When The Budweiser Clydesdales Come To Town
Read about some of the most recognizable horses around. The Budweiser Clydesdales impress with their strength, composure, and beauty!
One of the fun things about living in CNY, or Central New York, and no… it’s not the Lake Effect snow…. is the fact that it is home to the largest brewery in the state, Anheuser-Busch. Why is this fun? Well, because that means that the Budweiser Clydesdales visit periodically which is very cool! Who doesn’t love ginormous, beautiful and super well-trained horses?
I was lucky enough to see them a few weeks ago in Baldwinsville, NY at their parade to celebrate Anheuser-Busch’s 150th anniversary. The Clydesdales trekked through town making several stops to “deliver beer”. They had a little help from the pickup truck full of kegs that was following them! The parade route included stops at Sal’s, Mohegan Manor, Pizza Man, Angry Garlic, BG-1 and Sammy Malone’s. The horses had a police escort, and the streets were lined with people.
The Budweiser Clydesdales began as a 6 horse hitch in 1933 after the Prohibition ended, but soon after increased to the 8 horse hitch we see today. They live in St. Louis at the Anheuser-Busch brewery for public viewing, and their breeding farm is in Boonville, Missouri.
Fun Facts about the Budweiser Clydesdales
- The Clydesdales typically stand around 18 hands high! A hand is 4 inches, so that means they measure about 6’ tall at their withers. That’s a big horse!
- The Clydesdales received a dalmatian in 1950 as a mascot for their hitch. Now a dalmatian travels with each hitch & helps keep the horses calm.
- The Clydesdales must have 4 white stockings, a white blaze and a black mane & tail (spray paint not to count!)
- The Clydesdales are given short names like Duke, Mark & Bud to make it easier for the driver to give commands during a performance.
- The Clydesdales’ horse shoes measure about 20” from end to end and weigh about 5 pounds!
- 10 horses actually travel with the 8 horse hitch, so there are 2 alternates in case they are needed.
- The biggest and strongest horses are placed in the back, since they provide the most pulling power.
The Clydesdales made their Super Bowl commercial debut in 1986, and it was such a hit that the Budweiser ads became one of the most anticipated Super Bowl ads. Which one is your favorite? I think it’s impossible to pick just one!
Check out this commercial from the 2026 Super Bowl! https://youtu.be/DuZt6iTGi4E?si=DQKDi780gDrhr57r
The hitch team travels 10 months per year, and they travel in style. I caught a glimpse of 2 of their 3 rigs when they were in Baldwinsville!
The Clydesdales strutted through town like they had done it 1000 times before. The dalmatian is unbelievably well behaved with so much commotion going on. It’s not surprising he has a calming influence on the horses! You don’t appreciate how beautiful the Clydesdales are until you see them in real life and how amazing it is to see them function as a team. The handlers did walk with them in the parade and did a great job wiping their muzzles at each stop to keep them slobber free!
The Budweiser Clydesdales are pretty amazing to watch in action, so definitely go see them if you have the opportunity! If not, you can catch a glimpse of them periodically on TurnoutHQ!
Written by: Amy E. Sherrick, MBA
Sources:
Budweiser Clydesdales: History of the Most Popular Draft Horses in North America | Mad Barn