April 5, 2018

The Clydesdales and Opening Day

How would you like to drive an 8 horse hitch through a dark concrete tunnel underneath an MLB stadium a few times a year?


Or spend all morning washing 32 feathered legs?


And how awesome do these horses have to be to keep it together in front of 40,000 roaring fans?


It's a pretty awesome coincidence that the baseball team I love kicks off the season every year by sending the hometown Budweiser Clydesdales around the field.  They do this on Opening Day, for playoff games and sometimes for special games during the year.


Today the Cardinals posted this awesome 2 minute video about what it takes to get the Clydesdales ready for this every year (hint: a whole lot of bathing, crazy braiding, and vacuuming!), and what it takes to be chosen as a hitch horse among the many foals they have each year.  Did you know their harness costs over $100,000?!

See the full video here: https://www.facebook.com/Cardinals/videos/10157511452801840/



Go Cards!

7 comments:

  1. Ahhhhh one of my Andalusian breeder friends (incidentally they bred Cinna's dam) is a hitch driver for Budweiser! It's SUCH a cool tradition.

    We should meet up and go out to Warm Springs Ranch and see the bebe Clydes! 😍

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! I've been to Grant's Farm but never to the ranch. That would be awesome!

      Delete
    2. The ranch is an amazing place! We were out there years ago and I'm sure it's only improved since. The team makes appearances down here in Ocala occasionally. I do miss the ride!

      Delete
  2. The Clydesdales came to town a few years back and it was a HUGE deal! The town of Landrum put on a parade just for them and the Wells Fargo Stage Coach. I think the entire population of the area was in attendance of the parade and it was so much fun to see them all decked out and just a few feet away :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well that's the coolest thing I've seen in a while.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That's so cool. We see them at Preakness every year. A few years ago I got to pet their dalmatian in the parking lot - ha ha!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Clysdesdales are pretty cool but if I had to wash feathers all the damn time I'd probably shave them off lol

    ReplyDelete