The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the professed symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to make several appearances between April 3 and 6, celebrating their 90th anniversary and the April 8 total solar eclipse in West Plains.
The eight-horse hitch will be on display during two parades in West Plains. The public is invited to see the Clydesdales and the famous red beer wagon at the West Plains Civic Center most days, April 3 through 6. Check Facebook for the exact schedule on Great Rivers Distributing Company’s page, @greatriversdistributing, or go online to explorewestplains.com/tse.
Starting at 3 p.m. April 4, the “Gentle Giants,” as they are often called, will parade around Southern Hills Shopping Center. On April 5, one of the Budweiser Clydesdales will be shown before the 38 Special and Ozark Mountain Daredevils concert at the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St. Starting at 7:30 p.m. April 6, the horses will lead the Neon Parade starting on West Main Street.
The Clydesdales’ appearance in West Plains is one of hundreds made annually by the traveling hitches. 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 3 years old, stand about 18 hands — or 6 feet — at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, be bay in color, and have four white legs, a blaze of white on the face and a black mane and tail. A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people each year, said officials.
A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 25 quarts of feed, 50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day, they pointed out.
Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian, officials added. 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.
