Arts & Entertainment

Clydesdales Return to the Dixon May Fair

The majestic horses will return to the Dixon May Fair this year to the delight of many

By Brianna Boyd
Special to Dixon Patch

The world famous Budweiser Clydesdales will gallop back to Dixon this week to take part in the 136th annual Dixon May Fair and parade.

Ten of these gentle giants will greet visitors at the fair Wednesday through Sunday, and will also lead a red, white and gold 1903 Studebaker-built beer wagon in Saturday’s Dixon May Fair.

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These horses are some of the most recognizable horses in the country. Every Budweiser Clydesdale travels to hundreds of events a year in North America and sometimes overseas.  Wherever they go, they are met with thunderous applause from excited crowds of children and adults alike.

The early Clydesdales quickly garnered attention as a breed more powerful than any breed available before. The horses were said to be capable of pulling loads heavier than a ton at a walking speed of 5 miles per hour.

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The Clydesdales today are even bigger than their Scottish ancestors. The horses stand 18 hands high, or about 6 feet at the shoulder once they are fully matured, and weigh between 1,800 pounds and 2,300 pounds. In two daily meals, these majestic creatures will consume 20 to 25 quarts of feed, 50 to 60 pounds of hay, and up to 30 gallons of water.

To qualify for the world famous eight-horse hitch, a Budweiser Clydesdale must meet certain size, color and disposition requirements. They must be geldings, bay in color, have four white legs and a blaze of whiter on the face, as well as a black mane and tail. A gentle temperament is a very important characteristic because these hitch horses meet millions of people every year.

Once a Clydesdale is selected to travel on one of the company’s eight-horse hitches, he will spend many of his days on the road, performing at hundreds of events each year. In order to provide rest for each of the eight “first-string” horses, the Clydesdale hitch teams always travel with 10 gentle giants.

Performance days for a Budweiser Clydesdale are a combination of excitement and perfection. Special attention is given to their appearance on performance days. The expert groomers who travel with the horses spend five hours washing and grooming the horses, polishing the harness, braiding red and white ribbons into the manes and inserting red and white bows into the tails. Harnessing all eight horses to the wagon typically takes about 45 minutes.

Once all eight horses are hitched to the wagon, the driver will adjust the lines. Driving the 12 tons of wagon and horses requires strength, experience and stamina. The 40 pounds of lines the driver holds, plus the tension, equals over 75 pounds. During long parades, the driver and assistant often alternate driving in order to remain fresh and alert.

Sitting next to the drivers is another recognized animal, the Dalmatian. Dalmatians have traveled with the Clydesdale hitch since the 1950s.  The breed has been associated with the horses for years, and the dogs are valued for their speed, endurance and dependable nature. Dalmatians were once known as coach dogs because they ran between the wheels of coaches or carriages and were companions to the horses. These days, the Dalmatians are perched atop the wagon, proudly seated next to the driver.


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