comparison between the Belgian draft horse and the Clydesdale

The Belgian draft horse vs Clydesdale are two equine breeds originating from European countries.

They are among the strongest breeds and widely used for work and also gain massive popularity as riding and show horses.

Despite being draft horses with some similar features, those breeds vary in many other characteristics. Throughout this post, you will find out how comparable they look and how they differ in various aspects, which is helpful especially when it comes to owning a suitable one.

How Similar Are The Belgian Draft Horse vsClydesdale?

They are both pretty meaty, a common characteristic of draft horses, and strong enough to pull large weights.

Like the Clydesdale, the Belgian horse has many white markings through the main coat (on the legs, face, mane, and tail).

It is also true that both the Belgian draft horse and the Clydesdale are easy to train, willing to work and eager to learn.

Now, let’s check out how different these horses are.

The Differences

	Belgian Draft Horse	Clydesdale
Image
Origination	The Brabant region of Belgium	Clydesdale, Scotland
Life span	30 years	20 to 25 years
Average Weight	2000 pounds	1600 to 2400 pounds
Average Height	168 to 173 centimeters	162 to 183 centimeters
Colors	* Most are chestnut * Can be sorrel and roan	* Bay or brown are popular * Can be black, sorrel, or roan, grey, and chestnut
Temperament	Kind, gentle, calm, docile, steady and easy-to-handle	Alert, active, gentle, responsive
Uses	History: * Known for carrying knights in war * Post-war period: they were used in farms and also for meat while in the USA they were used for agricultural purposes and pleasure riding. Today: * Used for draft works (plowing, logging, pulling sleighs, hitches, and carriages). * Used for pleasure riding, show jumping, dressage, and endurance.	History: * Agricultural purposes (heavy draft, pulling freight wagons or plowing steep, rough hills); * Crossed with thoroughbreds and quarter horses to produce strong, heavier-boned riding horses. Today: popular in shows and parades and used as fancy carriage horses
Body type
Body	Muscular and powerful with a square head, heavily muscled gaskins	More streamlined with strong and muscular shoulders
Face	Straight or slightly concave	Wide (usually has a white stripe on the face), straight with a slight convex nature, intelligent-looking eyes
Tails	Longer	docked
Neck	Short, muscular	long and well-arched; shows more crest
Hindquarters	Short, broad back	Bulky
Hooves	Medium-sized	Larger and round (around five pounds each)
Feather	Has some feathering	Has heavy feathering in lower legs

Generally speaking, while the Belgian draft horse seems to be shorter, stockier, and also, a little longer-lived, the Clydesdale is available in more colors.

It is impossible to say which breed is better and deserves to be the winner in this comparison. Ultimately, it depends on whether you care more about their uses or appearance, their strength or temperament.

Conclusion

Those are similarities and differences you can consider to identify a more appropriate horse breed.

We hope that the above comparison between the Belgian draft horse and the Clydesdale will be useful for you.

>>> Read more about the different between Clydesdale & Shire Horse!

Clydesdale horses price

Clydesdales are huge draft horses that originated from the horse farms of Clydesdale, Scotland. 

They are one of the most beloved breeds of horses all over the world because they are strong and powerful but still gentle.

If you are a horse lover, surely you will want to own this horse breed.  

However, one of the very first thing you need to consider is the Clydesdale horse price. Are they expensive? How much does it actually cost?

The answer is, it vary in price depending on many factors.

Price is the first thing to consider when buying a Clydesdale

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THE INITIAL COST

OTHER ESSENTIAL COSTS

Feeding cost

Boarding cost

Healthcare cost

THIS PRICE IS OKAY TO BUY?

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THE INITIAL COST

The price of this breed is based on different factors such as bloodlines, size, age, color, markings, and level of training.

Some Clydesdales have the price ranging from only $1000 to $1200, but most of them sold between $2500 and $5000.

If your requirement goes for a normal Clydesdale who has good nature with no conformation defects and is able to ride and drive, your cost could fall between $500 and $1500.

In contrast, a beautiful horse with perfect performance and enough necessary traits will bring even more.

For example, if you want to buy a horse that is the strongest one in his team, he could cost somewhere from $1000 to $5000.

OTHER ESSENTIAL COSTS

When you’re looking for a Clydesdale horse, besides the initial price, there are other costs that you need consider.

Feeding cost

The number of food Clydesdales need will be another thing when it comes to the cost of them.

Clydesdale horses eat a lot of grains and hay in a day

Due to their huge body, the amount of food they consume can be as double as that of other horse breeds. 

Their diet depends on their age and the amount of work they do.

