Baby Clydesdale Horses and Clydesdale Foals
How do you save a rare breed? Find it’s purpose…
I am obvioulsy biased, but baby Clydesdale foals are the cutest horses in all creation. If you have ever laid eyes on a baby Clydesdale horse then you know why people fall for them. They are VERY cute, with their big ears, impossibly long legs and bushy fox like tails.
The most amazing thing about these giant babies is how quickly they grow into the docile gentle giants you are familiar with from the Budweiser Clydesdale Ads.
We have been breeding them here at Strathorn since 1939 and we work very closely with our friends Ronnie and Pete Black from The Collessie Stud to ensure we breed the very best. This is all to ensure the survival of Clydesdale breed for future generations to enjoy.
One of our 2020 foals, Baby Clydesdale Ally with his Mum. Ally is Sired by Collessie New Approach
I was passing Collessie the other week, so I asked Pete if I could nip in past to see this years crop of foals. Pete had an hour spare so as Ronnie manned the shop, Pete and I headed out to the paddock to meet the youngsters.
I have to say… if you ever get the chance to spend an hour in a field of Clydesdale foals, sell your house, sell your car and sell your children to do it if you have to. It was one of the most fun hours I’ve spent.
Trying to have a serious discussion about the challenges associated with breeding these One Ton Teddy Bears while the leggy fluffballs skip around you, chasing dogs, chasing each other and nibbling your shoulders is next to impossible, but Pete and I somehow managed to have a great chat about all things Clydesdale.
Fortunately for you, I managed to record the whole converstion. You can watch it in bite sized chunks below.
Scroll on to watch. I have broken it down into the best bits, where we discuss:
- Tips on how to bring on Clydesdales for showing riding and Driving
- Advice on breaking to Ride and Drive – how to ensure they are ready when the time comes
- How to tell what colour a foal will turn out
- How genetics plays into the colouring of the next generations
- How stallions are managed between herds to promote genetic diversity
- Modern breeding techniques – Embryo Transfer
- What we are doing and what more can be done to preserve and promote this rare breed
Part 1 – Fourteen Foals
Pete told me they had fourteen foals born this year, a near record which is great news for the breed. We meet a Daughter of Collessie Monarch who has already been out and won some prizes at the shows. We also discuss the value of spending time with them (hardly a chore) in terms of how it desensitizes them and prepares them for the challenges of life ahead.
Part 2 – In Praise Of In Hand
We have learned the best way to prepare your Clydesdale for riding and driving is to take them out and show them in hand first. It’s great if you can do it as a youngster, but don’t shy away from showing an older horse. Remember, it’s about letting them see the world before you are up on their back in the show ring.
SPOILER ALERT – the foals get a bit cheeky with the poor wee dog in this one! He’s having fun too though 🙂
Part 3 – The Colour Lottery
Pete explains their colouring, how to tell what colour they will turn out, and the challenges of trying to breed horses of a particular colour.
Learn if the colours are hereditary, or if they skip generations.
Part 4 – You can’t keep them all (sadly)
Graham and Pete discuss life after being a foal, what the future holds for the youngsters. Will they make they Stallion grade? Will they hit the show circuit? end up as a Ride/Drive at Strathorn perhaps???
(spoiler alert , I did NOT have the lorry with me that day… boooooo)
Part 5 – Stallions on tour
How do you keep the gene pool diverse? what do you do with a Stallion before he comes back on his own progeny? Collessie have a solution for that as Pete explains where Strathorn Ally’s dad is now.
Part 6 – Technology to the Rescue. Clydesdale Embryo Transfers.
When multi-award wining Champion Clydesdale Collessie Jennifer suffered internal injuries that meant she could no longer carry a foal to full term, Pete and Ronnie turned to Premier AI for help. Hear the full story here, and see the very cute results….
Part 7 – If you want to save a breed it needs a job.
Breeding is a major part of the equation, but we want the breed to thrive, not just survive. To thrive it needs one thing. A purpose. Without a purpose, the Clydesdale becomes a curiosity in a zoo with an ever narrowing gene pool. Give a breed a purpose and it has a future.
Ridden Clydesdales is something we have been promoting here at Strathorn ever since Australian Super Groom Sam Weir rode Jake (AKA Sir Lancelot) side saddle at the Royal Highland show in 2002. You can read the full story here
Pete and I agree, the ridden class is the key to the future sucess of the breed and we are very proud of Ruth and George for being the early pioneers in getting these classes started, and of course all the poeple who now compete to make them one of the most popular spectacles at shows around the UK some 22 years later.
Part 8 – What can you do to keep the breed alive?
