World Clydesdale Show makes its Scottish debut in Aberdeen

The World Clydesdale Show has made its Scottish debut in Aberdeen – featuring horses from across the globe.

The largest single-breed horse show in UK and Europe has come to the Granite City – its first time taking place outside the US – to celebrate the giants of the equestrian world.

Once irreplaceable for the heaviest work in farming and industry, Clydesdales are now a rare breed, with fewer than 5,000 estimated around the globe.

But over the weekend, the very best of them are taking part in a range of competitions to show their versatility.

It was no mean feat to get the event across the pond, as show organiser Ailsa Clark explained.

She told STV News: “With the Clydesdale horses coming from Scotland originally, it’s massively important that we can present ourselves here on a world stage.

“The planning for this really began five years ago, so this is massively exciting, but we’ve had support from across the world. People have really got behind us.”

More than 300 competitors have come from across Europe and even North America.

Jessica Cranell-Menard and her stallion Nitro are the 2018 World Clydesdale champions and have come all the way from Oregon, USA, to reclaim their title.

It's the first time the event has taken place outside the US. — It’s the first time the event has taken place outside the US.

Nitro was flown over in a specially adapted stall to meet his rider Jessica in Scotland.

Although it’s a long journey, Jessica explained the event’s significance: “This is our Super Bowl – it is such a huge opportunity to really give this breed the attention it deserves.

“We’re competing in the dressage and western classes so I can show off how athletic these horses really are. They can do so much more than pulling a cart.”

Most of the competitors are from closer to home, like Laura Cruicks and her twin sister Colina McCulloch from Perth, who are showing their Clydesdales Jedediah and Elvis.

Colina said: “For the last few months people were asking us ‘are you going to the world show?’ and we were like ‘we can’t not, with it being in Scotland.’

“It’s an incredible opportunity.”