Learn more about the legacy of the Budweiser Clydesdales in the Horse Week feature “The History of the Budweiser Clydesdales”.
The Budweiser Clydesdales are easily some of the most iconic, recognizable horses in modern American culture. More than just a mascot, the Clydesdales have been an integral part of Anheuser-Busch for more than 80 years.
In March 1933, August A. Busch, Jr. and Adolphus Busch III surprised their father, August A. Busch, Sr., with two six-horse Clydesdale hitches to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition of beer.
August A. Busch, Jr. sent one hitch to Chicago and then on a midwestern tour. The other hitch was put on an eastbound train to New York. The Clydesdales drew a crowd of thousands on their way to the Empire State Building. After a small ceremony, a case of Budweiser was presented to former Governor Alfred E. Smith in appreciation of his years of service in the fight against Prohibition.
This hitch continued on a tour of New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, thrilling thousands, before stopping in Washington, D.C. to reenact the delivery of one of the first cases of Budweiser to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Shortly after the hitch was first introduced, the six-horse Clydesdale team increased to eight. On March 30, 1950, groundbreaking ceremony of the Anheuser-Busch Newark Brewery, a Dalmatian was introduced as the Budweiser Clydesdales’ mascot. Now, a Dalmatian travels with each Clydesdale hitch.
Today, the Budweiser Clydesdales continue to be an enduring symbol of the brewer’s heritage and American culture. They reside at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in St. Louis where the public is welcome to see them up-close. Visitors can also see the Clydesdales at Warm Springs Ranch, the premier Budweiser Clydesdales breeding and training facility in Boonville, Missouri.
When they’re not making appearances around the country, the Budweiser Clydesdales also continue to be marketing stalwarts for Anheuser-Busch, appearing in beloved and highly anticipated commercials each year. They first appeared in the Super Bowl in 1975 and have since appeared in countless Super Bowl commercials for the company.
Learn more about the Budweiser Clydesdales— from learning to drive the hitch to what it’s like working with the Clydesdales— in the Horse Week feature “The History of the Budweiser Clydesdales”.
This article and Horse Week feature video are brought to you by the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales.
Horse Week: October 9 – 15
Learn more about the Budweiser Clydesdales— from learning to drive the hitch to what it’s like working with the Clydesdales— in the Horse Week feature “The History of the Budweiser Clydesdales”.
The History of the Budweiser Clydesdales Trailer