On average, an adult Clydesdale eats about 3 to 10 pounds of grain and 25 to 50 pounds of hay every day.

The amount of food will be even much more if your horses have to work all day long.

So, when raising a Clydesdale, you may have to spend about $150 to $175 per month on feeding on average.

Boarding cost

You then need to think about the boarding cost.

If you own a Clydesdale, you need own barns or stables. The boarding arrangements start from $500 to $2000 per month.

A Clydesdale horses’ barn

Also, the cost of horses shoes and other side foods like horse joint supplement is necessary. Each set of shoes will cost about $150-$200 for a Clydesdale and should be changed after every 4–8 weeks.

Healthcare cost

You will need a farrier to care for your horse and its hooves.

Farrier costs from $25 to $150 per month.

Add the cost of annual healthcare to make sure your Clydesdale horses always strong and healthy.

THIS PRICE IS OKAY TO BUY?

Simply saying, the costs for a Clydesdale horse can be much higher in comparison with other horse breeds.

So, remember to take time searching for every necessary information about Clydesdale horses price before you buy a Clydesdale.

Top 5 facts about Clydesdale horses you should know

The Clydesdale is a draft horse that originated from the farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland. They are one of the most beloved breeds of horses that every single horse lover wants to have.

Besides its gentle characteristics, these animals have many other wonderful things that make them become increasingly popular.

Here are 5 clydesdale horse facts that will surprise you when reading.

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Clydesdales can consume a large amount of grain everyday

Clydesdale, like all horses in common, are herbivores. They eat hay, plants and grain.

Due to their huge body, their amount of food can be as double as that of other horse breeds normally consume. 

An adult Clydesdale may eat up to 10 pounds of grain on a daily basis.

A baby Clydesdales also needs to eat a lot. They can drink up to 100 litres of milk per day to support their growth.

They can be used for many different purposes

In the past, they used to be a popular warhorses. Due to their weight and size, people use them to carry heavy goods and injured soldiers.

Today, they are popular for both riding and driving.

 People also use them in many other activities such as trail riding, show jumping, experiential programming, and children’s programs.

Clydesdales are therapy horses

Due to their calmness and willing nature, they also are great therapy horses. By sensing their movements, disabled people can get up and walk again.

Clydesdale horses are one of the largest horse breeds all over the world

Clydesdales can stand more than 16 hands high. Their weight also can reach 2000 pounds.

Even a newborn baby Clydesdales can weigh up to 180 pounds, which is a big number.

They are the most recognizable of all big horse breeds

Clydesdales’ hooves are big

They can be easily recognized by their large hooves - in the size of frying pans. and can weigh at least 5 pounds.

Most Clydesdales have the reddish-brown color. Some of them also have white faces and bellies, with some white patches on their bodies.

All Clydesdales have the feathering in common, which allows Clydesdales to survive in the freezing weather of Scotland. 

They used to be considered in danger

In the past, this animal once dropped in the endangered list.

Thanks to the effort of many international organizations, today more than 5,000 have been registered for this breed. 

According to the Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society of Australia, the numbers of Clydesdales in this country now are above 3000, enough to be considered “safe”.

And the facts about Clydesdale horses are totally discovered

Clydesdale horses are the favorite kind of many horse owners because of many different reasons.

Here are a few facts about this beautiful, gentle but still powerful and strong breed of horses.

If you are the one who is bringing up a wonderful Clydesdale, spend time discovering other facts about your amazing own horse in your personal way.

Amazing about Clydesdale horse height

Horses are one of the versatile animals whose size varies a lot. We have known about the ponies as the smallest horses in the world.

Meanwhile, horses originated in the Shire can reach the best height. Well-known as one of the biggest horse breed, Clydesdale is proud of their height. You may wonder how much is Clydesdale horse height?

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Clydesdale horse profile

History of Clydesdale

Clydesdale horses were named after the river Clyde which passes through Lanarkshire, Scotland where this breed developed. Because of the size and endurance, Scottish people have introduced this breed to regions in the US. They were used for transporting in the 18th century, but now, the breed is at risk all over the world.

Facts of Clydesdale’s body

Clydesdale horses have a robust body shape. You will see it from a Clydesdale a broad chest, arched neck and great back. That’s why they were in favor of transportation means as well as in production.  The army even took use of them for movements of soldiers.

Clydesdales have no many remarks in their body. They usually appear in dark color or bright chestnut. However, you can expect some silky white feet. Most of Clydesdales have a white blaze on their face as a breed’s remark. Speaking of lifespan. A Clydesdale can live up to 25 years if in good care.

How much is Clydesdale horse height?

