Topic:Clydesdale
Clydesdale horses are a breed known for their distinctive appearance and historical role as draft animals. Originating from Scotland, they are characterized by their large stature, feathered legs, and bay coloring, although other colors are also recognized. These horses have been traditionally used for heavy farm and industrial work due to their strength and gentle temperament. In modern times, Clydesdales are often seen in parades, shows, and promotional events. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the genetics, physiology, and contemporary uses of Clydesdale horses, as well as their contributions to equine breeding and conservation efforts.
Imputed genomes of historical horses provide insights into modern breeding. Historical genomes can provide important insights into recent genomic changes in horses, especially the development of modern breeds. In this study, we characterized 8.7 million genomic variants from a panel of 430 horses from 73 breeds, including newly sequenced genomes from 20 Clydesdales and 10 Shire horses. We used this modern genomic variation to impute the genomes of four historically important horses, consisting of publicly available genomes from 2 Przewalski's horses, 1 Thoroughbred, and a newly sequenced Clydesdale. Using these historical genomes, we identified modern horses with high...
Factors Affecting the Rate and Measurement of Feed Intake for a Cereal-Based Meal in Horses. The rapid intake of high-cereal, low-roughage meals may cause gastrointestinal and behavioral disorders. We investigated some of the factors that can affect the rate of intake (ROI) in four separate studies. Study 1 investigated the effect of chaff length and addition rate on the ROI of oats. The ROI decreased as more chaff was added to the diet, attaining significance (P < .05, n = 6) at levels above 15% addition and reaching a plateau at ∼50%. This was independent of stalk length (1.4 cm vs. 4.1 cm). Study 2 showed that meal size (varying from 0.5 to 4 g/kg BW) did not affect the RO...
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a Clydesdale gelding. A 7-year-old Clydesdale gelding was referred with a history of progressive lethargy and ventral oedema. The horse developed diarrhoea after treatment with antibiotics by the referring veterinarian. History, clinical signs, imaging and laboratory findings were consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy complicated by antibiotic-associated colitis. Progression of clinical signs prompted euthanasia and the antemortem diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was confirmed at postmortem examination. Conclusions: Primary HCM is reported as rare in horses, but specific descriptions are lacking. The ...
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy secondary to adipose infiltration as a cause of episodic collapse in a horse. A 15-year-old Clydesdale cross gelding was investigated and managed over a 2-year period for intermittent collapse. The horse presented initially after an observed episode of collapse at rest, and had a resting tachycardia, elevated Cardiac Troponin I and polycythaemia. Multiple dysrhythmias were detected on telemetric electrocardiography. Vital parameters, cardiac rhythm and red cell count returned to reference range with prolonged rest but further resting syncopal episodes were observed, and due to safety concerns and limited treatment options the horse was euthanased. Post mortem evaluation...
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy as a cause of unexpected cardiac death in two horses. Postmortem and histological examination of the hearts from two horses, a five-year-old Clydesdale gelding and a 15-year-old cob gelding, revealed changes characteristic of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. In both cases, on gross examination, the right ventricular endocardium and interventricular septum were almost entirely replaced with a gelatinous yellow fibroareolar tissue. This tissue was histologically a combination of fibrous and adipose tissue that had replaced the normal myofibres and disrupted the Purkinje fibres.
Obstructive urolithiasis, unilateral hydronephrosis, and probable nephrolithiasis in a 12-year-old Clydesdale gelding. A 12-year-old Clydesdale gelding was presented for colic and dysuria. Obstructive urolithiasis and chronic renal disease were diagnosed via transurethral endoscopy and percutaneous ultrasonography. Nephroliths, hydronephrosis, and peri-ureteral fibrosis were present. Surgical intervention was declined and the gelding was managed medically with antibiotics and dietary modification. Urolithiase obstructive, hydronéphrose unilatérale et lithiase rénale probable chez un Clydesdale hongre âgé de 12 ans. Un Clydesdale hongre âgé de 12 ans a été présenté pour colique et dysurie. Une urolit...
Evaluation of FOXC2 as a candidate gene for chronic progressive lymphedema in draft horses. Chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL) is a debilitating condition identified in Clydesdales, Shires and Belgian draft horses and results in progressive swelling of the lower legs associated with the development of thick skin folds, ulcerations, fibrosis and marked hyperkeratosis. The result is severe discomfort and recurrent secondary infection, often requiring euthanasia. Due to the delayed onset, many horses are bred prior to diagnosis. CPL has only been documented in three related draft horse breeds, suggesting a genetic cause. Determining the molecular basis would enable owners to test hors...
Measurement of skin desmosine as an indicator of altered cutaneous elastin in draft horses with chronic progressive lymphedema. Chronic progressive lymphedema in Clydesdale and Shire draft horses causes severe disability of the limbs which leads to premature death of these horses. Since appropriate function of lymph vessels is dependent on the presence of viable elastin fibers, the goal of this study was to document differences in skin elastin fibers in affected horse breeds, compared to a nonaffected draft horse breed. Results: Biochemical analysis of cutaneous desmosine, a cross-linking amino acid found only in elastin, was used to measure elastin in the skin from 110 draft horses. This included 7 normal, 38 mildly a...
