The Clydesdales Make Stop on Island For Bridge Anniversary
By Eric Fish

Stationed atop the Budweiser wagon is Otis. The Dalmation travels with the Clydesdale team and is a part of a tradition that dates to the 1930s.

Three massive Budweiser trucks pulled into the lot next to Mackinac Island Public School around 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 24. At the lot, trainers unloaded a red and white, 100-year-old Budweiser delivery wagon and meticulously polished it. Then, one by one, the trainers unloaded the most precious cargo on the trucks, eight Clydesdales, the breed that has represented Anheuser-Busch since 1933.

Each horse weighs around 2,000 pounds and stands about six feet tall. They have bay coats, four white stockings, and a white streak down the mane and tail. Clydesdales are often nicknamed "gentle giants" for their calm, people-friendly manner.

"It's really unique to bring them to the Island because of all the horse history and non-motorized vehicles," said Bob Griffin Jr., co-owner of Griffin Beverage in St. Ignace.

Mr. Griffin, a Budweiser distributor, helped organize the Clydesdales' visit to the Straits of Mackinac for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Mackinac Bridge. Anheuser-Busch has five traveling horse hitches that make about 300 appearances a year.

Trainer Dan Siebenaler unloads Doc from one of the Budweiser trucks and readies to curry him before hitching him to the red and blue Budweiser wagon.

The Clydesdales visiting here go by the names of Doc, Chester, Marshall, Jeff, Mark, Lee, Andy, and Kyle. The horses are given short, simple names to make it easier for their driver to call directions. This hitch is stationed at San Antonio, Texas, and was at an event in Indiana prior to its stop in Michigan.

The Clydesdales were scheduled to arrive in St. Ignace Sunday, July 22, but didn't get there until Monday afternoon.

The impressive horses with the bright red beer wagon draws large crowds everywhere they go, Mr. Griffin said, but he likes the small venues, like northern Michigan, where appearances are more rare and the people seem to take a more personal interest in the team.

In St. Ignace, they are being stabled at Little Bear East Arena for their week-long stay. In addition to their appearance on Mackinac Island, the Clydesdales made beer runs to taverns and restaurants in St. Ignace and will participate in the Mackinac Bridge anniversary parade Saturday.

Three trucks brought the Budweiser Clydesdales and their wagon to Mackinac Island Tuesday, July 24. One truck transported the wagon, the other two trucks each carried four Clydesdales horses.

"This is kind of a unique deal," trainer Pete Petersen said of the trip to Mackinac Island. "This is only the third time the horses have been on the Island. It's kind of a unique, special treat to come up here."

They were here in 1984 and again in 2003, and traveling to Mackinac is possible only with the assistance of many.

The Budweiser trucks were shipped by freight boat from St. Ignace British Landing and given a police escort along M-185 to Mackinac Island Public School, where the horses were unloaded and hitched.

Dozens of Island residents and tourists lined the school yard to watch the trainers unload and hitch the horses, and several hundred more lined Main Street for a special parade at 6 p.m., which started at Windermere Point, journeyed to Mission Point Resort, and then up to Grand Hotel.

"There's always a big crowd standing around watching," Mr. Petersen said.

Historically, Clydesdales garnered a reputation for pulling heavy loads at a quick pace. They originally worked on Scottish farms, and were brought to the United States by Canadians of Scottish decent. The horses were introduced to Anheuser-Busch in 1933, and celebrated the repeal of prohibition by carrying the first case of beer from the main St. Louis brewery.

Since then, the Clydesdales were known for delivering beer. They traveled with a Dalmatian dog, trained to protect the horses when the driver went inside establishments for deliveries. Staying true to tradition, a Dalmatian still accompanies the hitches at their appearances to this day. Six-year-old Otis was the lucky canine accompanying the Clydesdales on their visit to the Straits of Mackinac.