Edited : Time For The Annual Clydesdale Super Bowl Commercial....

I couldn't see the "designated driver" video that was also on the site. Bummer. But the one you linked, Dix., was good. It really gives a perspective on just how big those horses are. I think their size and brawn is often lost on many. Do you know who Barry Hook is? I subscribe to his videos on training driving horses. Even if you don't have much interest in driving, his videos are great. A consummate horseman, they're full of useful insight. I think you'd get a kick out of them.

First horse I ever rode as a child was a Percheron, sigh. Reminds me of them, they are beauties.

they were at our county fair this year, went to see them everyday, they are huge. the "small" one was 6'0 to the shoulder, forget how many hands that was 18? he was the one who actually jumped the fence in the commercial, his name is Rascal

Charlotte987 said:

First horse I ever rode as a child was a Percheron, sigh. Reminds me of them, they are beauties.

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Been there - done that on a Clyde when I was a kid - awesome memory. I swear I was 20' up in the air and trying to straddle a twin size bed.

I was a loyal 4-Her for several years. I've always been interested in driving and draft animals and in the mid-70s there wasn't much action in those segments so I focussed on the horseback aspect of 4-H. I never cared much for the "pulling contests", frankly. I loved seeing the big horses harnessed up and warmed up on the grounds of the Fryeburg Fair In Maine, but I never saw much point in demonstrations of brute strength under the lash. As far as I was concerned the real jewel was watching a team/hitch perform ably and reliably to the teamster's control! And in later years the Draft Horse show became part of the Fair's program. Dr. Eugene Hussey (Eastern Slope Farm) indulged in a handsome turn out of 6 grey Percherons and it was really thrilling to see them step out under harness. It was no small undertaking, either! blood stock from Canada, hired a teamster to train them, bought a tractor to haul them, and fitted them out with proper show harness. Watching them trot by, under perfect driver control, the ground vibrating beneath their hooves was truly amazing. Nothing rival the big horses under way. Nothing.

I love Barry Hook (south coast of England) because he is a teamster and he knows and understands how to drive horses. I love the Budweiser Clydesdales because they are first and foremost driving horses! Each team (2 horses) has been trained to work together. Coupled in a series of teams, they are capable of working in concert (largely under voice command!) and providing 8 tons of pulling power to the load behind them. Blows me away that careful, gentle training and road work allows one man to effectively control 8 2000lb. horses to do his bidding! If you make the time to watch the teamster put the hitch through its moves (turning the hitch "out of the way" while leaving the wagon motionless for off-loading) you will be amazed at what proper training and confidence in the teamster can accomplish. There is even a clip at a venue where the body team stumbles and goes down. The rest of the hitch remains calm, the down team remains calm until freed and disentangled. It's really an amazing testament to the benefits of proper training. The comments following the clip are interesting, too. So many criticizing the teamster and the smallness of the arena... but to me? The world of a teamster and large hitches had to address close quarters and unforeseen circumstances!

I know it will never happen because people like me are so few, but I'd like to see more emphasis on the driveability of the Budweiser Clydesdales and less of the fluff of sentimentality.