![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
World famous Clydesdales will make Central Texas appearance
By Denise Schoppe
Staffwriter
The Marlin Democrat
November 08, 2004
Christmas carols are filled with lines about sleigh rides pulled by horses. Currier & Ives regularly show horse-drawn sleighs through the snow in the classic Christmas scenes. It’s as if a horse and sleigh are part of Christmas tradition.
Another tradition is that of the Budweiser Clydesdales. These horses are as much an icon to many Americans as football and popcorn.
On Dec. 16 - 18, these two traditions join forces as the Budweiser Clydesdales will make a special appearance at Nature in Lights at the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area (BLORA) in Killeen. Sponsored by Jack Hilliard Distributing Company, the horses will be available for viewing from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at the Christmas lights display that draws people by the hundreds from all over Central Texas throughout the holiday season.
The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales have been representative of Anheuser-Busch for more than 70 years.
They were formally introduced to August A. Busch Sr. and Anheuser-Busch on April 7, 1933, to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. August A. Busch Jr. wanted to commemorate the special day, and to his father’s delight, the hitch came down Pestalozzi Street carrying the first case of post-Prohibition beer from the St. Louis brewery.
Today, Clydesdales are used primarily for breeding and show, however, at one time, they were the definition of a “work-horse.”
Farmers living in the 19th century along the banks of the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland, bred the Great Flemish Horse, the forerunner of the Clydesdale. These first draft horses pulled loads of more than one ton at a walking speed of five miles per hour.
Their reputation spread beyond the Scottish borders, and in the mid-1800s, Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to the United States where they resumed their existence on farms.
The horses continue to draw the attention of those that see them. To be a famed Budweiser Clydesdale, however, certain requirements must be met.
To qualify for one of the six hitches (five traveling and one stationary), a Budweiser Clydesdale must be a gelding at least four years of age. He must stand 72 inches, or 6 feet, at the shoulder when fully mature, weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds, be bay in color, have four white stocking feet, a blaze of white on the face, and a black mane and tail.
The five traveling Budweiser Clydesdale hitches are based in St. Louis, Missouri; Menifee, California; San Diego, California; Merrimack, New Hampshire; and San Antonio, Texas. The Budweiser Clydesdales can be viewed at the Anheuser-Busch breweries in St. Louis, Merrimack and Ft. Collins, Colorado.
The Budweiser Clydesdales also may be viewed at Grant’s Farm, the 281-acre ancestral home of the Busch family, in St. Louis and at the following Anheuser-Busch theme parks: Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Tampa, Florida, and at the Sea World theme parks in Orlando, Florida; San Diego, California; and San Antonio, Texas.
The official home of the Budweiser Clydesdales is an ornate brick and stained-glass stable built in 1885. It stands on the historic 100-acre Anheuser-Busch brewery complex in St. Louis. The stable is one of three buildings located on the brewery grounds that are registered as historic landmarks by the federal government.
Appearances by the Budweiser Clydesdales are special occasions. They receive thousands of requests for the “gentle giants” every year, and each request is evaluated on the type of event, dates, history of appearances in that particular area and other input from Anheuser-Busch management representatives.
Once an invitation is accepted, ten horses, the famous red, white and gold beer wagon and other essential equipment are transported in three 50-foot tractor trailers, which weigh 24 tons when fully loaded. Cameras in the trailers, with monitors in the cabs, enable the drivers to keep an eye on their cargo during transport. The team stops each night at local stables so the horses can rest. Air-cushion suspension and thick rubber flooring in the trailers ease the rigors of traveling.
Expert grooms travel on the road with the hitch, and they are on the road at least 10 months every year. When necessary, one handler has night duty to provide round-the-clock care for the horses, ensuring their safety and comfort.
Care of the horses is important, but so is insurance that everything that goes into each appearance is top-notch.
All hitch drivers are put through a rigorous training period before they are given the reins. Driving the 12 tons of wagon and horses requires strength and skill.
The 40 pounds of reins the driver holds, plus the tension of the reins, equals 75 pounds. Each harness and collar weighs 130 pounds.
The harness is handcrafted from brass and leather with pure linen thread for the stitching. It is made to fit any horse, but the collars come in different sizes and must be individually fitted like a suit of clothes.
Clydesdale horseshoes measure more than 20 inches from end to end and weigh about five pounds — more than twice as long and five times as heavy as the shoe worn by a riding horse.
Turn-of-the-century beer wagons have been meticulously restored and are kept in excellent repair. The wagons are equipped with two braking systems: a hydraulic pedal device that slows the vehicle for turns and descents down hills, and a hand brake that locks the rear wheels when the wagon is at a halt.
The final touch of all appearances is the Dalmation that is, today, seated next to the driver.
Dalmatians have traveled with the hitch since the 1950s. 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 black-and-white spotted dogs were swift enough to keep up with the wagons, and their light-colored bodies and markings made them easier to see during the twilight hours.
The appearance of these horses is a rare event, and visitors to Nature in Lights have a limited opportunity to view them.
Fort Hood has offered Nature in Lights for the last eight years, and it has since delighted thousands of visitors every year. The event turns BLORA into a winter wonderland to all who visit.
Visitors drive through the 800-acre park and enjoy five and one half miles of illuminated displays, ranging in size from a single strand of lights to scenes spanning 40’ high and 300’ wide. Guests can shop for gifts, take photographs with Santa, and enjoy homemade cookies, hot chocolate and other treats at Santa’s Village, located in the park at Live Oak Pavilion.
The event runs from 5:30 - 11 p.m. through Jan. 9 at BLORA. However, the Budweiser Clydesdales will only be appearing from Dec. 16 - 18 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
This event is open to the public and cost is $7 per carload. Call 287-2523 for directions.
