World-famous Budweiser Clydesdales visit Northeast Mississippi
The iconic 'gentle giants' will make appearances throughout the region
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – For 90 years, the Budweiser Clydesdales have represented Anheuser-Busch in iconic commercials and personal appearances.
This week, the world-famous Clydesdales are in Northeast Mississippi, helping communities ring in the Christmas season.
They are as famous as the product they represent. The Budweiser Clydesdales are known for their beauty, majesty, and gracefulness and they are in Northeast Mississippi for several appearances.
Mitchell Distributing brought the East Coast hitch, or team, to the area. The hitch is making appearances in Starkville, in the 75th Reed’s Tupelo Christmas Parade, and the Columbus Christmas parade Sunday evening.
During a reception at Mitchell Distributing, Steve, one of the hitch members, was brought out for all to see.
Horses chosen for the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch must be at least three years of age, and stand approximately 18 hands, or six feet, at the shoulder. Each weighs an average of 2,000 pounds. A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 20 to 25 quarts of feed, 40 to 50 pounds of hay, and 30 gallons of water per day.
They are well taken care of.
“I tell people they are treated better than we are, they have great lives, and things they do to get them ready for a parade is unbelievable,” said Anna Grace Tanner with Mitchell Distributing.
The Northeast Mississippi Clydesdale appearance was also an opportunity for Mitchell Distributing to donate more than $50,000 to the nonprofit group, Folds of Honor.
The organization provides scholarships and other support to surviving dependents of military and first responders whose death or disability was a result of their service.
Pamela Kendall’s husband, U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant William Kendall, succumbed to PTSD-related illnesses after seven deployments. Folds of Honor helped her son go to college.
“He was able to do what other 18 and 19-year-olds would be doing. Had that not come through for us, I’m not sure where we would be today, or where he would be today,” Kendall said.
Kendall is thankful for companies like Anheuser-Busch, which has donated more than $30 million in the past decade to Folds of Honor. And she never gets tired of seeing the Clydesdales.
Budweiser has three Clydesdales teams in the United States.
For 24/7 news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter
