How Much Does A Clydesdale Horse Weigh?

The Clydesdale horse is one of the largest horse breeds in the world and is considered one of the most beautiful horses too. Its size and weight are certainly one of its standout features, which is why so many people want to know exactly what these horses weigh.

Clydesdales have also become quite popular in America as a result of a Budweiser beer commercial, resulting in many people referring to the “Budweiser Clydesdales”.

In this blog, we’re going to go over the details of what a Clydesdale horse is, what they weigh, and what makes them such a large horse breed.

How Much Does A Clydesdale Weigh?

Since Clydesdale horses have been bred to handle heavier loads, they are a lot heavier than most other breeds of horses and weigh, on average, about 770 to 1,000 kilograms. Clydesdale stallions also generally weigh more than mares.

The modern Clydesdale horse is larger than Clydesdales used to be. This is a result of selective breeding, as people wanted to create taller Clydesdales.

Of course, the weight of these horses varies depending on their genetics, how they’re fed, and so on. The heaviest known Clydesdale is known as King LeGear, weighing in at a whopping 1,380 kilograms!

They’re also one of the tallest horse breeds, standing at an average height of 173 cm tall (16.2 hands and taller), which can be intimidating when you’re standing next to them. But since they’re very calm horses, you can see why they’re so popular!

Why Are Clydesdale Horses So Heavy?

The reason why the Clydesdale breed is so heavy comes down to the type of horses that Clydesdales are, and what they were bred to do.

The Clydesdale is a draught horse (or draft horse) originally bred for heavy farm work and hauling. Today, they continue to showcase their heavy build and strength in these tasks while also working as riding horses and show and parade horses.

Draught horses are tall at the withers (which is the ridge between their shoulder blades), short in terms of the back length, and wide in pretty much every other area of their body. They also have a heavy bone structure.

All of these aspects of draught horse (and specifically Clydesdale) breeding make them extremely powerful, and a lot heavier than other types of horses such as riding horses.

How Much Does A Newborn Foal Weigh?

Now you might be thinking: “If fully-grown Clydesdales are that large, their babies must be pretty big too!” and you’d be absolutely correct. The average Clydesdale foal weighs about 68 kilograms, but they can weigh up to around 80 kilograms.

One interesting thing about newborn Clydesdale foals is their legs are already about 80-90% fully grown. So, while their body and other features have about 90% still to grow, their legs are almost as tall as they’ll ever be.

Is There A Horse That Weighs More Than Clydesdale Horses?

While Clydesdales are one of the biggest types of horses around, they still aren’t the biggest.

Even when comparing other draught horses (like Percheron horses and Suffolk horses) to Clydesdales, they don’t match the same average weight. However, the Shire horse is one that just can’t be beaten when it comes to size.

Shire horses weigh, on average, 850 to 1,100 kilograms. The largest horse ever recorded was a Shire horse named Sampson (also known as Mammoth) which weighed a whopping 1,524 kilograms! That’s a record that was set all the way back in 1850. Read about Clydesdale Vs Shire horses here

FAQs

How much does a Clydesdale horse cost?

In the UK, the average price range of an adult Clydesdale horse is between £2,500 and £8,000 (if you’re looking for a good quality horse that is). And if you’re looking for top breeding stock from reputable Clydesdale breeders, a more expensive Clydesdale horse will cost anywhere from £8,000 to £15,000.

What is the heaviest breed of horse?

The heaviest breed of horse is the Shire horse, with an average weight range of 850 kg to 1,100 kg. They originated in Great Britain and hold the record for the tallest and heaviest horse breed.

Can you ride a Clydesdale?

Yes, you can ride a Clydesdale horse. Not only do most manufacturers produce riding equipment for draught horses, but Clydesdales are intelligent and have a calm disposition, making them easy to train. They’re popular riding horses and are commonly used for trail riding and as show horses too.

What is the most powerful horse breed?

The strongest horse breed is the Belgian draught horse. While this breed isn’t the heaviest in the world, they are extremely muscular, making them the most powerful horses.

What is special about Clydesdale horses?

One of the special traits of the Clydesdale is its ability to be elegant. It is recognised for its high stepping and “showiness”, and is therefore used as a show horse despite it originally being bred primarily as a draught horse.

How long can Clydesdale horses live?

Clydesdales generally live up to anywhere from 20 to 25 years old, which is the average horse lifespan for most breeds.