24/01/2024
🏴💙 PART 5 - THE CLYDESDALE 💙🏴
The heavy horse of Scotland, the breed was first stabilised in the favourable breeding area of the Clyde Valley, especially in Lanarkshire.
🏆 Turnout for the Clydesdale varies depending on if a stallion/gelding, mare, age and even to a lesser extent location - below is where we shall break it down ...
YOUNGSTOCK
Manes are left unplaited and tails are left long up to and including 2yr olds. Some people tie a band or ribbon around the dock of the tail about 2/3rds down, which improves the outline and shaping of the hind end and one assumes so judges can see the hocks too (please do correct if there is a different reason 🤔😁)
MARES
Clydesdale mares are shown with manes in natural state (although brushed and a little oil helps, and not natural state as in complete with mud, hay or the odd tree leaf as decoration 🤣)
Tails are either presented shaved with a bun and sprigs (much like the Shire) or fully plaited with a bun at the top and sprigs.
STALLIONS and GELDINGS
Presented fully plaited - manes are plaited with a 2 strand mane roll or "scotch rolls" with the method of plaiting being a "four way plait" - crossing two pieces of hair over the two pieces of coloured fabric creating a chequered pattern... much the same as you do to make the sprigs with the raffia.
Flights are positioned after the mane roll is done and generally Clydesdales wear fewer flights than the Shire, unusually 7 or 9, spaced out along the neck with a fan style flights being favoured.
Tails are as per the mares, either shaved or plaited with a bun and sprigs.
TAILS
As mentioned about, tails are either shaved or fully plaited, but either way, they always have a bun and sprigs. The sprigs are finished with two small sprig bows neatly pinned or tied in and the bun finished with ribbon, a tail bow or whilst proving popular is very much a continental thing, the bun bow.
NECKBAND
These are NOT worn traditionally and definitely not if shown North of the border or in Scotland, as handlers wear white stockmans coats and the number is worn on the arm.
Further south neckbands are acceptable 👌🏼
LOCATION
So as alluded to above, there are some things about a Clydesdale's turnout that is very much traditional and definitely correct in its "homeland" but as Clydesdales are a bit far and few between elsewhere in England, it is not unacceptable for mares to wear flights or even for the mane roll to be a shire mane roll. If you're the only Clyde in a field of Shires you want to stand out, or blend in, BUT, I do love people who stand firm with tradition and turnout correctly for the breed 🏆
🌈 COLOURS 🌈
Unsurprisingly Royal Blue and White is the favourite combination, with it's nod to Scottish heritage.
Modern ribbons allow for tartan ribbons to be used and whilst there are popular generic Scottish tartans, there are also tartan ribbons for areas - Such as Cornwall, in its gorgeous yellow and black and even a tartan ribbon for the New Forest. And "Clan" ribbons, which can be sourced, making flights very unique to your family heritage.
As ever, colours should always compliment your horse and your turnout 🏆👌🏼
WHATS IN A SET?
Our Clydesdale sets are available in Mare tail sets and Full sets
🏴 Mare tail sets - tail bow or bun bow and 2 pairs of sprig bows (always a pair spare)
🏴 Full sets - 9 flights, fleece mane rolls, neckband (optional), tail bow or bun bow, 2 pairs of sprig bows and ribbons.
Available in any colour combination or style - though it's worth adding that there may be a small additional cost if we use unique tartan or Clan ribbons which need to be sourced.
❗ As ever, all this information is my own, and where quoted from a book etc full credit will be given.
This is the turnout standard for Clydesdale's shown in the UK and may differ in Europe and worldwide. Please contact your breed societies for more information.❗
⛔ The artwork is my own please DO NOT pinch or reproduce ⛔
