Clydesdale fans?

[DarenCogdon]

Apologies if some of these have been posted already...!

A friend of mine owns a little trekking centre out at Kirknewton, in West Lothian, and she has TWO big hairy cuddle monsters: Prince and Mel. And yes, I've ridden them both!

Last year, I took a friend of mine with me to have his first hack, and while he was on a little grey Highland called Ozzie, I saddled up on Princey-wincey.

Prince, ready to rock and roll (preferably without the roll!)

Mel, topping up her fuel tanks

Gotta love her eyes!

Dave on Ozzie

(For the record, I bloody hate trying to take photos of people behind me!)

Prince (well, his head, anyway!) and Mel

"What the bloody hell is that?!"

Prince off-roading

Nearly home

Naked Mel

Prince

A big hairy monster, and a little hairy monster!

(And yes, I did try to sneak them both home!)

 

[Ancient Hacker]

Daren, you keep the cat, I'll take the Clydesdale! Argh I'm quite frustrated in my Clydie quest - lots of the breeders in Scotland seem to have websites, pics, phone numbers but no email!

I can, of course, use the telephone but having spent a bit of time in Scotland, I am painfully aware of the potential for a Monty Python type conversation between my accent, their accent, and our rather crackly telephone lines.
Maybe I should start a "help me find my dream Clydesdale" thread?

 

[DarenCogdon]

No, I've staked a claim on Prince, I'm afraid!

You don't need to start a thread when you have all the help you need here!

 

[Ancient Hacker]

No, I've staked a claim on Prince, I'm afraid!

You don't need to start a thread when you have all the help you need here!

As advised by Daren, here goes: I need all the help I can get!
I probably mentioned the hubby decided after 20 years of mucking out and pushing wheelbarrows but never riding, "I wouldn't mind a Clydesdale". This is a (doubtless expensive) opportunity not to be missed

And as we have lots of space, it may well be that two Clydies would look most handsome together, but not quite as riveting as half a dozen.
There are not many available her in South Africa, but I may be able to get one or two good ones; usually sold as youngsters as there is an apparent shortage of purebred Clydesdales in South Africa.

Here are my needs:
- a going Clydesdale from a very good breeding line
- suitable for an experienced (but not necessarily good!) rider... as of course I have to spend six months riding the horse to ensure it will be calm and safe for the husband (you can see where this is going....)
- preferably a mare, with potential as a broodmare (old wisdom here is that the best partnership for a male rider is with a mare; possibly that's a crock though, but as we only have geldings at the moment, a mare would be a nice change; it might be fun to have a foal at some point)
- gentle and calm temperament above all else
- very hairy legs

Budget: "you get what you pay for" (shudder at cost of importing to Africa!)

So my plea to the Clydesdale lovers: any advice, suggestions, links and warnings you may wish to impart, please feel free. I've been most impressed with what I've seen on this thread... slight bias towards the Colessie horses, but I know that there are some fabulous breeders in the UK and especially in Scotland.

Thanks again to DC for starting this thread and letting me take it off at a tantalising tangent!

All suggestions and advice would be deeply appreciated! on the thread or by pm.

 

[Spit That Out]

As advised by Daren, here goes: I need all the help I can get!
I probably mentioned the hubby decided after 20 years of mucking out and pushing wheelbarrows but never riding, "I wouldn't mind a Clydesdale". This is a (doubtless expensive) opportunity not to be missed

And as we have lots of space, it may well be that two Clydies would look most handsome together, but not quite as riveting as half a dozen.
There are not many available her in South Africa, but I may be able to get one or two good ones; usually sold as youngsters as there is an apparent shortage of purebred Clydesdales in South Africa.

Here are my needs:
- a going Clydesdale from a very good breeding line
- suitable for an experienced (but not necessarily good!) rider... as of course I have to spend six months riding the horse to ensure it will be calm and safe for the husband (you can see where this is going....)
- preferably a mare, with potential as a broodmare (old wisdom here is that the best partnership for a male rider is with a mare; possibly that's a crock though, but as we only have geldings at the moment, a mare would be a nice change; it might be fun to have a foal at some point)
- gentle and calm temperament above all else
- very hairy legs

Budget: "you get what you pay for" (shudder at cost of importing to Africa!)

So my plea to the Clydesdale lovers: any advice, suggestions, links and warnings you may wish to impart, please feel free. I've been most impressed with what I've seen on this thread... slight bias towards the Colessie horses, but I know that there are some fabulous breeders in the UK and especially in Scotland.

Thanks again to DC for starting this thread and letting me take it off at a tantalising tangent!

All suggestions and advice would be deeply appreciated! on the thread or by pm.

http://www.shiresandclydesdales.com/

http://www.arclidshiresandclydesdales.com/e107/news.php

http://www.shire-clyde.com/

http://www.clydesdalehorsesociety.com/

 

[Tayto]

It was a lovely sunny day here the other day - I got some piccys of Tash having a sunbathe in the field - I love when she is relaxed and her bottom lip goes all droopy!

 

[star26]

Wow! Some brilliant photos here guys!

 

[DarenCogdon]

A friend on Facebook has a small stud going, with cobs and Clydesdales being the main focus.

http://swordaleknockandhu.webs.com/

I really must look out some more photos to whet AH's appetite...

 

[DarenCogdon]

There's a very nice-looking Clydie-X gelding for sale at the moment - quite a reasonable price, too. If you're interested, let me know....!

 

[DarenCogdon]

Damn you, Budweiser, this advert gets my eyes watering every time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPG7PcI67dE

 

[Brontie]

Definitely the place to go for a Shire or a Clydesdale, seen a very nice grey shire I like the look of but funds wont allow! Determined to save and get one from here one day!

http://www.shiresandclydesdales.com/

 

[Ancient Hacker]

The Budweiser stuff on youtube is fabulous, isn't it Daren! I don't often feel envy in the true sense over anything, but I'm afraid the Budweiser horses make me quite jealous! AND I don't even like beer

Brontie I have no idea about Clydie or Shire prices but I shall no doubt find out soon enough It's the import cost that is going to take a large toll on the bank balance, too, I think. But what price do we set ion true happiness and fulfilment? And I shall have to point that out to my banker; I hope he finds himself equally enthused

 

[DarenCogdon]

A friend of mine in Australia has recently featured in a radio interview and an article about some of the work she's done with heavy horses:

http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2013/05/18/3762188.htm

 

[abbijay]

Ancient hacker, if you're thinking of buying unseen from some of the dealers mentioned on this thread try to find out if they have good or bad reputations first! There are many reputable dealers in the UK but there are some very unscrupulous people too! Good luck in your quest x

 

[Ancient Hacker]

Ancient hacker, if you're thinking of buying unseen from some of the dealers mentioned on this thread try to find out if they have good or bad reputations first! There are many reputable dealers in the UK but there are some very unscrupulous people too! Good luck in your quest x

Hello Abbijay - thank you! Yes, I'm trying to rummage through all potential sources through this thread, and on the web.

Unfortunately there are unscrupulous dealers dotted around the planet, that can make things more difficult for the genuine breeders, so I am approaching with caution. I'm also not going to buy anything unseen; I've done that once in my life, on the recommendation of a very experienced friend and it was a nutter (the horse; maybe the friend too ) Ideally I'd like to sift through the likely breeders, narrow them down, and then when I have a manageable number I'll pop over to the UK.

Thanks for the helpful advice, it's greatly appreciated

 

[ClaireBlyth]

Just thought I'd post a couple of pics of my full Clydie and a Clydie X warmblood. Getting them to stand still and pose was a tad tricky though!

 

[Tayto]

Got a few nice piccys of Tash at our first ever show! Thought I would share them with you

In hand class - (we were placed 1st)

Tash with her buddy Oliver - he makes her look tiny!

