THE CLYDESDALE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 76, 30 March 1928, Page 15

THE CLYDESDALE.

ITS ORIGIN' AND PROGRESS. Like all British breeds of live-stock, the Clydesdale is the fruit of the successful unions of animals selected from other breeds, and mated with native stock jf the home land. The Valley of the Clyde was noted as tar back as the early part of the 17th century jfor the quality of its heavy horses, which were evolved out of the war type horße in previous use. Flemish blood through one stallion was said to have been introduced in that district about 1650. The origin of the Clydesdale is very similar to that of the Shire, which was built up of almost the same elements.

Notwithstanding this, the two breeds are now widely different in type, but to the fact that breeders of each have had a different ideal in mind, a factor which has more influence in njoulding the character of a breed than any blood lines upon which the foundation has been laid.

Excellent Types. Coming nearer to present times, while credit must bo given to such hoFses as Damley and Prince of Wales, on account of the marked influence they had in moulding the modern type, it must not be overlooked that there must have been some excellent types existing prior to their period, because it i£ hardly possible otherwise for any sire to make such a vast change in a breed in the space of a few generations.

The horse that did most notable work in fixing the Clydesdale type was one called Sir Everard, a son of Darnley. Sir Everard was the sire of the famous Baron's Price, which had an unprecedented career, eclipsed only by his son Baron Buchlyvie, whose influence on present-day stock is remarkable. He was sold at public auction in 1911 for £9,500, and stood for public service at a fee of 200gns. a mare.