Census entries to giggle over …..

Post by **emanday** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:42 pm

For those not familiar with the term "cuddy"...

It's a horse

Tom-W · Post by **Tom-W** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:18 pm

emanday wrote:For those not familiar with the term "cuddy"...

It's a horse

My mother would have disagreed with you on that definition - one of our regular family arguments involved her insisting that a cuddy was specifically a donkey while my father responded that it meant either a donkey OR a horse. As our weekly shopping trip involved a trip along a road known locally as the "cuddy road" this was a very common argument! When they bought their first Scots dictionary they both claimed victory as it gave both definitions although donkey was first. Probably another of those words with regional variations in use.

Regards
Tom

Post by **emanday** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:24 pm

My grandmother and father used to have the same "discussion" Tom.

No compromise was ever reached between them, but we all used it for any of the horse-type creatures, although Zebras were always called "minty cuddies"

Coined by my Dad who had a wicked sense of humour

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:48 pm

Hi Tom

In my natal East Lothian there wisnae ony donkies jist 'cuddies' of the plough towing variety. Big, gentle Clydesdales I wanted tae cuddle but my erms were too wee.

Russell

Post by **Tracey** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:57 pm

I often go through freecen census for Rathven / Portknockie. One of the "remarks" that comes to mind on an 1851 or 61 census (cant remember which)

"Husband left her but still gives her money"

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:21 pm

There used to be a centre for retired big cuddies, and their offspring, a few miles along the road from Perth to Dundee, the majority being Clydesdales, - in the main just great big safties, although there was one, a massive big white boy, who would almost knock you off your feet when he attempted to get into your pocket where he knew well you had mints/apples/treats.

We formally adopted one old lady who would sometimes condescend to come when her name was cried if she felt in the mood; if not you were totally ignored, or if her mood was particularly uncooperative, she'd slowly turn away from you and present her rear view

In winter they were all kept indoors, or close to a large shelter. In summer they were put out in a large paddock, which was subdivided into maybe 16 or so smaller areas, but only after a "sorting out" process during which they were given a chance to decide on who they wanted to share with, i.e. decide on particular buddies, who could well change from year to year, so that there were mostly pairs, a few triples, and a few grumpy old singles.

It wasn't unknown for the staff, on checking the situation first thing in the morning to find that there had been equine decided rearrangements of the divisions overnight, - if you've never stood close to a Clydesdale or similar "heavy horse" then it will be difficult for you to understand and appreciate that there are few fences or barriers in this world that will resist the attentions of such a determined big cuddie

Very sadly, this centre closed in mysterious circumstances a few years ago, with lots of rumours flying about regarding financial irregularities, not so much in relation to the heavy horse centre, but related activities.

Those cuddies who were assessed by vets as being capable of handling the stresses involved in transport were transferred to another heavy horse centre somewhere near Aberdeen. Even more sadly, those assesed as being incapable of handling such stresses, particularly the case for the older cuddies, had to be put down.

David

A proud descendant of the the "Aristocrats o' The Mearns", the ploomen