Looking for Clydesdale

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melbobineau

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Hi. I have a french friend who will be looking for a Clydesdale horse in 1 year time. Does anyone know some respectable breeders or salers. I know that their ideal horse should be: Sabino and make over 16.3 hands adult at least. But I've forgotten if they prefer a mare or gelding. And of course not too pricy. Thank for your help.
 
If she wants a 16.3 sabino mare that is young and backed to ride/harness they are like hens teeth, if they are a good mare, owners keep them. They are also an endangered breed.

We bought Farra nearly two years ago, and I have not seen another 4 year old sabino clydesdale mare for sale since like her. I had to travel to Scotland from London, there was nothing that we were looking for in the south east.

You can pick up bay gelding youngsters - yearlings/two year olds more easily from some of the breeders and they go from about £1,500 - £2,000 upwards but are often just out the field so do need work.

You can contact the Clydesdale Society for breeders, or I can also recommend speaking to Kate Stevens of Arradoul Clydesdale - (07831) 106 872, she is very helpful and was looking out for what we wanted when Farra turned up out of the blue.

We paid £4,000 for Farra, 16.3 sabino mare. She was four, she is a registered and well bred mare and was being ridden, though very very green, though a great safe hack, and whilst never a replacement for old Cairo Clydesdale, as near to perfect as he was.
 
Thanks for the details. So if they want to buy a filly or a gelding it might be easier? From what you tell me if they want to by one for summer 2010, you will recommend them to start their search well in advance? From who did you buy yours? And do you have any pictures of your mare?
 
This is Farra, when she was 5. Is starting to fill out and grow as she is 6 on 1 May. She is about 16.3 so ideal for riding as not too big and a pleasure to ride, not at all heavy or on the forehand. She has just started schooling this year as she needed time to grow into herself.

Farra-Feb2009.jpg


and this is our beloved Cairo, aged 21

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They both love(d) jumping and did everything apart from driving and being in harness.

CrossCountry-1.jpg


When looking, I found finding a young mare impossible, I rang many breeders, looked in the heavy horse magazines, and scanned the internet. Only older mares, ten years plus or geldings and a few very young geldings were available and we did want a young sabino mare. Farra was pure luck, and only for sale due a change in her owner's circumstances, she was a private sale, and she had offers with moments of putting her up for sale. I was lucky to get her. Booked a flight and vetting and she was vetted, seen and bought within the hour of me arriving after a flight and then several hours of driving from Edinburgh airport. Paid cash and had her on the transporter the next day.

She is not a top class clydesdale, but is well bred and registered in the stud book of the Clydesdale Society, Sans Peur Suzi.
 
Cairo was a good old fashioned working type - 16.2 and solid, shorter legged, large shoulder - as they used to breed. He would have been 24 this year, but he died at 22. He had fought cancer since 7, had one eye and this did age him somewhat.

Farra is more of a show type, she has less bulk, longer legged and a far more flashy movement, a very silky coat and hair and is very very close behind:( She probably should have been taller, her parents were 18.1 and 17.2, but she had a rough time between weaning and nearly three, hence not as big as she could be at just under 16.3 but this is suits as perfectly.

She is starting to get width, and her ridden movement is more smoother and longer, Cairo had a fairly short stride, whereas she almost floats.

Temperament - she is actually more placid than him, although he was 99.9% bombproof, he could with an experienced rider give a evil buck for fun, and loved to prance along showing off. She so far is happy to respond but is not excitable. Both are loved by small kids and they can ride them safely.

Both are/were perfect horses for my OH, he still mourns Cairo, but Farra has helped him move on.

I hope you find something like our two, they take your heart over, and are a huge part of our lives and members of the family and honestly are no more trouble or costly than my gypsy cob and a lot less than my TBs have been over the years - they are total addiction to big gentle animals.
 
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