Clydesdales Visit WarsawAnyone who has seen the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales on television and wanted to see them in person will get the chance in Kosciusko County this week.
The Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales were brought to Kosciusko County by Nelson Beverage for several events this week, according to Hunter Carlile, Nelson Beverage general manager.
Thursday, they will be at a private customer appreciation party held by Nelson Beverage. Nelson Beverage covers a four-county region, including Kosciusko, Wabash, Whitley and Elkhart counties.
Friday, the public can see the famous horses at Martin's Supermarket, Nappanee. They will put on a full-hit show from 3 to 5 p.m., and it's open to the public.
Saturday will be the big show at the Warsaw Wal-Mart for Wal-Mart's 20th anniversary from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For a donation, consumers can have their picture taken with the horses. All proceeds will go to the K21 Foundation.
Along with 10 of the Clydesdales, the Anheuser-Busch Dalmatian, Barley, also has come to town. The names of the horses are Jack, Jeff, Rudy, Chico, Stuart, Mark, Dillen, Don, Kaz and Chip.
Supervisor Hans Jager said the horses average 18 hands (6 feet) from the ground to the withers. On average, they are 2,000 pounds. Per day, each horse eats about 6 to 8 pounds of feed, 50 pounds of hay and drinks 20 to 30 gallons of water.
The horses visiting Kosciusko County this week range from 5 to 13 years old.
Clydesdale handler Burt Westbrook said the Clydesdales have been the Anheuser-Busch symbol of quality since 1933. Whether the horses are participating in the Macy's Day Parade or some other event, Westbrook said they try to make every appearance look the same. Each show is of high quality, he said.
Westbrook said he's been with Anheuser-Busch for 28 years so he knows the horses pretty well.
"They're all different as you and I. Some of them are great to work with .... they have their own personalities," he said.
Westbrook said he likes working with the horses, but he also enjoys working for Anheuser-Busch. "They've always been a good company," he said.
The Clydesdales originated in Scotland, Westbrook said.
According to a press release, the Clydesdale breed begins in the early 19th century, along the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The farmers were in great need of strong horses for hauling, plowing and carting all necessary farm equipment and workers.
One of the Dukes of Hamilton imported to the region six Great Flemish Horses. The Duke made his six prize horses available for breeding to local mares, and the Clydesdale breed was born.
People from outside Lanarkshire began to refer to the big, powerful horses as "the Clydesman's horse," a name that eventually became Clydesdale.
Today's Budweiser Clydesdales are even bigger than their Scottish ancestors. To qualify for the world famous, eight-horse hitch, a Budweiser Clydesdale must meet certain requirements. Size, color and disposition are the important considerations, according to the press release.
Anheuser-Busch has its own Clydesdale breeding farm in Boonville, Mo., near Columbia, said Westbrook. At any one time, there are 100 to 150 horses at the farm. Westbrook said they breed their own plus buy them from around the world. He said they can't buy enough of the quality and color of Clydesdales they want so Anheuser-Busch has had their own breeding farm since the 1960s.
Westbrook said they are on the road 10 months out of the year. There are four touring hitches. The group visiting Kosciusko County this week usually tours the East Coast, generally from Ohio down.
After the group leaves this area, they are headed to the Preakness Stakes, the second race of the Tripe Crown, Westbrook said.
For more information about Anheuser-Busch or the Clydesdales, visit online at: www.anheuser-busch.com/
