Clydesdale Research Articles

‘Powering ahead - the continuing story of the clydesdale horse’

ABSTRACT With 32 images, this photo essay tells the story of the rediscovery and rehabilitation of the Clydesdale horse. Some of the very best things languish, hidden in plain sight, waiting to be noticed, brought into the light and put to work – which is why they emerged in the first place. Serendipity led the author to rekindle an association with a horse from childhood, the Clydesdale. It turned out to be a Trojan horse, with considerable previously untapped potential. This horse from the past has a very bright future. It represents a showcase for its own kind, for other rare and endangered breeds, and for the humans who maintain them. Clydesdale horses provide us with a widened perspective on how to ‘do’ economic development, encompassing place-making, heritage, skills, education, wellbeing, and horsemanship. Saving Clydesdale saves many other elements, including our own continuing human relationships with the environment and past heritages.

Managing Chaos

How can transportation networks be adapted to accommodate an extra 100,000+ users within just a few hours? It’s a huge challenge for traffic managers in charge of special events, but over her career Debbie Albert has taken it all in her stride – even when a team of Clydesdale horses unexpectedly paid a visit

Development of accurate weight tape regression equations for Warmblood and Clydesdale horses

Development of accurate weight tape regression equations for Warmblood and Clydesdale horses

Owner survey of tarsocrural effusion (bog spavin) in Clydesdale horses

A postal survey of the owners of Clydesdale horses in the UK and USA was conducted to obtain information on tarsocrural effusion (‘bog spavin’) as an indicator of osteochondrosis from...

Ventroaxial Luxation of the Apex of the Corniculate Process of the Arytenoid Cartilage in Resting Horses During Induced Swallowing or Nasal Occlusion

To report ventroaxial luxation of the apex of the left or right corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilage under the contralateral corniculate process during resting endoscopic examination, and morphologic features of the larynx of 1 affected horse. Retrospective study. Horses (n=8). Horses had endoscopic examination as part of a survey of Clydesdale horses (n=7), or investigation of poor performance in Thoroughbred horses (1). One Clydesdale was euthanatized and the larynx examined; 4 cadaver larynges from normal horses were also examined. Ventroaxial luxation of the apex of the left or right corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilage was not detected during quiet breathing but was induced by swallowing or nasal occlusion. Prevalence in Clydesdales was 5.2% (7/133). A Thoroughbred with identical endoscopic appearance of the larynx at rest had progressive ventroaxial luxation of the apex of the arytenoid cartilage during high-speed treadmill endoscopy, associated with abnormal respiratory noise. Necropsy examination of an affected Clydesdale larynx revealed an excessively wide (10 mm) transverse arytenoid ligament that allowed easy separation of the apices of the corniculate processes. In normal cadaver larynges, the apices could not be separated with abaxial traction. The clinical relevance of this laryngeal observation in resting horses is unclear. Ventroaxial luxation of the corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilage during induced swallowing or nasal occlusion in resting horses or during high-speed treadmill exercise may be caused by an abnormally wide transverse arytenoid ligament.

The Prevalence of Laryngeal Disease in a Large Population of Competition Draft Horses

(1) To determine the effect of age, height, weight, breed, sex, and specific use on the prevalence of idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia (ILH) in a population of draft performance horses; (2) to determine the association between tracheal mucus and laryngeal dysfunction, and the prevalence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in a population of draft performance horses. Cross-sectional. Draft horses competing at the 2005 Michigan Great Lakes Draft Horse Show. Endoscopic examinations were performed on horses competing at the 2005 Michigan Great Lakes Draft Horse Show. Signalment, height, and weight were obtained from the owners and trainers. Belgian, Percheron, and Clydesdale horses (n=183) were studied. Prevalence of ILH was 35%. Horse height was significantly associated with the risk of ILH in Belgian and Percheron horses but not Clydesdales. There was a significantly different prevalence of ILH among the breeds such that 42% Belgians, 31% Percherons, and 17% Clydesdales were affected. Laryngeal disease was a risk factor for increased tracheal mucus. None of the horses had acute evidence of EIPH. The prevalence of ILH in draft horses has increased or is higher in competition horses compared with previously studied groups. Tracheal and/or pulmonary inflammation may be more common in draft horses with ILH based on our findings that horses with ILH have more tracheal mucus than horses with normal laryngeal function. Selection pressure for large, taller, longer-necked horses may be responsible for a seemingly increased incidence of ILH in competitive draft horses.

A study of an electrodiagnostic technique for the evaluation of equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy.

The electrodiagnostic measurement of the thoracolaryngeal reflex (TLR) ('slap test') latency was compared to 5 other diagnostic techniques used for evaluation of laryngeal function, namely laryngeal muscle palpation, resting and immediately postexercise endoscopic examinations, and palpable and endoscopic responses to the TLR. Compared to resting endoscopy, the electrodiagnostic measurement of TLR latency was not found to be an accurate test for the evaluation of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN), nor was laryngeal muscle palpation or the endoscopic response to the TLR. Twenty-five (71%) of 35 Clydesdale horses examined were affected by RLN; 16 (46%) had mild, 5 (14%) moderate, 3 (9%) severe hemiparesis and 1 (3%) had total laryngeal paralysis. Within these 35 horses, physical traits such as height or neck length did not correlate with the incidence or severity of RLN. Ten control ponies showed no evidence of abnormal laryngeal function.

Roaring in Clydesdales

An endoscopic survey was performed to assess arytenoid cartilage movement during quiet respiration in 48 Clydesdale horses. Physical characteristics which could influence the length of the recurrent laryngeal nerves were also recorded from these horses and the relationship of these characteristics to the presence of abnormal left arytenoid cartilage movements was assessed statistically. Some degree of abnormal arytenoid movement was observed in 50% of the animals over one year of age. No significant correlation between sex, age, estimated weight, height, or neck length could be found although affected animals were, on average, slightly taller, lighter and longer necked.

Douglas and Clydesdale

Douglas and Clydesdale