Melbie Toast
Clydesdale Mare Grazing
On a sunny morning in May 2007, I visited the beautiful Anhauser-Busch Clydesdales at Sea World in San Diego. A mama mare and her young colt were in the paddock, mama grazing on the green grass, while her colt slept soundly nearby. The colt finally woke up, sleepily stood pretty still for a while, checked to see if his mama was close, then lay down with a "plop"" on the grass again for some more sleep. They were so beautiful!
These very large horses are kept in such perfect condition, with the long white hair on their enormous hooves brushed every day. Georgeous animals!
INFORMATION ON THE CLYDESDALE:
The Clydesdale is a breed of draft horse derived from the very hard-working farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland, and named for that region. Thought to be over 300 years old, the breed was extensively used for pulling heavy loads in rural, industrial and urban settings, their common use extending into the 1960s when they were a still a familiar sight pulling the carts of milk and vegetable vendors.
Source: Wikipedia
From Anheuser-Busch Website:
The Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales were formally introduced to August A. Busch Sr., President of Anheuser-Busch, Inc., by his son on April 7, 1933. To qualify for one of the traveling hitches, an Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale must be a gelding (neutered male) at least four years of age. He must be 18 hands (6 ft. or 1.8 m); weigh between 1,800 to 2,000 lb. (817 - 907 kg); be bay in color; and have four white stocking feet, a blaze of white on the face and a black mane and tail.
Groups of ten Clydesdales travel together as a hitch team. Eight Clydesdales are hitched together to pull the wagon. Two horses travel as alternates.
The physical ability of each horse determines its position in the hitch. Wheelhorses (the pair closest to the wagon) must be large and strong enough to start the wagon’s movement and to use their weight to help slow or stop the vehicle. The body (second position) and swing (third position) pairs must be agile to turn the wagon. The leaders (the pair in front, furthest from the wagon) must be the fastest and most agile pair.
Clydesdale Mare Grazing
On a sunny morning in May 2007, I visited the beautiful Anhauser-Busch Clydesdales at Sea World in San Diego. A mama mare and her young colt were in the paddock, mama grazing on the green grass, while her colt slept soundly nearby. The colt finally woke up, sleepily stood pretty still for a while, checked to see if his mama was close, then lay down with a "plop"" on the grass again for some more sleep. They were so beautiful!
These very large horses are kept in such perfect condition, with the long white hair on their enormous hooves brushed every day. Georgeous animals!
INFORMATION ON THE CLYDESDALE:
The Clydesdale is a breed of draft horse derived from the very hard-working farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland, and named for that region. Thought to be over 300 years old, the breed was extensively used for pulling heavy loads in rural, industrial and urban settings, their common use extending into the 1960s when they were a still a familiar sight pulling the carts of milk and vegetable vendors.
Source: Wikipedia
From Anheuser-Busch Website:
The Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales were formally introduced to August A. Busch Sr., President of Anheuser-Busch, Inc., by his son on April 7, 1933. To qualify for one of the traveling hitches, an Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale must be a gelding (neutered male) at least four years of age. He must be 18 hands (6 ft. or 1.8 m); weigh between 1,800 to 2,000 lb. (817 - 907 kg); be bay in color; and have four white stocking feet, a blaze of white on the face and a black mane and tail.
Groups of ten Clydesdales travel together as a hitch team. Eight Clydesdales are hitched together to pull the wagon. Two horses travel as alternates.
The physical ability of each horse determines its position in the hitch. Wheelhorses (the pair closest to the wagon) must be large and strong enough to start the wagon’s movement and to use their weight to help slow or stop the vehicle. The body (second position) and swing (third position) pairs must be agile to turn the wagon. The leaders (the pair in front, furthest from the wagon) must be the fastest and most agile pair.