THE CLYDESDALE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19700, 29 January 1926, Page 4

THE CLYDESDALE.

HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF BREED. MORE STUDIES IN TYPE. FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS. VI. The question of what characteristics and features should be found in the-true typo of the Clydesdale breed of horses has been partia’ly dealt with in the proceeding article.’ To continue! An undue length of back is a defect by no means uncommon in Clydesdales. This, combined with flat, badly strung ribs produces an almost nondescript, appearance, which is anything but prepossessing. These defects once noticed by the breeder should bo eliminated at once. Failing this, it will bo found that the strain will not infrequently develop a low back and an appearance of lack of control when in harness. The barrel forms little more than a bridge between the rear and fore legs. The hind end of tlie Clydesdale can be summed un in a few words. If you can. get broad,' low-set quarters, with muscular thighs, descending into broad and welldeveloped hooks, you can say you have the typical Clydesdale in the hindquarters at least. Narrow hocks render the animal liable to thoroughpin. Straight hocks are unpopular, but if the adjacent parts are proportionate and sound, little objection could be raised in this direction. But when it is- considered that the Clydesdale’s chief sphere of usefulness is in ihe field of solid, hard work, it will readily be seen that tho sjjghtij- beet hodc i» the «spedar formation

as the straight limb scarcely provides the same propelling power as that slightly] bent. The muscle-s surrounding the hock should have that rippling smoothness which tells of strength and linn ness. Any suggestion of flabbiness or fleshy hocks should immediately be rejected. From the hock to tlie ground tbe leg should be short, broad and flat. Good clean lines and u slight inclination forwards are points which carry a lot of weight in the show-ring and the dealer’s yard. Sinews standing out from the bone and covered with silky flowing hair rising to the bottom of hook joint as in tlio fore-legs, are details of great importance. The hind pasterns should be slightly larger than the fore ones, and are generally a little more inclined. Care, however, should be taken that the inclination does not give the impression that the pasterns are supporting the quarters. Short, steep pasterns cause the horse to dig its toes deep into the ground, by reason of which they are to be condemned. The average height of tho Clydesdale should be about 16 hands 2 inches, but a 17 hand stallion is by no means uncommon, or any the less true to type because of it. The popular colour is brown —a deep, dark shade. A little dapple improves the appearance. Black is not disliked and is quite common in some districts. Grey is not in high favour, and colts of this shade are pretty good if they are kept entire. Many notable prize-winners have been greys, but a certain feeling, amounting to almost superstition, has arisen, that greys are not worth while, and the castration of grey colts is almost universal. Chestnuts are spurned absolutely, many maintaining that they are of impure origin. An occasional roan is to be seen, but here again the suspicion of impurity in the strain makes it very unpopular among breeders. White markings are very common, and can almost be taken as the hallmark of purity. Few Clydesdales are devoid of any trace of white on at least one leg and a white star or stripe—"ratch” breeders call it—on the face is highly prized. Specially is a clearly defined stripe sought after. Standing tho horse should be evenly and firmly set on his feet. Any inclination inwards should not be encouraged, while an outward slant is a dangerous fault as it grows rapidly worse as age comes on. In walking the true type should, in coming towards the examiner, approach with the head well carried and erect, and a well measured and uniform stride. The feet should be lifted well clear of the ground and replaced regularly and evenly and with apparent deliberation. A side view will satisfy concerning the unison of hind and -fore actions and the evenness of action. The hind feet should be' placed down as deliberately ns the fore legs. At the same time the raising and bending of the leg at tho hook is important. It the hocks are turned out in moving them forward it is not a good action, and breeders eye askance horse or mare showing such a tendency. In trotting the legs should bend at the knees and hocks, and a hind view should disclose almost all the inside of the fqr>; hoofs at every step. If an animal is inclined to move wide behind, the fault should be easily detected from the rear. Though active, the Clydesdale is generally possessed of an equable and docile disposition, and should be easily broken in. if reasonable methods be adopted. His constitution, as a rule, occasions the breeder little concern, and he can withstand the rigours of cold and wet better than most draught horses. The many qualities of the Clydesdale have earned for him a great popularity, and in the last half century the demand for good brood mares and stallions has become great in almost every country in the world where good strong, handy horses are required. The Clydesdale horse is naturally seen to the best advantage in harness at his work, whether it be in plough or other farm implement, springcart, or wagon. There can surely be no finer sight to a lover of draught horses than a well-bred and suitably matched team toiling away in harness with the steam rising from haunches whose glossy surface covering rippling muscle and sinew tell of splendid condition and great strength. He is an intelligent animal, and once well broken in will respond readily to the voice, making the plough lines almost unnecessary. His long, measured step in the furrow is one of his finest characteristics.