The Clydesdale is the Scottish horse breed developed for pulling heavy farm and commercial loads.
Clydesdales originated in the valley of the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Local mares were crossed with Flemish stallions during the eighteenth century, creating powerful horses suited to agriculture, road transport, and industrial work. The breed took its name from the region where it was developed.
Clydesdales are heavy draft horses with substantial bodies, large hooves, and distinctive feathering around the lower legs. Their coats are commonly bay, brown, black, or roan, often with white facial markings and white legs. Selective breeding has shaped both their strength and their characteristic appearance.
Mechanization sharply reduced the number of working draft horses during the twentieth century. Clydesdales nevertheless remain important in exhibitions, parades, conservation work, and commercial displays, including the famous Budweiser hitch in the United States.