When the Budweiser Clydesdales came to
Bemus Point NY
2004
Mayor Bryan Dahlberg was onboard the Budweiser Wagon
with spectators watching from rooftops!
The team of Clydesdales are hitched up and ready to roll through
the streets of Bemus Point!
Steve Swanson and Dan Dalpra
Steve gave a free concert on the floating stage!
It's not every day the Budweiser horses and wagon come to town!
therefore
It was a day full of excitement for all who were there!
The Budweiser Clydesdales .. front and center!
The Budweiser Trucks Arriving in Bemus Point!
The Budweiser Trucks Lined Up
Make Quite an Impression!
Dan Dalpra and Deanna Dalpra
Arthur R. Gren Co., the wholesale beverage distributor arranged for the hitch to visit Chautauqua County.
A Big day in Bemus!
Fresh beer was flown in bottled 6-10 hours earlier. Dan was given a case to share at each Bemus location.
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Barley, the East Coast Dalmatian based in NH.
Without a doubt, the Budweiser Clydesdales are the most easily recognized horse team in the country. They made their first appearance at Anheuser-Busch in 1933 to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. Ever since, the Clydesdales have been attracting crowds at parades and sporting events across the country.
Their appearance in Bemus was no exception!
The Dalmatian didn't join the Clydedales hitch until 1950. Not likely to lose its place as the Clydesdales' mascot any time soon, the Dalmatian is the perfect dog for the job. Dalmatians were coach dogs in England and transitioned to the horse-drawn fire wagons. In those days they were trained to protect the horses and the contents of the wagon and to keep other dogs away from the horse-drawn fire trucks as they rushed to a fire.
As the Clydesdales' mascot, the Dalmatian sits on the wagon with the hitch driver. Although Dalmatians can have black or liver-color spots, the Budweiser Dalmatians all have black spots. Some of the other Dalmatian names have been Chip, Clyde and Brewer. Duke, Captain, Mark and Bud are just a few of the names given to the Budweiser Clydesdales. Names are kept short to make it easier for the driver to give commands to the horses during a performance.
Most of the chosen Dalmatians have been male though the "glass ceiling" of the kennel has now been broken. Budweiser has both male and female Dalmatians on the hitches. The female Dalmatians tend to be a bit more independent than the males though all the dogs undergo training and the new dogs are paired with an older dog to learn the ropes.
Not every Dalmatian is suited for the job. The dog has to enjoy being around a lot of people and have the temperment for the travel.
The hitches travel around 10 months of the year. And, just like people with a job, the Dalmatian will retire, too. The St.. Louis Brewery usually has a couple of retired dogs that stay there. Otherwise, the dogs find forever homes with employees.
And I would be remiss if I did not include a famous holiday commerical brought to you by Budweiser.
After a fun day in Bemus Point!
Pat Locke
Maestro Muse
