History

The following information comprises extracts from "The Clydesdale Horse".

A Resource Book published by the CCHS (NSW Branch) in addition to the Foreward of the first CCHS Stud Book.

"Exactly when the first importations of heavy horses into Australia were made is not clear, ...however, ... in the early days of settlement of New South Wales, pioneers essayed to bring horses for draught purposes to these shores despite the difficult transport conditions then met with."

One of the earliest references to the introduction of heavy horses was made by James Atkinson, in his work titled, The State of Agriculture and Grazing In New South Wales, published in 1826. He wrote:-

Some stallions and mares of the English and Flemish cart breeds have lately been introduced. The purebred horses of this description are certainly too heavy for the climate, but it is probable that, by judicious crossing with the lighter kinds, a breed may be obtained with sufficient bone and strength, but yet not too heavy, for the purposes of draught in this climate, which, (Mr Atkinson added) seems peculiarly congenial to the breeding and improvement of horses.

In Tasmania, ... the English dray horse appears to have predominated ... Victoria, in its early days of settlement, secured its foundation in draught stock mainly from Tasmania and New South Wales, to be later followed by importations from England and Scotland. English horses were also introduced into Western Australia late in the 1830’s and some were also imported to South Australia.

"It was not, however, until the 1850’s, following the discovery of gold in New South Wales and Victoria, that draught horse breeding received its greatest impetus.

Victoria became the centre of this activity, and the lead was there given for the introduction of the best breeding stock from Scotland, ... with the development of the agricultural industry, draught horse breeding made rapid progress, aided principally by the introduction of some of the best strains of the Clydesdale breed."

The main draught horse breeding centre in New South Wales was the Hawkesbury Valley, near Sydney... When the Clydesdale was introduced into the district it was some years before the breed received much encouragement, but, in time, it gradually superseded all other heavy breeds. In Queensland, the Clydesdale was brought prominently to the front ... in or about 1855."

"The establishing of a stud book for Draught Horses in Australia was first considered by the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria as far back as 1885.

No definite action was taken until October 1903, when that Society appointed a committee to report on the matter."

The greatest progress and development of the Clydesdale horse in Australia, has, however, taken place in the 30 years up to 1936 ... to the almost complete elimination of other draught breeds ...

Much credit is due to those enterprising breeders who maintained their faith in the Clydesdale horse and who, in spite of the decline in horse breeding following the Great War, not only preserved their studs, but improved them through the introduction of fresh sire blood."

In 1904, the committee due to report on the establishment of a stud book for Draught Horses in Australia recommended the publication of a Draught Horse Stud Book for Victoria, to include Clydesdales, English Shires and Suffolk Punches - each breed to occupy a separate section of the book.

The Council of the Society adopted the committee’s recommendation, but subsequently amended the conditions of registration, and altered the title of the book to The Draught Horse Stud Book of Australia so that horses in other States could be registered.

The first volume was published in 1907, and until after the last issue of its seventh volume, the Draught Horse Stud Book of Australia was the only stud book for draught horses published in Australia. In 1917, the first volume of the Australian Clydesdale Stud Book was published by the newly established Australian Clydesdale Society.

"Australia ... has always trailed the rest of the world in breeding trends, and the peak of Clydesdales here was not reached until the mid 1930’s, some 25 years after Great Britain...

Australia carried on the tradition of breeding for the best. Australia’s slowness to change from horsepower to petrol, resulted in a building up of good quality Clydesdales...

In the decade leading up to World War II, competition was very keen in the show ring, with many imported horses from Scotland and New Zealand and their progeny together with well-bred local horses providing big classes of quality horses...

The declaration of War in 1939 was a retrograde step for heavy horse breeding; prices fell off quickly and most shows ceased showing Clydesdales...

Melbourne Show was again held for the first time post-war in 1946..."

"The fifties and sixties were dark years for the horse...

The horse market was in the doldrums and good horses were sold for a pittance... . By the late 1950’s Draught Horse values dropped to rock bottom. About this time some Australian breeders claim they saw quality mares almost given away. A turning point came late in the 1960’s when interest slowly increased in the heavy horse..."