Buy Clydesdale

Clydesdale for sale: Buying and selling Clydesdale

There’s something instantly grounding about standing next to a Clydesdale: the quiet eye, the steady presence, and the sense that this is a horse bred to work with people, not just for them. Whether you’re browsing Clydesdales for sale or considering putting one on the market, understanding the breed from the inside out will help you make better decisions and better matches.

The Clydesdale originated in Scotland’s Clyde Valley in the 18th century, developed as a powerful farm and haulage horse with enough stamina to work long days and enough good nature to stay safe in harness and around town traffic. Over time the breed spread through the UK, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, often pulling brewery wagons, logging loads, and carriages. Modern Clydesdales still carry that heritage: generous bone, a deep body, strong hindquarters, and the trademark silky feather around their lower legs. Height commonly ranges from 16.2 to 18 hands, with some mature geldings topping that, and weight sits roughly between 1,600 and 2,000 pounds.

Today you’ll see Clydesdales in hitch classes, parades, logging demonstrations, riding and driving clubs, and increasingly in pleasure and low-level dressage work. They’re distinctive not just for their size and feathering, but also for their generally kind, people-oriented temperament. That said, “gentle giant” doesn’t mean push-button; they are still big, powerful animals who need correct handling, good hoof and feather care, and thoughtful training. Understanding these realities is essential when you’re looking at Clydesdales for sale or preparing to sell one into the right home.

Buying Clydesdale - what you need to know

When you’re buying a Clydesdale, start with the same fundamentals you’d use for any horse—conformation, soundness, and temperament—but filtered through the realities of a heavy breed. You want a clean, correct limb with good straightness through the knee and hock, plenty of flat bone, and strong, well-shaped feet that aren’t crushed or underrun. Watch how the horse tracks at the walk and trot on a straight line and on a circle; many Clydesdales move with a big, open stride, but you still want a balanced, comfortable gait if you plan to ride. Temperament-wise, look for a horse that’s curious and willing, not dull or shut down. A Clydesdale should be sensible, but not so “quiet” that you’re really seeing learned helplessness or exhaustion.

When viewing Clydesdales for sale, take your time. For riding, ask to see the horse tacked up from scratch and watch how it behaves on the ground: leading, tying, picking up feet, and standing for grooming. If you’re buying for driving, insist on seeing the horse hitched and going in traffic or at least in a realistic working environment. Ask about registration papers with a recognized breed registry, as well as pedigree details—some lines are known for stronger hitch movement, others for more athletic riding types. Training history matters; a green five-year-old Clydesdale is a very different prospect from a well-schooled ten-year-old that has done parades, farm work, and shows. For newer or returning riders, a mature, seasoned gelding is usually a safer bet than a young, untested horse.

A thorough pre-purchase exam is non-negotiable with a heavy breed. In addition to the usual flexions and soundness checks, talk with your vet about feather-related skin issues (mites, scratches, chronic dermatitis), hoof quality, and any signs of chronic strain in the hocks, stifles, and suspensories. Clydesdales can be prone to conditions like chronic progressive lymphedema, so don’t gloss over thickened skin, persistent swelling, or heavy scaling under the feather. In terms of price, you’ll find unregistered or lightly handled young stock from smaller breeders in the $1,500–$4,000 range. Well-bred, registered riding or driving Clydesdales with solid training tend to fall between $5,000 and $12,000, with top show hitch horses or proven breeding stallions reaching into the $15,000–$25,000 bracket and beyond. Strong, correct conformation, proven show records, easy handling, and clean vettings all push prices up, while poor feet, unclear history, or behavioral issues should push them down. Be wary of “too cheap to be true” offers; sometimes they hide chronic lameness, skin disease, or temperament problems that become very expensive later.

Everything about selling Clydesdale

On the selling side, most Clydesdales come from dedicated breeders, long-time draft enthusiasts, and carriage or hitch operations dispersing or downsizing their teams. As a seller, your job is to present your horse in a way that gives buyers confidence and paints a clear, honest picture. That means up-to-date registration papers, a straightforward ownership and breeding history, recent farrier and dental records, and, ideally, a current set of good-quality photos and videos showing walk, trot, canter (if riding), and harness work if applicable. Buyers of Clydesdales are very aware of the management these horses require, so showing well-cared-for feather, tidy legs, and good body condition goes a long way in the marketplace.

Pricing a Clydesdale for sale depends on the same factors buyers are evaluating: age, training, soundness, and type. A younger, unbacked but well-bred registered Clydesdale might reasonably be priced around $3,000–$6,000, while a safe, versatile riding or driving gelding with parade and show miles can often justify $7,500–$12,000. Quality broodmares in foal to desirable stallions may sit in the $6,000–$10,000 range, and high-end hitch horses or imported bloodlines can climb higher. Be realistic about limitations: a horse with chronic skin problems or maintenance hock injections can still sell, but the price needs to reflect ongoing costs, and you should disclose everything up front. Buyers in this breed expect transparency.

When it comes to where and when to sell, timing and placement matter. Online classifieds, social media groups, and general horse marketplaces work, but you’ll get more targeted interest through draft-horse specific sites, Clydesdale breed association listings, and hitch and carriage networks. Breed shows, expos, and auctions—especially in the fall and early spring, when people are planning the coming season—can be strong venues for performance or hitch horses. In your ads, emphasize what buyers actually care about: how the horse is to shoe, trailer, and clip; whether it’s been in traffic; if it’s seen parades, farm equipment, or show environments; and how it behaves for novice handlers. Good videos of mounting, riding or driving in different settings, and basic handling will help serious buyers self-select before they travel. Finally, give your Clydesdale a proper sales prep: consistent work for a few weeks, tidy feather and mane, and a calm, confident handler on viewing day. The more you present a horse that looks ready to step into its next job, the smoother the selling process will be—and the more likely you’ll place your Clydesdale in a home where both horse and new owner thrive.