Diesel, a male who is one of the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales visiting Grand Island for two days, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – A 2,000 pound majestic visitor stood in HyVee’s parking lot at 4 p.m. June 13.
The visitor was Diesel, a male who is one of the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales visiting Grand Island for two days.
Diesel arrived in a large red truck pulled by a semi. He is one of nine Clydesdales in Grand Island, said handler Jessi Cenatiemeo of St. Louis, MO.
She said that Diesel is 11 years old. After Diesel left the truck, he walked over to a canopy so he could be in the shade. Centatiemeo said that Diesel has appeared in commercials for Anheuser Busch. People line up in the parking lot just west of the southwest corner of the HyVee building to pet Diesel and get their photos taken with him.
The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are making appearances in Grand Island on June 13 and June 14.
A one-horse show was at HyVee from 4 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. June 13 and at Wine/Beer/Spirits in Grand Island from 5:05 p.m. to 6 p.m. June 13.
The eight-horse hitch will be harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon at the Five Points Bank Arena at Fonner Park from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. June 14, according to a flyer handed out in the HyVee Parking lot.
The Clydesdales’ appearance in Grand Island is one of hundreds made annually by the traveling hitches. Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to America in the mid-1800s. Today, the giant draft horses are used primarily for breeding and show.
Horses chosen for the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch must be at least 3 years old, stand approximately 6 feet at the shoulder, weight an average of 2,000 pounds, be bay in color, have 4 white legs, a blaze of white on the face, and black mane and tail. A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people every year.
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 each day.
Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian. In the early days of brewing, Dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.
The Budweiser Clydesdales can be viewed at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and Grant’s Farm in St. Louis. They also may be viewed at Warm Springs Ranch, the 300-plus acre Clydesdale breeding farm located near Boonville, MO.
