Family

• Equidae
  

Lifespan

• Generally 20 to 25 years
  

Size

• Height: 18 hands or approximately 6 feet
• Weight: 1800 to 2200 pounds
  

Origin

• The breed originated in Scotland in the mid 18th century.
• Can be found in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
  

Habitat

• Grassy fields for grazing.
  

Diet

• Farm: Depending on the farm, they usually eat grasses, hay, and grain.
• Each Clydesdale should eat 1% to 2% of their body weight in hay each day.
• Zoo: Offered Timothy hay at least 2 times daily, and 1 pound or more of grain in the morning and evening.
  

Reproduction

• Clydesdales reach sexual maturity at approximately 3 to 4 years of age.
• Gestation occurs for 11 months.
• Most foals are born in early spring and usually only one is born per year.
• Male foals are called colts and female foals are called fillies.
• Foals nurse from their mother for about 6 months.
  

Special Adaptations

• Clydesdale horses are cursorial (adapted for running).
• Specializations of the leg and foot enable Clydesdales to be strong runners.
• Horses are able to sleep or rest while standing or lying down as a result of years of being a prey animal in the wild.

Fun Facts

• Bay is the most popular color in the United States, but Clydesdales can also be black, brown, chestnut, or roan.
• Clydesdales are usually characterized by a white blaze face and 4 white legs, though the legs can be black.
  

Conservation Status

• IUCN: Not Evaluated
  
• CITES: Not Listed
  
• Clydesdales are listed as vulnerable by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. 
• Uses today include breeding, showing, driving, riding, hauling and farming. 
  

Sources

1. CITES Appendices. Accessed December 2012. www.cites.org
2. IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Accessed December 2012. www.iucnredlist.org