The CCSHA On the 10th December 2004 the inaugural meeting of the first society dedicated solely to the Clydesdale Cross took place. A committee was formed and on the 14th December 2004 the Clydesdale Cross Sport Horse Association was officially incorporated under Victorian legislation. (Australia)The idea for the society grew out of informal discussions on the web forum of the Horse Rider's Clubs Association Victoria (HRCAV). It became clear to users on this forum that many people were riding Clydesdale Cross horses and that they were valued by their owners for their wonderful temperaments, athleticism and hardiness. The current President of the Association, Adrian McMillan, suggested that interested parties come together and form a society to promote this fantastic breed in Australia. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE1. To promote the use of the Clydie Cross as a Sport and Pleasure horse in Australia2. To create and keep a database of all registered Clydie Cross sport and pleasure horses. The database will include colour, conformation and pedigrees, if available. 3. To provide trophies, prizes and recognition to registered Clydie Cross sport and pleasure horses at events and shows chosen by the association committee for support. 4. To provide an opportunity for all Clydie Cross sport and pleasure horse owners to register all horses which are believed to contain Clydesdale in their bloodlines. 5. To establish and maintain a register of Clydesdale Cross Sport Horse breeders in Australia. Patrons The association is pleased to announce that we have two wonderful patrons in Charles Moffat and Leanne Williams. Both of these outstanding equestrians have trained Clydesdale Cross horses to the highest level of equestrian sport. “Mulga Bill”, Charlie Moffat’s world famous Grand Prix Showjumper, competed at the World Equestrian Games at the Hague in 1994. Leanne Williams has ridden “Avoca Black Saint” to Grand Prix Dressage success.
History of the Clydesdale"Give me a wheel of oaken wood, a rein of polished leather, a heavy horse, a tumbling sky brewing heavy weather" - "Ian Anderson-Jethro Tull" Origins:The establishment of the Clydesdale began in the late 17th century when Lanarkshire farmers and various dukes of Hamilton supposedly imported Flemish stallions, ancestors of the Brabant, to Scotland. The farmers were skillful breeders and mated them with native heavy draft mares already in existance;over the next 100 years, English Shires, Freisian and Cleveland Bay blood lines were also added. The result is now known as the Clydesdale and is highly prized as a draft hores. The Clydesdale Horse Society was established in the 1877, almost a century and a half after the breed first began. The Clydesdale became popular as a general farm horse and also for haulage over long and short distances; Clydesdales could be found in most cities and agricultural areas of the United Kingdom. In fact the horse became popular world wide with considerable numbers in North America, Canada and Australia. At their peak between the Wars; in Australia alone there was estimated to be over 40,000 individual horses. The Clydesdale differs from most heavy draft horses, which tend to be squat and plain looking; in fact, with its short-coupled body, long legs, and high head carriage it looks positivly refined. As with all the heavy horses the introduction of motorised transport saw a huge decline in Clydesdale numbers. In Australia the drought of the late forties saw the breed decline to a level that would be considered "at risk" by the Rare Breeds Society. However a few families kept the breed going and today we are treated to fine examples of the breed competing in the showrings of Australia. Fortunately some enthusiast still harness these wonderful horses and we can see them pulling carts and ploughs throughout the country. The Clydesdale Cross first appeared at Australian gymkhanas and shows in the mid to late sixties over the next forty years many people have been drawn to the temprement and athleticism of these horses. Our own patron Charles Moffat has for many years championed the Clydesdale Cross after his wonderful showjumper "Mulga Bill" represented Australia at the World Showjumping Championships at the Hague. However it is the huge growth in the adult rider market that has caused a boom in the numbers of the Clydesdale Cross. We now see examples in the Dressage, Showjumping, Horse Trials and even the Show rings all across Australia. The crosses that have now occured include the Thorough Breed, Quarter Horse, Andalusion, Standard Breed, Appaloosa and others, however one thing remains constant and that is the temprement of these fantastic horses, we owe a great debt to the farmers of Lanarkshire. |
