Clydesdale Horse Vs Shire Horse | More Similar than different
If you’ve ever stood next to a Clydesdale or a Shire horse, chances are you had to tilt your head back just to get a good look at their sheer size—and then promptly wondered if they were secretly the same breed.
You’re not alone. I remember visiting the Shire Horse Centre in Devon as a kid and being completely baffled. I honestly couldn’t tell the difference between the Shires there and the Clydesdales we had back home.
The great thing about that visit is that it helped spark my parents’ decision to start our Clydesdale business at Strathorn. So, let’s take a look at it—how do these two towering breeds compare?
Be honest, can you tell the difference? (Shire Left, Clydesdale Right)
Clydesdale Vs Shire Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Characteristic | Shire Horse | Clydesdale Horse |
| Origin | England, with origins tracing back to the mid-eighteenth century. | Scotland, specifically the region around the River Clyde; the breed’s development began in the seventeenth century, with the name ‘Clydesdale’ first recorded in 1826. |
| Height | Stallions have a minimum height of 173 cm (17.0 hands); geldings at least 168 cm (16.2 hands); mares at least 163 cm (16.0 hands). | Typically range from 167 to 183 cm (16.2 to 18.0 hands). |
| Weight | Stallions weigh between 900–1100 kg; geldings between 850–1100 kg. | Generally between 700–1000 kg. |
| Color | Commonly black, bay, brown, or grey. | Usually bay, brown, or roan with white blazes and white legs. |
| Feathering | Prominent feathering on the lower legs. | Distinctive feathering on the lower legs. |
| Temperament | Known for a gentle and docile disposition. | Recognized for a calm and friendly nature. |
| Historical Uses | Employed in agriculture, towing barges, and as cart-horses for road transport. | Utilized in farming and road haulage. |
| Conservation Status | Listed as ‘at risk’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, with population numbers estimated to be under 1500 head. | Classified as ‘at risk’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. |
| Estimated Numbers in the UK | Fewer than 1,500 Shire horses; considered ‘at risk’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. | Less than 1,000 Clydesdales; considered ‘at risk of extinction.’ |
| Estimated Numbers in North America | Approximately 3,000 Shire horses in the United States. | Fewer than 5,000 worldwide, with declining numbers. |
Shared Traits of Shires and Clydesdales: More Similar Than Different
When you look at the Shire and the Clydesdale, it’s easy to see they share more than just their size. Both breeds come from the British Isles and were bred to tackle heavy farm work, haul carts, and even pull artillery during wars.
They’ve both evolved to be strong, steady workhorses with calm and friendly temperaments—no wonder they’re often mistaken for one another.
They even share a bit of history, having been crossbred with each other over the years. It’s like they’re distant cousins who meet at family reunions and discover they both inherited the same massive feet and fluffy legs.
That feathering around their hooves isn’t just for show; it protected them from wet, muddy fields in the British climate.
A Shared History of Crossbreeding Clydesdales and Shires
The connection between Shires and Clydesdales runs deeper than just their looks. In the late 1800s, breeders, including Lawrence Drew, introduced Shire bloodlines into the Clydesdale breed. The goal was to improve their size and strength, making them even more capable workhorses.
One notable example is the influential stallion Prince of Wales, foaled in 1866, who carried both Shire and Clydesdale ancestry and left a lasting mark on the breed.
Fast forward to the 1960s, and the tables turned. The Shire horse population had dwindled to dangerously low numbers, and Clydesdales were used to help revive the breed.
This crossbreeding not only boosted Shire numbers but also refined their appearance, giving them more polished features, including silkier feathering on their legs.
Key Differences: Not So Far Apart
While the differences between the two breeds are subtle, they do exist. Shires tend to be slightly taller and heavier, giving them an edge in the “largest horse” category.
Clydesdales, on the other hand, are often more refined, with flashy white markings on their faces and legs, making them popular parade horses
Their origins also add a bit of flair. Shires have roots in medieval England and were descendants of the old English “Great Horse,” used by knights in battle. Clydesdales, meanwhile, emerged in Scotland and were built for farm work and hauling loads along city streets.
Modern Uses: Still Doing the Same Jobs
Nowadays, both breeds are more likely to be found at shows, parades, and even weddings than plowing fields. They’re favorites for promotional work (think Budweiser Clydesdales) and can still be seen in ceremonial processions.
Despite their modern roles, they remain working horses at heart, capable of pulling heavy loads and capturing attention wherever they go.
Shire Horses
The Shire horse is a powerful breed known for its impressive height, strength, and gentle nature. Originating in England, the Shire horse has a rich history dating back to the 17th century, where it was bred as a war horse and later used for heavy draft work.
