Equine Micro Site

It is believed that horses were first domesticated around 4,000 B.C. They have been domesticated to the point that only a small percentage of them are considered wild. In fact, the Przewalski horse is considered the only horse breed that is truly wild. Horses are members of the “equus” family, which is the ancient Greek word for quickness. Today there are more than 350 breeds of horses around the world.

Horses live approximately 25 to 30 years. But the oldest known horse actually lived to be 62 years old. A baby horse is called a foal, and is able to stand up and walk within one or two hours after they are born. When they reach adulthood, male horses are called “stallions” while the females are called “mares.”

The horse is known for its speed and endurance, which is one of the reasons it was so valuable before other modes of transportation came along. In 1886, Frank Hopkins (you might remember his character portrayed in the movie “Hidalgo”) rode from Texas to Vermont on a horse named “Joe” in just 31 days. The horse was also in excellent condition when he came to his destination. And, in the Middle-east, horses often run in 26 mile marathons that are won in just over an hour.

Horses have also played a significant role in the history of warfare. This was, if fact, one of the main reasons they were first domesticated around 6,000 years ago. Generally, light-weight horses were used to move quickly and carry light weapons. Later on medium-weight horses began to be used as well. These horses were used to transport heavier loads and carry heavily armored riders. Heavy-weight horses were generally not used in war until the middle ages. They were prized for their ability to carry large supply wagons and for their calm temperaments as they typically wouldn’t get distressed with things like cannons and guns going off around them.

Another thing that horses have aided their human masters in is farming. From plowing fields, planting, mowing, bailing, and many other things, the horse was an integral part of many farming civilizations and is still used in farming today. Typically, the preferred horse for farming tasks is the draft horse. These horses are preferred because of their size, strength, patience, and easy-going temperament. The average draft horse weighs about 2,000 pounds, while the biggest draft horse ever recorded was 7 feet 2 inches tall and weighed in at an astonishing 3,300 pounds.

Whether used for war, farming, transportation, or merely recreation, the horse has been deeply integrated into our culture and is probably the most useful animal man has domesticated.

Little can match the majesty and grace of a Clydesdale. They stand between 16 to 17 hands, 64 to 68 inches from the hoof to the withers (shoulders) and have impressively broad backs. The record for height of a Clydesdale is 20 hands that is 80 inches! At five foot two inches that would mean that the horse’s shoulders would have been one foot and six inches taller than me! That would have been quite a site.

The horse is named after the Scottish town where the draft horse was bred and eventually exported to the United States. The breed is believed to be more than 300 years old. The horse was used in farms commonly until the 1940′s when tractors became popular. A few dedicated breeders kept the breed’s line strong during World War II. After the Second World War the Clydesdale’s were used to advertise various beer brands and still are today by Anheuser-Busch, the owner of Budweiser.

Clydesdale’s as draft and workhorses were historically used to pull heavy loads, carriages or to pull farming implements. Today however they are sometimes used in English foxhunts and for usa womens sports. The breed is also commonly used in organic farming in the United States and in logging, where tractors are of no use in the narrow and uneven passageways of dense forests.

The horses are known for their feather, the long hair that falls below their knee to cover their hooves. The horse’s body and athleticism is best seen when it is in a trot. Its animated trot is characterized by a high kick of its feathered hooves from all four legs.

Clydesdales are typically brown, chestnut or black with a white stripe down the front of their face. Their feet are commonly white as well with a white underbelly.

Clydesdales foals are 180 lbs at birth and gain 4.4 lbs on average per day. The mare must produce 55 lbs of milk per day to sustain this development.

The breed was not only popular for its strength and size, but for its docility and surprising agility. The breed is nicknamed the gentle giant for its calm temperament.

Because of their size and temperament they are commonly used for crossbreeding with thoroughbred. This created a faster, lighter horse with an excellent temperament. Today numerous breeders exist in the United States and 600 foals are born every year in the country.