Posing for the best turned out class (we were placed 5th)

 

[DarenCogdon]

She looks lovely - although I like her pal, too!

 

[Ancient Hacker]

Yippee, more eye candy to feed my shrivelling soul! I've been absent due to the awful experience of having to put down one of my boys - he did a tendon, presumably while cavorting in the paddocks; no amount of scans, equine vets, second opinions, third opinions etc could offer any conclusion other than the fact that we would not be able to keep him out of pain, even as a field ornament.

Many tears have been shed, but when I look at this thread I feel a LOT better.
All that gorgeousness can certainly cheer one up. That handsome Oliver chap out with the beautiful Tash really is a stunner.

 

[DarenCogdon]

Well, wouldn't you know it, but on the way to Lanark last night, we drove past a field containing not one, but TWO Clydesdales - a mare and a foal!

Sadly I couldn't get pics, but I'm pretty sure the mare was one I bumped into a couple of years ago at the same place. Will try to find pics.

 

[DarenCogdon]

Here's the same mare, but with a previous foal from a couple of years ago....

 

[DarenCogdon]

Well, it's the Royal Highland Show next week, and you know what that means?!

Yep, LOTS, and LOTS of Clydesdales!

I'm really hoping I can get to go this year, as I didn't make it last year, so missed out on gratuitous Clydesdale cuddling!

Fingers crossed I can actually get away from my Penicuik Hunter duties to go and have a look for an hour. Or three...

 

[DarenCogdon]

Can't remember if I posted this before....?

 

[DarenCogdon]

A few photos of Sovereign and Storm from today:

Sovereign

Storm

Then this happened:

 

[Ancient Hacker]

DC, those are classic pics I hope you were listening very carefully when Storm's head popped into your car. Because Storm was clearly saying "take me to the Ancient Hacker! My pal can sit in the back seat, Sovereign's just a wee chap really"

I'm very envious - I've had a zebra pop her head in my Landrover window once, which was quite a surprise, but never a Clydesdale.

 

[DarenCogdon]

Actually, I think Sovereign is the bigger of the two!! I'm not 100% on that, but I remember seeing him as a two-year-old, and he was pretty massive then!

I love going down to see these guys, especially Storm as he's just a big cuddle monster! And that mane is always a sight to behold!

I could be wrong, but when I saw him yesterday, I was convinced Storm's tail had gone almost pure WHITE from the last time I'd seen him (which was about January).

 

[DarenCogdon]

Went to the Highland Show today, having missed it last year, and needless to say, there was LOTS of gratuitous Clydesdale cuddling!!

Such as this:

 

[DarenCogdon]

Well, be warned there's gratuitous Clydesdale imagery here! There's a couple of Belgians (and they are HUGE!) but it's mostly Clydies!

Clydesdale six-horse hitch

Belgians

Percherons

Clydesdales!!

"What?"

Zzzzzz.....

Baron - ex-ILPH and now the pride of the Glasgow City Council herd. He's won loads of stuff!

One of the Canadian-bred Belgians. This was one of the smaller ones. At 19hh!!

And bigger still...!

"You're gonna need a bigger box!"

Sleepy Clydesdale

One of Tom Tennant's horses - and another big one!

Sleepy baby

Floppy lips

More Clydie cuddles - yes, this is a different horse!

 

[kstoyle]

Hi Everyone,

Thought I would ask you all a question, I am thinking about showing my Clydesdale and have a few questions:
1) I am going to do a heavy and hairy show does these mean I will need to plait him like a Clydesdale (I have no idea where to start!) or can just make sure he is clear and tidy?
2) His feathers are really long and turning up on themselves, should I trim them?
3) How long should I let his mane grow?

Any input or advice would be gratefully received!!

 

[DarenCogdon]

Bumping this thread up since it's been a bit quiet on the hairy monster front (at least from me!)

The latest issue of Horse and Rider includes a feature on a dressage-performing Clydesdale - well worth a look!