DESCRIPTION OF THE" CLYDE 143 



1,600, although specimens of heavier weights are 

 sometimes found. The Clyde is tall, sixteen to seven- 

 teen hands, rangey, yet smooth and symmetrical, with 

 long head, medium or rather short neck, strong, short 

 legs heavily fringed below the knee with hair, "feather," 

 and unusually long, slanting shoulders for a draft -breed. 

 The length of shoulder and the rather unusual slant 

 indicate activity and ease of movement. They have a 

 kind, quiet disposition, good courage* and quite enough 

 spirit for heavy work. Some of the horses first imported 

 had poor feet and too long limbs. Recent importations 

 show great improvement, not only in these two points 

 but in others as well. Some of the Clydes are too small 

 at the waist, " wasp-waisted," in which case the floating 

 ribs are too short and the flank is too high. Both of 

 these characteristics, as well as the too steep rump, were 

 observable in some of the earlier importations. How- 

 ever, it should be said that if the flank were bred down 

 too low it would interfere with the long, rapid stride for 

 which the Clyde is especially noted. Then, too, the feet 

 of this breed, like those of all other draft-breeds, are 

 not always so good as might be desired. It may be said, 

 however, that few or none of these defects are discover- 

 able in the better specimens of the modern Clyde. 



Clydesdale, the valley of the Clyde river, which 

 extends with its tributaries through the counties of 

 Renfrewand Lanark, is fertile and moist, and hence it 

 is often difficult to secure horses with as hard and 

 cylindrical feet as desired. All large draft- breeds 

 incline to be flat-footed. Abundant hair, "feather," on 

 the lower part of the legs, is objectionable in many 



