Originally bred as one of the smallest draft horse breeds in Scotland, they were farm animals mostly relegated to pulling plows through often rocky soil. Selective breeding has led the Clydesdale to become one of the largest alive. Their fancy appearance- shiny bay coats and long feathers (lower leg hairs)- belies their true hardiness: they can pull a 1 ton load at an average of 5 mph.
The Clydesdales were first seen as a symbol of Budweiser, and Anheuser-Busch overall, on April 7th, 1933 as August A. Busch and Adolphus Busch presented their father with two six-horse hitches of of gorgeous Clydesdales in celebration of the repeal of Prohibition. All present were moved to tears.
Since their debut, the Budweiser Clydesdales have become an American emblem. Most of their major event-related commercials have hosted a number of their proud team. One of their most popular aired in the Super Bowl of 1996.
What is more American than beer, football, and Budweiser Clydesdales?
My Version of the Story Behind the Game
Gentle giants of the fields, the Budweiser Clydesdales were content to much grass peacefully until they were preened and dressed and sent to haul beer through streets of happy people. Even the cheering of the crowds could not shake their unfathomable calm. Perhaps nothing could.
But that illusion was shattered in the barn one early morning as two of the largest horses nickered irritably back and forth at each other.
But that illusion was shattered in the barn one early morning as two of the largest horses nickered irritably back and forth at each other.
It was fall. The cool breeze shuffled colorful leaves across the floor by the doors swung wide open, their dance paralleled by their shadows in the sun. Apples were plentiful and often 'forgotten' by the stable hands within easy reach of the horses. What could possibly be wrong in their world?! Their bellies were full of tasty grain and crunchy apples, their hooves were clean of mud and muck, their coats were shiny and glossy with manes brushed gently.
All the horses had a favorite type of apple- the pink lady. It was sweet and tart and juicy. And it had just gone out of season. Their trees were going dormant and their fruit stopped coming. The stable hands lamented the timing with the horses and commented that there was just one left. They had intended to split the apple between the two beefy horses and sliced it in half neatly. But before the first handler could turn over half to the other handler, the biggest horse of them all snatched up the whole thing! Fearing the foul mood of the second horse, the stable hands skittered away in haste.
There was only one way to settle the score between the two Clysedales: football. Over the next few weeks, each horse built a team and practiced. Horses not selected for teams carefully went about stealing balls from the stables when the humans weren't watching.
Thus the story in the commercial- game day.
All the horses had a favorite type of apple- the pink lady. It was sweet and tart and juicy. And it had just gone out of season. Their trees were going dormant and their fruit stopped coming. The stable hands lamented the timing with the horses and commented that there was just one left. They had intended to split the apple between the two beefy horses and sliced it in half neatly. But before the first handler could turn over half to the other handler, the biggest horse of them all snatched up the whole thing! Fearing the foul mood of the second horse, the stable hands skittered away in haste.
There was only one way to settle the score between the two Clysedales: football. Over the next few weeks, each horse built a team and practiced. Horses not selected for teams carefully went about stealing balls from the stables when the humans weren't watching.
Thus the story in the commercial- game day.
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