Today, the Shire horse is a popular breed among horse enthusiasts, used for riding, driving, and as a loyal companion. With its distinctive feathering on its legs, large hooves, and Roman nose, the Shire horse is a breed that commands attention and respect.
Understanding Draught Horses
Both Shire horses and Clydesdale horses are draught horses – (Spelled “Draft” in the USA). And before we get into their other characteristics, it’s important to know what a draft horse is.
Draught horses are larger and heavier than other types of horses. They’re extremely strong and muscular and are therefore well-suited to farm work and other work that involves pulling heavy loads.
Draft horses are also often referred to as “cold-blooded” horses. But we’ll get into that a bit later.
The Background Of Shire Horses And Clydesdale Horses
Shire Horse History
The Shire horse is a draft horse breed that originated in England and has a history that dates all the way back to 1066! The Shire horse descends from the English Great Horse, known for its use in battle during the Middle Ages.
However, a breed society wasn’t formed until 1876. The Packington Blind Horse, a foundational stallion, significantly influenced the development of Shire horses during the mid-18th century.
Being one of the most powerful horse breeds around, it was used as a war horse and would carry knights in heavy armour into battle. Horses called ‘The Great Horse’ were crucial during medieval times for carrying knights in armor. As they were needed less for wars, Shire horses took on roles such as farm work and other power work.
They were eventually exported to various parts of the world and became quite popular. However, by the 1960s, people didn’t need horses as much as before for work and transport and their value and population declined. It was around this point in time when breeders started to crossbreed Shires and Clydesdales to save the breed and also to improve it’s conformation.
Until this point, Shires were less muscular than Clydesdales and did not have the heavy feathering seen in the modern Shire breed.
Clydesdale horse history
Clydesdales have a very similar history to the Shire horse. They too were used as war horses and later moved on to become more of a farm horse.
They originated in Lanarkshire, Scotland in the early 18th century when breeders crossed Flemish Stallions with local mares. However, the name “Clydesdale” only came about in 1826 and the Clydesdale Horse Society of Scotland was only formed in 1877.
While the Clydesdale horse population grew in the 20th century as they became more popular across the world, their numbers ended up declining too, as horses were not needed as they were before.
Today, Clydesdales are listed as At Risk by the Rare Breeds survial trust. At Risk breeds represent those breeds with lower numbers than ideal and with a degree of inbreeding that gives cause for concern.
My parents, George and Ruth Skinner of Strathorn Farm have been working to promote and grow this once-endangered breed. George is also the honorary president of the Clydesdale Horse Society and used Clydesdale horses to work the land on Strathorn Farm in the 1950s.
The Characteristics Of Shire And Clydesdale Horse Breeds
Now that you know a bit about the history of Shires and Clydesdales, we can move on to all their characteristics – which can be used to identify each breed.
Size
As we’ve already established, both Shires and Clydesdales are large horses and can be very intimidating to stand next to simply due to their size. The Shire horse is notably the tallest horse breed, typically ranging from 16 to 18 hands, with some individuals exceeding 19 hands.
The Shire breed is the larger of the two breeds and a Shire horse named Sampson (aka Mammoth) has held the record as the largest horse in the world since the 1850s. Sampson weighed a whopping 1,524 kg and stood 21.25 hands tall (which is about 215 cm tall), highlighting the Shire horse as the tallest horse breed.
On average, Shire horses don’t get quite as big as Sampson did, but they’re still the largest horse breed. They usually weigh between 800 kg and 1,100 kg and stand 16 to 18 hands tall (163-183 cm).
Clydesdale horses weigh slightly less than Shire horses. Their weight is usually between 700 kg and 1,000 kg. And when it comes to their height, while they can also be 16 to 18 hands tall, they are more likely to be on the shorter end of that range.
Colour/Coat
Shire horses usually come in black or bay colours, but you can also find them in grey and chestnut. Chestnut Shires, however, are only recognized in some regions of the world.
The Clydesdale breed is most often found in a bay colour, as this is the most sought-after colour for these horses. However, you can also find them in black, grey, chestnut and roan.
Both of these horse breeds can have white markings on their face, body, and legs but you’re more likely to see these in Clydesdales because white markings are preferred in their breed. Shires are preferred to have no white markings on them.
Similarly, both Clydesdales and Shires tend to have feathering (the longer hair at the bottom of their legs that stretches around their hooves) around their front and hind legs.
Uses
We went over the Shire breed and Clydesdale breed’s uses when looking at their background. So you already know that they were both used in war and on farms to pull heavy equipment. They were also commonly used for pulling carts. Historically, there was a significant need for massive horses in agricultural and commercial practices, particularly for the development and work of the Shire Horse breed, which played a crucial role in Britain’s industrial activities.
