138 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



that reason they far surpass all others in length of stride, in straightness and 

 sprightliness of movement, in their abiUty to keep their hocks together, with 

 mechanical accuracy of motion, whether walking or trotting. 



The color of the Clydesdale is usually bay or brown, with a 

 white star in the forehead or blaze or stripe on the face and with 

 all or part of the legs, up to the knees and hocks, white. Black, 

 gray, and chestnut occasionally occur. Gray is not popular from 

 a color point of view in Scotland, though lately growing in favor, 

 while chestnut is said to indicate Shire blood in the pedigree. 



The height and weight of the Clydesdale is a subject of distinct 

 importance in view of more or less criticism of the breed in regard 

 to lack of weight. The height of the mature stallion should be 

 about i6.V to 17 hands, with the mares two inches or so lower. 

 Sir Everard (5352) stood 17^ hands high; Prince of Albion 

 (6178), i6| hands; and Flashwood (3604), 17 hands; and these 

 represent models of the breed in Scotland. Weights of 2000 

 pounds for the stallion and 1800 for the mare, in mature form, 

 represent good standards, though somewhat above the average. 

 However, horses under show conditions, to meet the most exacting 

 competition, are expected to exceed the above weights. 



The first Clydesdales brought to America were probably taken 

 to Canada, doubtless on account of the love of Scotch settlers 

 there for their favorite breed. The following represent the earlier 

 importations, the first occurring in 1842 : Gray Clyde 78, importer, 

 Archibald Ward, Markham, Ontario, 1842; Sovereign 18 1, 

 importer, R. Johnson, Scarborough, Ontario, 1845 ; Cumber- 

 land 106, importer, David Roundtree, Jr., Weston, Ontario, 

 1850; George Bjichanan 182, importer, John Wilson, Oshawa, 

 Ontario, 1851; Bay Wallace 5, importer, William Cochrane, 

 Claremont, Ontario, 1854. 



Along in the seventies Clydesdales were brought to the United 

 States in a small way, both through Canada and by direct impor- 

 tation. In the early eighties they were brought over in larger 

 numbers, especially in 1881, and between then and 1892 the 

 trade increased greatly and several thousand stallions and mares 

 were brought across the water and distributed over the country, 

 but in recent years comparatively few horses of the breed have 

 been imported to the United States. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



