The World-Famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to make several appearances in the area beginning Thursday, November 28, 2019, including one at the Oscar Leeser’s Hyundai of El Paso Sun Bowl Parade in conjunction with the city’s Thanksgiving festivities.
The eight-horse hitch will be harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon at the Sun Bowl parade on Thursday, November 28th from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
On Friday, November 29th, the “Gentle Giants,” as they are often referred to, will be at Ft. Bliss’ Freedom Crossing from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
In addition to the appearances at the Sun Bowl and Ft. Bliss, the Clydesdales will make a final stop at the Ysleta Tigua Reservation at 9200 Socorro Rd. The eight-horse hitch will arrive at 1:00 pm and will be available for viewing and photos until 3:00pm.
The media is invited to view the Clydesdales at any of the above locations, but specifically the Ft. Bliss appearance to feature our troops and their families.
The Clydesdales appearance in El Paso 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 three years of age, stand approximately 18 hands–or six feet–at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, be bay in color, have four white legs, a blaze of white on the face and black mane and tail. A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people each year. A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.
Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian. 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 Budweiser Clydesdales can be viewed at the Anheuser-Busch breweries in St. Louis, Mo.; Merrimack, N.H.; and Ft. Collins, Colo. They may also be viewed at Grant’s Farm in St.