When you first see a Clydesdale, you could be impressed with its size. As one of the biggest horse breed in the world, Clydesdales looks as huge as any others of Shire horses.

The average height of an adult Clydesdale can reach 16 HH (Hands high), but the tallest one of the breed can peak at 20.2 HH. It’s no doubt about this height because this breed is born with a high look. A newborn Clydesdale can stand more than 3.5 feet tall.

The weight of the breed matches with the height. An adult horse weighs about 1600 pounds on average. However, 1.5-ton Clydesdale horse was recorded in 2009.

With that size, now, we understand why these horses could pass by long days on the road to come abroad and transport a fully armed military.

Height of Clydesdale horse in comparison to other breeds

Despite the bulky size, Clydesdale has not been the champion for the biggest or tallest horse breed in the world.

The Shire has recorded to have the tallest horse breed, in general, an even individually. The tallest Shire horse named Sampson is 21.2 ½ HH. None of the existing horse can beat this number so far. You can read more about the difference between Shire & Clydesdale at here.

However, it’s undeniable that Clydesdale appears giants to other little breeds such as a Falabella or Miniature. These small breeds are only around 20 to 25 inches high.

We could never be sure of the maximum height for a Clydesdale because they are still in development. To tell how much is Clydesdale horse height, we should estimate 16 HH as an average number. 

How heavy are Clydesdale foals?

The Clydesdales is a draft horse that originally comes from the farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland.

Beside their gentle character, they are considered as one of the largest horses breeds all over the world.

But the questions here are: “ How much does a Clydesdale weigh, in average?” “Is there a big difference in weight between a newborn baby Clydesdale and an adult one?”Depending on their age, a Clydesdale can weigh up to 2000 pounds.

How heavy is a Clydesdale?

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How has Clydesdales’ weight changed?

The size of a modern Clydesdale horse has changed considerablycompared to their last 100 years.

In the 1920s, the Clydesdale was a kind of compact and small breed. When people used selective breeding to create taller Clydesdales in the 1940s, they have been becoming one of the largest horse breeds all over the world since then.

How heavy are adult Clydesdale horses?

The weight of modern Clydesdale horses is between 1,800-2,000 pounds.

Most Clydesdales can be between 16-18 hands in height.

Males tend to be taller and weigh more than females. Their height can reach 20 hands, and their weight can be between 2,600 to 3,000 pounds.

A male Clydesdale

The largest Clydesdales in the world has been measured at 20.2 hands in height and weighs a total of 3,000 pounds.

The interesting thing is, the bigger their size is, the greater their strength and leverage become.

How heavy are Clydesdale foals?

Even the Clydesdale colts are bigger than most other foal horses.

A newborn Clydesdale horse can weigh up to 180 pounds at their birth.

Then the horse needs to drink up to 100 litres of milk every day to support his quick growth.

In the first few months of life, a Clydesdale foal can gain 30 pounds per week.

How Clydesdales support their weight?

In order to support that heavyweight, a Clydesdale horse has one of the largest hooves of any horses.

​Their feet are in the same size as your frying pans.

Because of the large feet, they also need a big horseshoe. The horseshoeitself can weigh about 5 pounds.

 In comparison, the feet of a Clydesdale take up about 25% of his weight.

Because of the size, they need a large amount of food as well.

An adult Clydesdale can eat 50 pounds of  hay a day, plus about 5 pounds of concentrated feed if they have had to deal with a heavy workload.

The answer is revealed

So, you now have found the answer to the question: “How much does a Clydesdale weigh?”

It is believed that Clydesdale breed  is one of the world’s largest horse because of their weight and height.

However, they are also one of the most beloved breeds of horse.

They may weigh up to 1.5 tons, but most of them are quite friendly and gentle.

So don’t be afraid if you see a giant Clydesdale standing in front of you.

Instead, smile and say hello with him or offer a treat if it is allowed.

If you really love them, you can find more interesting fact of Clydesdale at here

How long Clydesdale Horse can live?

Clydesdale is one of the most famous horses in the United Kingdom, originally horses used in the field of agriculture and transport, but now they are used as horses for Household Cavalry of British Royal. In this post, you will know more about How long Clydesdale Horse can live & many interesting facts of them!

Highlights features of the Clydesdale Horses

Clydesdale Horse can be strong and their muscles average from 64.4 inches - 72 inches. Most Clydesdale horses are brown or bay, however many are gray, roan or black.

Most especially, to qualify as a Clydesdale horse, the horse must have white socks or legs or have a white flame on the faces.

And with that legs, they can proud themself with their height!

Look at his legs!!!

