The Clydesdales are well known through out the United States. Once again, Budweiser has produced a Super Bowl ad with them that touches the heart. This article contains a bit more information on the breed itself…they are BIG horses. We are including the Superbowl ad just in case you missed it. ~ HfH

From: The State
By: Rebecca Lurye

Parading through Old Town Bluffton’s one square mile next month should be a cushy gig for the Budweiser Clydesdales compared to some of the larger locales on their national tour.

Comfort, however, is always key when the mammoth horses are on the road.

The eight Clydesdales that will clop down Calhoun Street and along the Promenade on March 13 will arrive in three tractor-trailers equipped with air-cushioned, rubber flooring to ensure their comfort during hours-long trips, according to the website for Anheuser-Busch, the company that produces Budweiser

The Clydesdales also travel with expert groomers and, when necessary, a handler who cares for the horses around-the-clock. Inside the 50-foot trucks, cameras keep an eye on the horses throughout their journey.

The Clydesdales are making stops throughout the Midwest this month before stepping out in Daytona Beach, Fla., on March 4.

The caravan then heads to Savannah on March 11, and will make a brief detour into South Carolina to help celebrate Old Town Dispensary’s five-year anniversary.

CLYDESDALE FACTS
Breed: Scottish farmers in the 19th century bred the Great Flemish horse, the forerunner of the Clydesdale. These first draft horses pulled loads of more than 1 ton at a walking speed of 5 mph. In the mid-1800s, Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to the United States. Today, the Clydesdales are used primarily for breeding and show.

Requirements: To qualify as a traveling hitch horse, a Budweiser Clydesdale must be a gelding at least 4 years of age, stand 72 inches at the shoulder when fully mature, weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds, have a bay coat, four white legs, a white blaze, and a black mane and tail.
Feed: Each hitch horse will consume as much as 20 to 25 quarts of whole grains, minerals and vitamins, 50 to 60 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.

Harness: Each harness and collar weighs approximately 130 pounds. The harness is handcrafted with solid brass, patent leather and stitched with pure linen thread. Collars come in various sizes and must be individually fitted to each Clydesdale.

Names: Duke, Captain, Mark and Bud are just a few of the names given to the Budweiser Clydesdales. Names are kept short to make it easier for the driver to give commands to the horses during a performance.

Horseshoes: Clydesdale horseshoes measure more than 20 inches from end to end and weigh about 5 pounds. This is more than twice as long and five times as heavy as the shoe worn by a light horse.
Source: Anheuser-Busch

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