Post-anaesthetic myelomalacia in a horse. This article describes a rare neurological complication of anaesthesia in a 2 year-old Clydesdale colt undergoing castration. Anaesthesia was induced with glyceryl guaiacol ether and ketamine and maintained with halothane. Following an uneventful anaesthetic of 40 minutes, the horse recovered from anaesthesia in a padded recovery stall. After approximately 70 minutes in the recovery stall, the horse attempted to stand and adopted a dog sitting position. One hundred and fifty minutes later, the horse became distressed and was sedated with xylazine. Clinical examination of the horse did not reve...
Osteochondritis dessicans and subchondral cystic lesions in draft horses: a retrospective study. The clinical features, radiographic findings, treatment, and outcome in 51 draft horses with osteochondritis dessicans (OCD) or subchondral cystic lesions (SC) are reported. Clydesdale and Percheron were the most commonly affected breeds, and affected animals represented only 5% of the hospital population of draft horses. Horses were most frequently affected in the tibiotarsal joints and 73% (24 of 33 cases) of the horses with tibiotarsal effusion were affected bilaterally. Osteochondritis dessicans of the distal intermediate ridge was the most common lesion found in the tibiotarsal joint. The...
Treatment of a keratoma in a Clydesdale horse. A keratoma was diagnosed in a six-year-old Clydesdale gelding with recurrent 'pus in the foot'. The keratoma was excised through an inverted 'V' dorsal wall hoof resection up to 2 cm distal to the coronary band, the foot was bandaged and shod, and the horse treated with antibiotics and phenylbutazone. The dorsal hoof wall regrew completely and the horse gradually returned to full work.
Bilateral ureterocystostomy in a 450-kg horse with ectopic ureters. A 450-kg yearling Clydesdale filly was determined to have bilateral ectopic ureters. The resulting incontinence caused severe malodorous perineal dermatitis. Bladder capacity was measured at 800 ml. The urethral sphincter lacked tone, and the horse was seen to urinate in a normal manner only 2 or 3 times a week. A midline celiotomy was performed, and the ureters were identified by cannulation from the ectopic openings. The ureters were ligated, and the cut ends were anastomosed to the dorsal bladder surface by an extravesicular end-to-side technique. A partial thickness seromuscular layer of t...
Postpartum partial cystectomy through the vagina in a mare with everted partially necrotic bladder. The bladder of a 750-kg Clydesdale mare had everted through the urethra into the vagina immediately after parturition. The bladder was reinverted into the peritoneal cavity by an attending veterinarian, but 4 days later, the bladder was everted again in the vagina. The mare was able to void urine through both ureters, which could be seen in the mucosal surface of the bladder. The everted bladder had become edematous and could not be reinverted through the urethra. A considerable portion of the fundus was necrotic. The mare was administered xylazine epidurally to induce perineal analgesia, and ...
Volvulus of the colon in a horse associated with a mesocolic-umbilical band. A 7-years-old Clydesdale mare was presented with severe abdominal distension and acute colic. Dilated large intestine was palpated per rectum and a ventral midline exploratory laparotomy was performed. A 180 degrees volvulus of the pelvic flexure was present, associated with an inelastic band of tissue connecting the mesocolon to the umbilicus. The band was ligated and transected, and the volvulus reduced. Postoperative complications included hyponatraemia, metabolic acidosis and laminitis. The possible aetiology of the mesocolic-umbilical band is discussed.
Pericardial haemangiosarcoma in a horse. A primary pericardial haemangiosarcoma with metastasis to the parietal pleura and left adrenal gland is described in a 22-year-old Clydesdale x Percheron gelding. Although haemangiosarcomas have been reported in horses, the pericardium has not hitherto been described as the primary site of origin.
Megacolon with myenteric hypoganglionosis in a foal. A 6-month-old Clydesdale filly had chronic abdominal distention and intermittent febrile episodes. Abdominal surgery revealed impaction of the right dorsal colon, which was relieved by evacuation of contents through an enterotomy. Four days after surgery, abdominal distention recurred and progressed. The filly was euthanatized. Necropsy revealed the right dorsal colon to be markedly distended with digesta. Microscopically, there was a marked reduction in myenteric ganglion cells in the right dorsal colon and cecum and mild to moderate reduction of myenteric ganglion cells in the left ventral a...
Roaring in Clydesdales. An endoscopic survey was performed to assess arytenoid cartilage movement during quiet respiration in 48 Clydesdale horses. Physical characteristics which could influence the length of the recurrent laryngeal nerves were also recorded from these horses and the relationship of these characteristics to the presence of abnormal left arytenoid cartilage movements was assessed statistically. Some degree of abnormal arytenoid movement was observed in 50% of the animals over one year of age. No significant correlation between sex, age, estimated weight, height, or neck length could be found although ...
Congenital deformities in two Clydesdale foals. The deformities observed in 2 Clydesdale foals are described. Both had abnormal joint positions in the forelimbs and discrepancies in the symmetry of the vertebral column. The changes were only mild in one case but extreme in the other where it was accompanied by torticollis, scoliosis and vertebral fusion. A comparison is made with deformities described in the contracted foal syndrome and some of the developmental implications discussed.