Tuesday 27 June 2017

Royal Highland Show 2017 - #4 Clydesdales, Belgians and Percherons, oh my!

The heavy horse stables are always a popular place to visit at the RHS, but a little dark, so the majority, if not all of my photos were taken with my phone, as my camera (even on his good days!) doesn't do well in the gloom.

Clydesdales



Clydesdales

I don't think I'll ever tire of seeing those big friendly faces.

Clydesdales

One thing that always strikes me about the RHS is how calm the horses are in their stables - it's loud, they're surrounded by noisy visitors and often machinery on all sides, and yet, a good many of them are lying flat out, having a sleep.

Clydesdales

twitchy ear smaller file size

Clydesdales

Some looked somewhat undignified, in snuggy hoods to protect their manes for the show.

Clydesdales

Clydesdales





It didn't stop some of them from taking matters into their own...bums, and having a good scratch!

itchy bum

 Clydesdales

For the most part they were all really friendly and appreciative of a good fuss, but a few of them didn't like it when we moved onto the next horse and started kicking the door - and let me tell you, that was loud!

Clydesdales

There were a few mares with foals at foot - these two were enthusiastically grooming each other when we arrived.

Clydesdales

grooming smaller file size

The mare was one of my favourite kinds of sabino patterning, all roany and speckly!

Clydesdales

Her foal was pretty darn cute as well!

Clydesdales

This mare had to be one of the tallest horses I've ever seen.

Clydesdales

There was no information on her, other than what she won and her owner's name, so I did a bit of digging and discovered she was Shielhill Diamond Jubilee, and she's obviously been in the ribbons plenty of times before!

Her foal was absolutely out for the count and barely aware of all the noise around her.

Clydesdales

sleepy foal

Clydesdales


It's a hard life being a winner...

Clydesdales

...so hard... XD

Clydesdales

Look at this one's belly fluff! Bear in mind it's the middle of summer here!

Clydesdales

Not to mention that face!

Clydesdales
blep

I think this one won in terms of Extreme Belly Floof though.

Clydesdales

True 'gentle giants', they barely batted an eyelid at the scores of people walking past them, even when tied up outside their box.

Clydesdales

Clydesdales

Some were having their feather puffed up with sawdust. I think it absorbs moisture as well as giving a little extra volume.

Clydesdales

I loved this little white spot on a hair whorl!
I've noticed rather a lot of the more extreme sabinos have white starting around that area but never so concentrated in one place!

Clydesdales

Clydesdales

This next one really reminded me of this resin with his somewhat ruffled mane.

Clydesdales

One horse we said hello to got distracted by someone's dog and kept snuffling and licking at it, but flinched back rather dramatically when the dog decided to do the same back!

ClydesdalesClydesdalesClydesdales

We got our share of affection too though, as Tomas found out. XD

Clydesdales
*smoosh*

As usual we were treated to an array of wildly marked faces. It always amuses me to see how Clydesdales in the model horse hobby are painted as so many people's only experience of them is through the Budweiser Clydes, which are of course prized for their regular and quite conservative markings, whereas the majority of them are far more colourful!

Clydesdales

Clydesdales

Clydesdales

Clydesdales 

Clydesdales

I thought this one's blaze was rather unusual with that really wide and distinctive mapping and the little 'tail' up by the eye!

Clydesdales

Clydesdales

Clydesdales

Of course, you do get the odd 'plain' one, but they're few and far between!

Clydesdales

A wild Magda appears! (she was, like me, behind the lens most of the time, haha)

Clydesdales

Outside of Clydesdales I can't think of many other breeds which have their tails shaved for showing. (I think Lusitanos and Andalusians might?) 

While it looks a bit daft, it's far preferable to docking, and it gives a unique view of how the hair changes colour!

Clydesdales

If you can believe it, this gorgeous beastie is a yearling! 

Clydesdales
Again with the belly floof! 😍
His handler was giving him a last minute groom before he was presumably taken out for a class and he kept playing with his leadrope and lipping at the knots. Given enough time he could probably have undone it!

Clydesdales

In a matter of moments the halter was off and a shiny new bridle was on, but he didn't seem keen on accepting the bit, and it's at times like this that being naturally tall comes in handy...

ClydesdalesClydesdales

'NOPE!'

Clydesdales

The guy finally got him sorted out and they wandered off quite happily.

Clydesdales

 I think this panel just goes to show how versatile Clydesdales are - not only are they outstanding in harness, but they make excellent riding horses too!

Clydesdales

The stables were probably about 95% Clydesdales, but there were a few foreign breeds in there too! A pair of Percherons caught our eye at once, and they were very friendly! One was called Jim but I've forgotten the other one, possibly Mack?

Percheron - 'Jim'

Percheron - 'Jim'

They were honestly the shiniest draught horses I've ever seen!

Percheron - 'Jim'

Didn't seem to stop them from looking a bit daft though. XD

Percheron - 'Jim'

Further down the block were the Canadian Belgians, and my gods, they were big!😵

Canadian Belgian

Canadian Belgian

I'm 5"6 and deliberately took this from eye level!

Canadian Belgian


Next up, Working Hunter Ponies!

4 comments:

  1. What beautiful horses. We go to Mackinaw Island in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan USA where there are no cars allowed. They have so many horse draw carriages for hire, we always take a ride in one. They use Clydsdales, so I have seen quite a variety of coloring on them. I love them!

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    1. Oh I love it when islands do that! I think there's a couple of the Scottish Hebridean islands that don't have cars either, though I think that's more because they're so small there's not much point, lol

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  2. Clydsdales are my absolute favourite breed. We used to have them pulling the drays for Vaux breweries and were always fussed over by everyone they passed. Such graceful, gentle giants :0)

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    1. Awww, lovely!
      They're definitely tied with Highlands and Cobs as my favourite breed! If I had a money tree...

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