Common Questions

Q. What are Clydesdales like?

A. The Clydesdale horse has been specifically bred over the last couple of hundred years for their soundness and temperament.  Clydesdales are very affectionate and willing to please, this makes them a pleasure to own and work.

Q. What are Clydesdales used for nowadays?

A. Due to the versatility of the breed, Clydesdales are used throughout New Zealand for movie set work, wagon rides, logging, cultivation, feeding out, ploughing, haymaking, showing, breeding, and pleasure and competition riding.

Q. What do Clydesdales eat?

A. Clydesdales in New Zealand are primarily fed on grass and hay, they also enjoy hard feed, fruit and vegetables.  The average Clydesdale would eat a similar amount to a cow.

Q. How tall are Clydesdales?

A. The average Clydesdale tends to be 16.2hh - 17.2hh (The height is taken from the ground to the base of the neck, with 1 hand equal to 10cm).

Q. How strong are Clydesdales?

A. A mature trained horse can pull 1 ton using iron tyres on grass, or 2 - 3 ton using rubber tyres on grass.

Q. How much work can a fit Clydesdale do in a day?

A. Clydesdales are expected to walk 5km/h and to work 8 hours a day.  A team can plough an acre an hour or harrow 40 acres per day.

Q. How many Clydesdales are in New Zealand?

A. The exact number is unknown but it is estimated that there are 550 registered horses.

Q. What benefits do Clydesdale Horse Society of New Zealand members enjoy?

A. All members receive our "Clydesdale Tribune" magazine. This magazine is delivered free to all members twice a year. All members enjoy reduced fees when registering Clydesdale horses. All members are eligible to vote at our AGM. All members are invited to attend our yearly Field Day following the AGM. Members are permitted to register a prefix to be used when naming registered horses e.g. a "Golden Valley" prefix could then be used as follows "Golden Valley Lucy". All members are permitted access to our "members section" within this website.

Q. How many members does the society have?

A. Approximately 170 members.

Q. How do I join the Clydesdale Horse Society of New Zealand?

A. Go to "Forms" section of this website to download a membership application form.