RIDDEN CLYDESDALE CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW AT BLAIR CASTLE INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS

Scotland’s largest native breed, the Clydesdale, is fast making a name for itself as a riding horse, and ridden classes are becoming more and more popular at shows with the highlight of the year being the Championship Show at Blair Castle International Horse Trials.

The breed was founded in Lanarkshire, which used to be known as Clydesdale, in the mid 1700’s, and was predominantly used as a work horse, both on farms and pulling drays. Clydesdale horses were also heavily conscripted by the army to serve in The First World War. However, thanks to increased mechanization on farms during the 1960's and early 1970's, breed numbers dwindled and in 1975, the Clydesdale was categorized by the Rare Breed Survival Trust as “vulnerable”. Over the years and with the increase in breed numbers, it is now categorized as “at risk”.

Each year 12 to 20 stallions are registered and there are some 70 covering mares today. Currently, there are probably over 500 breeding mares in the UK and around 300 younger fillies, although exact numbers are hard to come by.
 
Clydesdales have always been a popular cross with Thoroughbreds to produce excellent hunters and showjumpers, but more recently they have become much admired as ridden horses in their own right. Watching these majestic horses perform in the arena at last year's event was a sight that will last long in the memory, it is amazing how such a large powerful animal can appear so light footed and well schooled.

In order to compete at the Championship Show at Blair Castle on Sunday 24th August 2008, the horses must have qualified at one of the following shows.

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