BUDWEISER CLYDESDALES

CLYDE VALLEY SCOTLAND

The Clydesdale breed originated in the Clyde Valley, Lanarkshire, Scotland, in the mid-eighteenth century, when the Sixth Duke of Hamilton (1742 - 1758) imported a flemish stallion (male horse) from Flanders (a region of Northern Europe currently encompassed by France, Belgium, and the Netherlands). It’s from this stallion mating with a work horse mare that the Clydesdale breed developed.

A PAIR OF CLYDESDALES

Following contributions from Flemish and Frisian stallions, the definitive characteristics of the breed were fixed at the beginning of the eighteenth century.  This breed’s official debut under the name Clydesdale was at the 1826 Glasgow Exhibition in Scotland.   The Clydesdale was bred for hauling coal and doing farm work. In Scotland it eventually replaced the Shire breed as a carriage horse.  

In appearance, the ideal Clydesdale is bay in colour, has a blaze of white on the face, a black mane and tail and white feathering on all four legs and feet.  Clydesdales are also judged by thier high-stepping gait.  When fully mature a Budweiser quality Clydesdale will stand 72 inches at the shoulder or 6 feet tall and weigh 1,800 - 2,300 pounds.  Clydesdales are genrally fully grown by the age of four.  

One of the strongest breeds of horses, the Clydesdales are built to pull and maneuver heavy loads like the Budweiser wagon.  In additon to the weight of the hitch, each horse supports a harness and collar that weighs 130 pounds.

WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION

Clydesdales are bred in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Africa, New Zealand and Australia.  Clydesdales were introduced to the United States Prior to the Civil War.

BUDWEISER CASH REGISTER GLASS CLYDESDALES

USA FACTS

The estimated United States Clydesdale population is between 2,500 and 3,000.  Approximately 400 Clydesdales are registered in the United States each year.  Anheuser-Busch currently maintains the largest Clydesdale herd in the world, between 225 and 250 horses.

One of two breeding farms for the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales is Grant’s Farm, located in south St. Louis, Missouri. Approximately 15 to 20 foals (a horse under six months of age) are born there each year.  

The second breeding farm is located near Romoland, California, about 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Approximately 15 to 20 foals are born there each year.  

Grant’s Farm is the former home of Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War commander and the eighteenth president of the United States.

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