The Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society (WA Branch) was founded in 1985 by a small group of dedicated owners and breeders of the Clydesdale Horse. Their aims were two fold. Firstly to continue to ensure the purity of the Clydesdale Breed of horses throughout Western Australia by promoting horses free from hereditary unsoundness.
Secondly to ensure the promotion of the Clydesdale Horse to the public through participation at Field Days, Heritage Festivals and other demonstration days. These events allow the Society to show methods of agriculture farming that were followed in the development of our early Western Australia.
Over the past twenty years, membership of our non-profit organistion has grown and with it, peoples understanding of the important role the Clydesdale horse played in the states history.
If you are interested in having the Clydesdales put on a display at your event, please contact the Branch Secretary, email to discuss the matter. As we are a non-profit organisation, we request a donation to the Society to attend the events and to assist our members with transporting their horses.
What we do
Heritage Festivals
We take our clydesdales to Heritage Festivals for the public to see, admire and take photos. People patting "Bluey" at the Toodyay Heritage Festival (left photo). "Bluey" took people up to the Gaol for wagon rides. People listening and patting a clydesdale at the Guildford Heritage Festival (right photo).
Avondale Demonstrations
Twice a year, members join together at the Avondale Historic Farm. We use the old barn to house our beautiful clydesdales. Usually we stay there the weekend, settle our clyesdales, have dinner at the old Beverley Pub, try out the old farm implements with our clydesdales.
Ploughing Festival
Each May/June, a couple of clydesdales plough at the Avondale farm, we are allocated a paddock to do our ploughing. Members are very welcome to try and have a go at ploughing. Many other old farm implements like tractors, old trucks are on display around the paddock.
Come along with us going back in time with our clydesdales and experience the old days of farming with old implements.
Shows
Once a year, the Clydesdale Society holds the Heavy Horse Show at the Dardanup Equestrain Centre. This show is for any horse of Heavy breed. Part breds, cross breds are very welcome to enter the class and harness classes.
Harness
Riding
Riding the Clydesdale has become popular over the last couple of years. The Sydney Easter Royal Show has a large number of Riding Heavy Horses, as well as the Melbourne Royal Show and Werribee Heavy Horse Festival.
Long Reining
Coming soon
Log Snig
Judged purely on the ability of the horse to negotiate the course set out on the day in a safe and worklike manner, with the minimum loss of points within the Rules for competition on the day. Points will be lost for upsetting the pole/ball and, depending on the event, points may also be lost should the horse put a food on or over the boundary line, become uncontrollable, or get outside the chains and requires assistance to be placed back in the chains.
Horse usually has harness of winkers, collar, hames, reins, backband and chains. The chains are to be the regulation length of the CCHS Branch running the competition, or as determined by the Judge on the day.
