Explore the History of Budweiser’s Clydesdales

Budweiser’s Clydesdale horses have been representing the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company for almost a century. These majestic horses have appeared in Super Bowl commercials and even toured across the country, making appearances in dozens of cities. The Clydesdale horses are iconic to this day, but how did they become the symbol for Budweiser beer?

What Are Clydesdale Horses?

First, you might be wondering, what exactly is a Clydesdale? This Scottish breed of draught horse was originally bred for heavy farm and industrial work, according to the National Museums Scotland. Clydesdales are well-muscled and grow taller and larger than the average horse.

They also have a distinctive “feathering” or longer hair on their lower legs. This evolutionary adaptation serves to keep draft horses warm and protected from rough terrain.

Clydesdales are typically bay, brown, or black with white coloring on their face and legs. Despite their large size, Clydesdales are known for being quite docile. Sadly this breed is also listed as vulnerable by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

How Did Clydesdales Become A Symbol for Anheuser-Busch?

For many years Clydesdales have been a symbol used for promotions and commercials by the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company. 

The tradition began with a gift. In 1933 August A. Busch, Jr. and Adolphus Busch III surprised their father, August A. Busch, Sr. with six Clydesdale horses to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition, according to Anheuser-Busch.

The company then sent a second six-horse Clydesdale hitch to New York as part of a celebration of Prohibition’s end. From there the hitch continued to New England and the Mid-Atlantic states before stopping in Washington, D.C.

The Clydesdale’s tour drew thousands of delighted viewers and cemented the animal’s iconic status as symbols of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company.

In 1950 a new member was introduced to the company’s team. A Dalmatian became the Budweiser Clydesdales’ mascot. One of these pups travels with each of the Clydesdale hitches to this day.

When television became mainstream, it only made sense that the Clydesdales would appear in advertisements for Budweiser beer. These majestic horses have even shown up in Super Bowl commercials, making their first debut during Super Bowl IX in 1975.

The Traveling Budweiser Clydesdales

Today the Budweiser Clydesdales remain an iconic symbol of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company. They continue to make hundreds of appearances across the country every year.

Not just any draught horse can become a Budweiser Clydesdale. To qualify, a Clydesdale must be a gelding at least four years of age and 18 hands at the whithers. The horses weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds and are reddish brown in color with white feet and a strip of white on their faces.

A considerable amount of effort goes into prepping and caring for the Budweiser Clydesdales, especially when they are out making appearances.

Expert groomers travel with the the hitch for the majority of the year, while another team oversees the horses’ diet. Hitch drivers undergo a lengthy training process before they are given the prestigious Budweiser Clydesdale Hitch Driver title.

Additionally, it requires a well-trained crew to handle all the equipment the horses need. This includes handcrafted harnesses and collars that weigh approximately 130 pounds each, three 50-foot tractor-trailers to transport the horses, and the iconic red, white, and gold beer wagon.

Where to See the Budweiser Clydesdales

Fans of the Clydesdales can see these iconic horses as they travel across the country. However, you can also visit the horses on their home turf.

Visitors to the Anheuser-Busch breweries in St. Louis can see the Clydesdales at rest during while touring the brewery. You can also check the horses out at  Warm Springs Ranch, the premier Budweiser Clydesdale breeding establishment in Boonville, Missouri.

Controversy

Though the Budweiser Clydesdales travel with a great team of caretakers, there has been some controversy surrounding the use of these horses.

In 2023 PETA launched a campaign criticizing Anheuser-Busch’s practice of docking the Clydesdales’ tails for cosmetic reasons, reports NPR. Docking for cosmetic purposes does not contribute to the welfare of the horse.

In fact, the practice can leave the horse unable to swat away flies and use their tails to communicate. Tail docking is condemned by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Following PETA’s pressure campaign, Anheiser Bushch announced in 2023 that it would end the practice of docking the tails of its Budweiser Clydesdale horses.