Clydesdale horses have special foots. Via: https://www.pets4homes.co.uk

Do you see the Clydesdale horses? They have a very prominent feature: their legs are white as if they are wearing socks.

Thanks to this unique feature they are preferred in the Household Cavalry of British Royal.

The most distinctive feature is that Clydesdale Horse is loved for its unique look, intelligence, and emotional ability.

Clydesdale Horse is very intelligent, they can learn quickly, training them can be a lot easier.

Today, the famous brand beer Bruiser takes their image as a branding emblem around the world.

What does Clydesdale Horse eat?

Well, in our previous writings, we have learned about the eating habits of many horses.

Many people have asked us what the Clydesdale horses eat and what their diets have in particular.On average, the Clydesdale Horse eats between 50 and 60 pounds of hay each day or can eat 20 to 25 quart of grain a day.

They also drink a lot of water, a Clydesdale horse can drink 30 gallons of water a day.

Not only that, if the Clydesdale horses work as hard as pulling carts, transporting the belongings, they can eat more.

What's about Clydesdale Horse lifespan?

Well, we have a lot to say about the Clydesdale Horse lifespan.

On average, a Clydesdale horse can live for 20-25 years. Life of Clydesdale horse is not too long, but not too short.

They end their life with sickness as old Clydesdale Horse often has health problems such as kidney failure, heart attack, calcification of the spine, and then they die.

In general, the Clydesdale Horse lifespan is only about a third of life expectancy, but they are loved by so many children and are considered a symbol of bravery and hard work.

That's enough, right?

If you are lucky enough to own a Clydesdale Horse, remember that the Clydesdale horse lifespan is not too long, so please love them!.

Shire horse and Clydesdale Horse - How to distinguish them?

Shire horse and Clydesdale Horse are two breeds of draft horses originated in two European countries.

Both breeds look similar but still have the ultimate differences in some ways. What are those? Our post will provide you with their characteristics to identify them correctly.

Comparison between Shire Horse Vs Clydesdale

Similarities

As mentioned before, Shire horse vs Clydesdale are draft horse breeds and are originated in European countries.

Both are strong enough to pull heavy weight and generally kind enough that everyone can safely work with them as well.

Like Clydesdales, Shires have distinctive and long strands of hair below their hocks and knees. High hocks are also found in both breeds and in America, you’re likely to see that they have a longer leg and higher action because of the market’s demand. However, they still differ in many ways.

Differences

		Shire horses	Clydesdale
		Shire horse	Clydesdale
Origination		– England	– Clydesdale, Scotland
Lifespan		– about 28 years	– 20 to 25 years
Average Weight		– 1,700 to 2,000+ pounds	– 1600 to 2400 pounds
Average Height		– 163 to 185 centimeters	– 162 to 183 centimeters
Colors		– black, bay, and grey are common	– bay or brown are popular– can be black, sorrel, or roan, grey, and chestnut
Markings		– has not many white markings in the coat pattern	– has many white markings through the coat (white blaze and stockings which extend from hoof to knee)
Temperament		– docile, equable, hardworking	– alert, active, gentle, responsive
Uses		– Ago: heavy loads pulling (up to 45 tons);  + crossed with hunters and thoroughbreds to create tall, heavy riding/jumping horses. – Today: normally used for forestry work, leisure riding and promotional work.	– Ago: agricultural purposes (heavy draft, pulling freight wagons or plowing steep, rough hills);+ crossed with thoroughbreds and quarter horses to produce strong, heavier-boned riding horses. – Today: normally popular in the in shows and parades and used as fancy carriage horses
Body Type
Body	– muscular and powerful		– more streamlined with strong and muscular shoulders
Face	– lean and longer with large eyes		– wide (normally has a white stripe on the face), straight with a slight convex nature, intelligent-looking eyes
Tails	– long, not docked		– docked
Neck	– long, arched, muscular, but refined		– long and well-arched, shows more crest
Hindquarters	– not quite bulky		– bulky
Hooves	– fairly massive		– larger and round (around five pounds each)
Feather	– smooth and silky– has less feathering on legs		– finer– has heavy feathering in lower legs

Generally, the Shire horse is bigger than Clydesdale. Clydesdales are slightly smaller, which results in a lighter weight, less stress on their joints, and greater agility.

Clydesdales are also available in more colors than Shires. They have more feathering in the lower legs than those in Shires as well.

In a word, those are the similarity and the difference between clydesdale and shire horses. You may consult them to recognize two breeds when needed.

Conclusion

Lastly, we hope the above comparison between Shire horse vs Clydesdale will help you to identify those two breeds easily, especially when deciding to own one.

Source:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_horse
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clydesdale_horse