HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales are scheduled to make several appearances in the Hutchinson area from Sept. 9 through Sept. 13, including one at City Beverage Co. in conjunction with the awarding of the Ambassadors of Excellence Award.
The eight-horse hitch will be harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon at the City Beverage on Sept. 10 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Admittance to this event will be by invitation only.
The Clydesdales will also be at the Kansas State Fair on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 as well as additional locations while in Kansas so the entire family may enjoy them.
To view a schedule of the Clydesdales while in Kansas, you may go to http://www.budweiser.com/clydesdales/hutchinsonksmarketvisit.html.
Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to America in the mid-1800s. Today, the giant draft horses are used primarily for breeding and show.
Horses chosen for the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch must be at least three years of age, stand approximately 18 hands – or six feet – at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, must be bay in color, have four white legs, and a blaze of white on the face and black mane and tail. A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people each year.
A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.
Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian. In the early days of brewing, Dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.
The Budweiser Clydesdales can be viewed at the Anheuser-Busch breweries in St. Louis, Mo.; Merrimack, N.H.; and Ft Collins, Co. They also may be viewed at Grant’s Farm in St. Louis and at Warm Springs Ranch, the 300-plus acre Clydesdale breeding farm located near Boonville, Mo.