Who does not recognize this picture of the famous Budweiser Clydesdale? Well, bet you did not know that Purina is helping to feed these huge horses. The company has a key hand in their development at the Grant's Farm where the young ones live and are trained. Purina helps weigh and measure the young stock, scoring each horse's body condition. They also consult with the traveling teams to help ensure that the animals are getting the right balance while on the road.
Did you happen to know that ...................................
Each Clydesdale on the hitch gets a full body bath and haircut weekly and is groomed and exercised every day.
Each horse receives a detailed training program that takes 4 years to complete before a Clydesdale can be part of the Budweiser team.
Each hitch horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of whole grains, minerals and vitamins, 50 to 60 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water a day.
Expert groomers travel with the horses. They are on the road 10 months a year or more. When necessary, one handler provides around-the-clock care for the horses, ensuring their safety and comfort.
Clydesdale horseshoes measure more than 20 inches from end to end and weigh about 5 pounds which is about twice as long and five times as heavy as the shoe worn by a light horse.
Enjoy your Friday!
The Clydes are amazing, as are all the "heavy's." We had six horse hitches of both grey, and black Percheron's; which are the largest breed of the heavy horses.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to see the decline in numbers of the draft horses. The owners who maintain and show their hitches, at considerable cost, do it purely for the love of the breed.