By Denise Schoppe
Staffwriter
The Marlin Democrat
November 08, 2004
Christmas carols are filled with lines about sleigh rides pulled by horses. Currier & Ives regularly show horse-drawn sleighs through the snow in the classic Christmas scenes. It’s as if a horse and sleigh are part of Christmas tradition.
Another tradition is that of the Budweiser Clydesdales. These horses are as much an icon to many Americans as football and popcorn.
On Dec. 16 - 18, these two traditions join forces as the Budweiser Clydesdales will make a special appearance at Nature in Lights at the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area (BLORA) in Killeen. Sponsored by Jack Hilliard Distributing Company, the horses will be available for viewing from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at the Christmas lights display that draws people by the hundreds from all over Central Texas throughout the holiday season.
The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales have been representative of Anheuser-Busch for more than 70 years.
They were formally introduced to August A. Busch Sr. and Anheuser-Busch on April 7, 1933, to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. August A. Busch Jr. wanted to commemorate the special day, and to his father’s delight, the hitch came down Pestalozzi Street carrying the first case of post-Prohibition beer from the St. Louis brewery.
Today, Clydesdales are used primarily for breeding and show, however, at one time, they were the definition of a “work-horse.”
Farmers living in the 19th century along the banks of the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland, bred the Great Flemish Horse, the forerunner of the Clydesdale. These first draft horses pulled loads of more than one ton at a walking speed of five miles per hour.
Their reputation spread beyond the Scottish borders, and in the mid-1800s, Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to the United States where they resumed their existence on farms.
The horses continue to draw the attention of those that see them. To be a famed Budweiser Clydesdale, however, certain requirements must be met.
To qualify for one of the six hitches (five traveling and one stationary), a Budweiser Clydesdale must be a gelding at least four years of age. He must stand 72 inches, or 6 feet, at the shoulder when fully mature, weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds, be bay in color, have four white stocking feet, a blaze of white on the face, and a black mane and tail.
The five traveling Budweiser Clydesdale hitches are based in St. Louis, Missouri; Menifee, California; San Diego, California; Merrimack, New Hampshire; and San Antonio, Texas. The Budweiser Clydesdales can be viewed at the Anheuser-Busch breweries in St. Louis, Merrimack and Ft. Collins, Colorado.
The Budweiser Clydesdales also may be viewed at Grant’s Farm, the 281-acre ancestral home of the Busch family, in St. Louis and at the following Anheuser-Busch theme parks: Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Tampa, Florida, and at the Sea World theme parks in Orlando, Florida; San Diego, California; and San Antonio, Texas.
The official home of the Budweiser Clydesdales is an ornate brick and stained-glass stable built in 1885. It stands on the historic 100-acre Anheuser-Busch brewery complex in St. Louis. The stable is one of three buildings located on the brewery grounds that are registered as historic landmarks by the federal government.
Appearances by the Budweiser Clydesdales are special occasions. They receive thousands of requests for the “gentle giants” every year, and each request is evaluated on the type of event, dates, history of appearances in that particular area and other input from Anheuser-Busch management representatives.
Once an invitation is accepted, ten horses, the famous red, white and gold beer wagon and other essential equipment are transported in three 50-foot tractor trailers, which weigh 24 tons when fully loaded. Cameras in the trailers, with monitors in the cabs, enable the drivers to keep an eye on their cargo during transport. The team stops each night at local stables so the horses can rest. Air-cushion suspension and thick rubber flooring in the trailers ease the rigors of traveling.
Expert grooms travel on the road with the hitch, and they are on the road at least 10 months every year. When necessary, one handler has night duty to provide round-the-clock care for the horses, ensuring their safety and comfort.
Care of the horses is important, but so is insurance that everything that goes into each appearance is top-notch.
All hitch drivers are put through a rigorous training period before they are given the reins. Driving the 12 tons of wagon and horses requires strength and skill.
The 40 pounds of reins the driver holds, plus the tension of the reins, equals 75 pounds. Each harness and collar weighs 130 pounds.
The harness is handcrafted from brass and leather with pure linen thread for the stitching. It is made to fit any horse, but the collars come in different sizes and must be individually fitted like a suit of clothes.
Clydesdale horseshoes measure more than 20 inches from end to end and weigh about five pounds — more than twice as long and five times as heavy as the shoe worn by a riding horse.
Turn-of-the-century beer wagons have been meticulously restored and are kept in excellent repair. The wagons are equipped with two braking systems: a hydraulic pedal device that slows the vehicle for turns and descents down hills, and a hand brake that locks the rear wheels when the wagon is at a halt.
The final touch of all appearances is the Dalmation that is, today, seated next to the driver.
Dalmatians have traveled with the hitch since the 1950s. 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 black-and-white spotted dogs were swift enough to keep up with the wagons, and their light-colored bodies and markings made them easier to see during the twilight hours.
The appearance of these horses is a rare event, and visitors to Nature in Lights have a limited opportunity to view them.
Fort Hood has offered Nature in Lights for the last eight years, and it has since delighted thousands of visitors every year. The event turns BLORA into a winter wonderland to all who visit.
Visitors drive through the 800-acre park and enjoy five and one half miles of illuminated displays, ranging in size from a single strand of lights to scenes spanning 40’ high and 300’ wide. Guests can shop for gifts, take photographs with Santa, and enjoy homemade cookies, hot chocolate and other treats at Santa’s Village, located in the park at Live Oak Pavilion.
The event runs from 5:30 - 11 p.m. through Jan. 9 at BLORA. However, the Budweiser Clydesdales will only be appearing from Dec. 16 - 18 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
This event is open to the public and cost is $7 per carload. Call 287-2523 for directions.
