definitely go!! Food and cuddles and he is a happy boy lol
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Send him over as the advance party to check out the local conditions :D ooooh to have that face of his looking out of my stables every day would be heaven. He really is a stunner, so distinctive. And well-named indeed. I am truly envious.
 
Lol. He would prob go quite happily ;) tho I have to say he doesn't realise he's a heavy. Thinks he's a race horse most of the time ( I don't have the heart to tell him he's not). Named after phantom of the opera as you may have guessed. It does get shorted to the unfortunate name of fanny tho! Or mr p if I'm being polite :)
 
Hi Lisa,

From what you describe, it sounds like feather mites, which most heavies suffer from.

I treat my boy with a twice yearly injection of dectomax which kills them & the eggs that they lay and it's also a wormer. I know some people use Frontline spray but I never have. I also use pig oil & sulphur on the legs which helps and also keeps the feathers in good condition. If using the pig oil & sulphur, I would patch test first as some horses react to the sulphur.

Just a word of caution, left untreated it can be really uncomfortable for the horse. Before my boy was rescued by his previous owner he was just left and he ended up with a massive infection, cracked heels and his feather being stuck in the puss in his heels. The vet said that the infection was so bad that it he hadn't had been treated when they did, he would have to have been pts.
 
Hi Claire,

She was treated for mites before I bought her. I got my vet up to check they had cleared up and she was happy that the mites were gone - the vet said it was just a build up and I should try to moisten it and comb it out. I am just weary of putting anything on that might make it worse so wondered if anyone had any suggestions. I have the vet coming tomorrow for her vaccinations so will get her to have another look.

Thank for your reply :)
 
Hi Lisa,

You need to pick off the white dandruff as that is the mites. Treatment won't make it any worse. Where is the dandruff, is it behind the knees as that it a typical place that they infest? If you don't do anything it will get worse and you will eventually see black scabs and sores from the horse rubbing/biting and then it can be quite uncomfortable.
 
Lisa I forgot to add, when was your horse treated and what with? I know with Dectomax you have to have two lots of injections twice a year, four weeks apart. The first injection kills the mites and the second prevents and kills the eggs from hatching that the first lot laid. Chances are if your horse only had one lot of treatment, the eggs have hatched and there is infestation again - sorry!
 
Jack, my handsome boy (well in my eyes) Not a full clydesdale (Clydesdale x Welsh D) but still a heavy.





Looking a bit porky.




Look how fluffy my feathers are, i think i can fly.




Christmas time


 
Nostromo, Jack is a very handsome chap - my kind of Clydie-x because I wouldn't need an extension ladder for hopping on his back. He looks a real sweetie too, a good combination in the breeding. He certainly got his share of feathers, really good looking. I continue to do :D:D (the green grin of happy envy!)
 
Ancient Hacker said:
Sorry, Cedar, Daren has commitments in Cape Town;) He and his horses have a "forever home" with me :D

Failing that, I thing it's time I made a plan to come to the Royal Highland next year if there is to be some Clydesdale glory to admire.
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Hahaha, I'll be on the next plane over! :D

Yeah, I'm hoping to get over to the RHS this year - I didn't make it last year on account of not wanting to be towed out of the muddy car park!

That is, of course, if my Hunter and Lass duties don't stop me!
 
I took a trip with Bracken's owner once to go and see his breeder - and, of course, to see some of his youngsters! And he had a few for us to look at! :)

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Ooooh my lordy, those baby Clydies are to die for!!! The first couple of pics really stole my heart :o

This my boy, Alfie. He's a 2yo Clyde x Welsh D and has a heart of gold. I couldn't be without him and can't wait for our adventures together to really begin once we can go out and about when he is backed. This photo has pride of place in my house, every time I look at his not-so-little face my heart literally melts. Love him loads :D
 
I don't own or ride a Clydie but this one took my fancy a lot. Photo taken at the Lonach Games, in Strathdon Aberdeenshire. the men all come over the hills in Highland dress and this is the only horse bringing up the rear. It is the most atmospheric Games (and you get to see Billy Connolly and his Hollywood pals too)

 
Apparently that was the closest anyone had been to that wee guy in the ten days since he'd been born. I sat on the ground beside his mum and looked down to pretend I was fiddling with my camera. When I thought he'd come a bit closer, I flicked the camera switch on, turned it to face him and simply clicked and hoped for the best!
 
Come on now, play fair - you CAN'T be posting pics of Clydie foals, it's just too much for me. The cuteness factor is immeasurable! We're now progressing to the stage of an irrefutable need for 2 Clydies to ride, and a foal to pamper.
This is dangerous territory!
(thanks all for the sweetest eye candy!)
 
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