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Budweiser Clydesdale Team Thrills Townsend Residents
Author: mt43news staff reporter

MT43 News Staff Reporter

Hundreds of Townsend residents were in awe of the gigantic Budweiser Clydesdale Horses who paraded up and down Broadway Tuesday night. The crowd waited patiently as the team of eight matched draft horses pulled the Budweiser wagon. The team unloaded west of the Mustang Motel, then traveled from the Commercial to the nursing home on Oak Street and back to the open lot across from the Commercial Bar where they posed for photos.

The team dramatically pulled to a stop in front of the Mint Cafe where couriers delivered Budweiser beer to the owners. Then continued down the street to the Fish Tale Tavern and the Commercial to do the same.

Dave Irvin, manager of Eagle Beverage in Helena, said the horses and their large entourage, including 3 red semis with the Budweiser logo, would be in the area until Thursday when they’ll travel to Bozeman. They have been in Southwest Montana for the better part of the summer, ending in Deer Lodge where they’ll pose for commercial photos. Ivrin said it has been 15 or so years since the team was in Helena. He had spent most of the summer helping coordinate the tour in Montana. “It worked out pretty well,” he said, “And people enjoy seeing the horses so much.”

Three teams of Clydesdales have circulated throughout the United States this year in celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary.

Irvin said his team worked with the Montana Department of Highways, Townsend City Public Works and Townsend Rotarians to bring the horses into Townsend. The Super Bowl ad stars also made a stop in East Helena, where they were involved in the Veterans’ Fields of Honor. College students of military parents were given $5,000 worth of scholarships during the ceremony, underwritten by Eagle Distributing and Budweiser Brewing Company.

The Budweiser Clydesdales, originally purchased from Patrick Shea of Shea’s Brewing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, became Budweiser Clydesdales when they were introduced to the public in 1933 to celebrate the repeal of prohibition.

To qualify to be a part of the “hitch” or team, an animal must be a gelding, even-tempered, and stand at least 18 hands (72”) high with white legs and dark brown coat. Two handlers care for the animals, which receive 24-hour-a-day care. About 15 foals per year are born to a field of 35 brood mares on a farm near St. Louis, Missouri. The main herd runs near 250 animals.

The original beer wagon was made by Studebaker car manufacturing in 1900. Replicas of that wagon are used today. The Dalmatian dog, introduced in the 1950’s, rides with the drivers when the group is on parade.

Article Images

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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks and Brenda Phillips, MT43 News Photographers
Image 1 Caption: Budweiser Team with the Townsend Water Tower in the background. Brenda Phillips, MT43 News Photographer
Image 2 Caption: Unloading the horses to be harnessed. The largest animals work in pairs directly in front of the 9,000-pound beer wagon. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer Pg1
Image 3 Caption: A large crowd watched as the horses were unloaded in the lot near Copy Cup on Front Street. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 4 Caption: The crowd gets a closer look at the gigantic horses as Budweiser attendants watch closely. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer Pg1