On December 5, 1933 Prohibition was repealed in the United States of America after a long 3+ years of alcohol drought (well, except all that illegal booze!). This was the day the Budweiser Clydesdales made thier debut. They paraded down Pennsylvania Avenue with their red wagon to deliver the first case of post prohibition beer to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the White House. Since then, they have gained popularity through the memorable Budweiser commercials, appearances at events, and of course at the St. Louis Cardinals baseball games.
To commemorate this day, the Clydesdales saunter down main streets all over America in December to recreate that first post prohibition gig and deliver beer in the signature wood Budweiser cases to local establishments. These beauties are a sight to see.
Fun Fact: Riding shotgun in the wagon next to the drivers is their mascot, the Budweiser Dalmatian. Why the Dalmatian? Years ago, they were known as coach dogs who ran between carriages or coaches and became companions for the horses.
So next December, look for Clydesdales near you! To see these beautiful creatures in person other times of the year, you can visit 1 of the 5 locations in the United States where they are kept and cared for:
*San Diego, CA
*Merrimack, NH
*San Antonio, TX
*St. Louis, MO
*Menifee, CA
You can also visit the Budweiser website for the “Hitch Schedule” at www.budweiser.com/en/clydesdales/hitch-schedule.html.
As beautiful as they are to see, I wanted to know if the horses are cared for properly. After some research, here is what I have found:
*Travel is limited to 500 miles or less per day.
*When traveling, the driver must stop every 2-3 hours to ensure the horses are drinking and eating the appropriate amount
*Drivers have cameras in the cabs to be sure that the horses are doing ok during travel
* Each Hitch has its own designated veterinarian
*The team exercises the horses at every stop
*More times than not they stop at local stables during travel so the horses can rest peacefully
*They are fed a diet ich in grass hay and given supplements for joint health. Some horses also receive chiropractic care as needed!
*All horses receive regular Farriery Care