We wrap up our conversation with a summary of the part everyone can play. Breeding is only one – albeit very hard – part. We encourage people to get involved, go to the shows, meet the clydesdales, and who knows, maybe even buy one and you’ll be the next Blair Champion like Collessie King Edward!
They Grow up so quick…
Bred by Pete Black at Collessie Stud, Owned and trained by George and Ruth Skinner of Strathorn Farm. Collessie King Edward takes the Ridden Championship at Blair in 2022. George spotted his potential as a foal on a day he was dropping of his mares to the stallion. Edward came home in the lorry that day and the rest is history…
Hungry for more? If you haven’t had enough yet, keep scrolling
Feeding the Baby Clydesdales
Feeding time for the baby clydesdales
George Skinner feeds his mares and foals. They need a good diet for both mother and foal. The mother needs plenty energy to supply good quality milk and the foals have a lot of growing to do.
Baby Clydesdales are a sight to behold! With their distinctively soft features and huge size (even when they are born!), they remain one of the most iconic breeds of horses today. As they mature into adulthood, it’s amazing to see them go from tiny foals with clumsy steps to strong adults galloping across fields with grace and agility.
Whether you’re an experienced equestrian or just someone who loves admiring beautiful animals, you have to agree that baby Clydesdales have to be the cutest horses around
Ally taking a walk. He has grown up to be a big black and white (sometimes blue roan) Gelding.
With their distinctively soft features and huge size – even from birth, these baby horses could be as big as a full grown Welsh section A. They remain one of the most iconic breeds of horses today. As they mature into adulthood, it’s amazing to see them go from tiny foals with clumsy steps to strong adults galloping across fields with grace and agility.
Whether you’re an experienced equestrian or just someone who loves admiring beautiful animals, you have to agree that these babies have to be the cutest horses around. Just take a look at Ally, he was born with a fluffy white coat, and now he is a beautiful blue roan colour. He wouldn’t be a Budweiser Clydesdale, because they have a bay coat with four white stockings, but he doesn’t care, he’s happy to be a Strathorn clydesdale with his black mane, black tail and blue roan coat.
Sunny, born on the first Sunny day of the year. He now lives life as a Stallion in Ireland
Mum needs a lot of good milk for her growing boy
Frequently asked questions
How big are Clydesdale foals?
From birth, Clydesdale horses can already stand at an impressive 11-12 hands high (3.6ft to 4ft), with legs that might make you think they are part baby giraffe! They are already as big as a Welsh section A pony.
Are Clydesdales good mothers?
When it comes to mothering instincts, right from birth, Clydies excel in this area. These mares form strong bonds with their baby horses almost immediately after birth and will fiercely protect them from any perceived danger. Their attentive care allows foals to grow rapidly during their first year of life as well as learn important socialization skills that prepare them for life as adults in a herd setting.
How much are Clydesdale foals?
The cost of a Clydesdale foal can vary depending on several factors such as age, gender, bloodline, and training level. However, on average, a Clydesdale foal can cost anywhere from £3,000 to £10,000. Some Clydesdale foals may even be more expensive if they have championship bloodlines or are already trained for specific purposes such as riding or pulling wagons for the famous Budweiser Clydesdales team. Find out about the cost of Clydesdales here
How much do Clydesdale foals weigh?
At birth, Clydesdale foals typically weigh around 150 pounds. However, they can grow rapidly, gaining an average of 3-4 pounds per day in their first few months of life. By the time they are weaned at around 6 months old, they can weigh anywhere from 600 to 800 pounds.
How big is a Clydesdale foal?
At birth, they stand around 3-4 feet tall at the shoulder and can grow up to 6 feet tall at maturity. They are also known for their distinctive feathering on their lower legs and their blaze, a white marking on their face that can resemble the Budweiser logo.
What two breeds make a Clydesdale?
They are a breed of draft horse that originated in Scotland, and they are the result of crossbreeding two other draft horse breeds: the Flemish Stallion and Native lanarkshire mares. The breed was developed in the 18th century and is now recognized as one of the most iconic and recognizable breeds of draft horse, often featured in Budweiser’s famous Super Bowl commercials.
What do you call a baby Clydesdale?
A baby Clydesdale is called a foal, which is the term used to refer to all young horses under the age of one year. Budweiser’s famous team of Clydesdales often includes foals in their advertisements, showcasing their adorable looks and playful personalities.
How big are baby Clydesdales?
New born Clydesdale foals typically stand around 3-4 feet tall at the shoulder. They stand up very quickly after they are born. However, they can grow quickly and can be anywhere from 5 to 6ft tall by the time they are weaned at around 6 months old.
How long is a Clydesdale pregnant for?
Like all horses, Clydesdales have a gestation period of around 11 months, or approximately 340 days. During this time, the mare will carry the foal and give birth to a beautiful blaze-faced, feathered foal.