Today, they can still be found doing farm work, but they have become more versatile in what they’re used for. Both the Shire horse and Clydesdale horse breeds are commonly used as riding horses and in shows and events. Clydesdales are also frequently used in parades – talk about a showy horse!
Temperament
Do you remember earlier we mentioned that a draught horse is cold-blooded? This doesn’t mean that they need to warm up in the sun like a lizard but instead refers to their temperament.
Cold-blooded horses have a very steady temperament and don’t spook easily. This is why they were so useful in wars and why they do so well in modern stressful environments such as parades and horse shows. They are ideal draft horse breeds.
Other horse breeds can be warm-blooded or hot-blooded. Hot-blooded horses get spooked the most easily out of the three and warm-blooded horses are somewhere in the middle.
The calm nature of the Shire and Clydesdale horse breeds, along with their intimidating size, has many people referring to them as gentle giants. They make ideal therapy horses
Life expectancy
How long do Clydesdale horses live?
Clydesdales tend to have a lower life expectancy than most other breeds. As a result, you can expect a Clydesdale to live up to between 20 and 25 years old.
How long do Shire horses live?
A Shire horse, on the other hand, lives around about the average lifespan of most horses. You can therefore expect a Shire to live up to between 25 and 30 years old.
What is the most powerful horse breed?
The Belgian draught horse is one of the strongest horse breeds in the world. It comes from Brabant, in Belgium, and is commonly used on farms, in pulling competitions, and for other heavy work.
What are the disadvantages of Shire horses?
Shire horses can be expensive to keep. Firstly, they require more nutrition than many other types of horses. Secondly, they are usually higher maintenance than other horse breeds. This is due to their size and weight putting more stress on the hooves (meaning they need to be maintained more). It’s also a result of their feathering, which needs to be kept clean.
Do Shire horses like to be ridden?
Shire horses are very calm and gentle, despite their size. They’re also one of the easiest horse breeds to train. These attributes make them great riding horses since they’re willing to listen to the rider and won’t get spooked very easily.
Are Shire horses more expensive than Clydesdales?
Shire horses tend to cost the same as a Clydesdale horse, in the $4000 to $10000 range for good quality stock
Can Shire and Clydesdale horses be used for the same purposes?
Yes, in fact Shire horses and Clydesdale horse share genetics because they were both bred for the same purpose. Agricultural and Draft work.
American Shire Horse Association
The American Shire Horse Association (ASHA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the Shire horse breed in the United States. Founded in 1885, the ASHA is one of the oldest horse breed associations in the country. The organization provides a registry for Shire horses, as well as resources and support for breeders, owners, and enthusiasts. The ASHA also hosts events and shows throughout the year, including the National Shire Horse Spring Show, which showcases the best of the breed.
Health and Nutrition
Shire horses are generally a healthy breed, but like all horses, they can be prone to certain health issues. One of the most common health issues affecting Shire horses is chronic progressive lymphedema, a chronic progressive skin condition that causes swelling of the lower legs. Regular veterinary care and management can help to slow the onset of this condition. Shire horses also require a balanced diet that includes high-quality hay, grain, and vegetables. Due to their large size, Shire horses may require more food and water than average-sized horses to maintain a healthy body weight.
Grooming and Maintenance
Shire horses require regular grooming to maintain their coat and overall health. The feathering on their legs needs extra care and attention, as it can easily get dirty and become irritated or infected. Regular brushing and cleaning should do the trick, and it’s essential to fully dry the feathering off after a bath to avoid the growth of bacteria and fungi. Shire horses also require regular hoof trimming and shoeing to maintain their large hooves. Regular veterinary care and dental care are also essential to maintain the overall health and well-being of the Shire horse.
Training and Breeding
Shire horses are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and willingness to please, making them an excellent choice for training and breeding. They are often used for driving and riding, and their calm and gentle nature makes them an ideal breed for novice riders. Shire horses are also used for breeding, and their large size and strength make them an excellent choice for draft horse breeding programs. The American Shire Horse Association provides resources and support for breeders, including a registry and breeding guidelines.
Final Thoughts on Shires Vs Clydesdales
If you’re trying to tell a Shire from a Clydesdale, don’t feel bad if you get it wrong. They’re two sides of the same coin—impressive, hardworking, and gentle giants with a shared history and purpose. Whether you’re admiring them at a parade or reminiscing about childhood visits to horse centers, both breeds are living testaments to strength and hard work.
At the end of the day, whether it’s a Shire or a Clydesdale in front of you, one thing’s for sure—it’s a whole lot of horse.
