Farmers living in the 19th century along the banks of River Clyde in Lanarkshire Scotland, bred the Great Flemish Horse, the forerunner of the Clydesdale. These first draft horses pulled loads of more than 1 ton at a walking speed of five miles per hour. Soon their reputation spread beyond the Scottish boards. In the mid-1800s, Canadians of Scottish decent brought the first Clydesdale’s to the United States where the draft horses resumed their existence on the farms. Today the Clydesdale’s are used primarily for breeding and show. This year the Budweiser Clydesdale’s are celebrating 75 years as the symbol Anheuser-Bush. It was in 1933, shortly after the signing of Cullen-Harrison Act- effectively ending Prohibition for beer- when the Budweiser Clydesdale’s became a part of Anheuser-Bush. August A Bush Jr. and Adolphus Bush III decided to present a hitch of the mighty horses to their father to co commemorate the first bottle of post- Prohibition beer brewed in St. Louis. Mr Bush told his father that he had bought a new car and asked him to step outside and take a look at the new vehicle. But instead of a Model “T”, Mr. Bush’s father gazed upon a Clydesdale hitch pulling a red white and gold beer wagon. The Budweiser Clydesdale’s were formally introduced to the nation on April 7, 1933 in St Louis.
Realizing the advertising and promotional potential of a horse - drawn beer wagon, Mr. Bush had a second team sent by rail to New York city, where it picked up a case of Budweiser beer at New Jersey’s Newark Airport. The beer was later presented to Al Smith, former Governor of New York and instrumental force in the repeal of Prohibition. From there, the Clydesdale’s continued on a tour of New England and the Middle Atlantic states. The Hitch even delivered a case of beer to President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House. These Budweiser 75th retro beer signs are available today.