TEXARKANA -- The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales will visit Texarkana in late August.
The huge, gentle horses are well-known for their size, striking appearance and Budweiser beer commercials that often debut during the Super Bowl.
On Aug. 29, a team of eight Clydesdales will deliver the Big Jake trophy to employees of Eagle Distributing of Texarkana. The Big Jake Award is a statue of a Clydesdale that weighs more than 20 pounds.
Eagle Distributing of Texarkana has earned the title of Ambassador, which is the highest achievement level within Anheuser-Busch InBev. To receive the honor, a distributing center must be named an Ambassador of Excellence for three out of five years, said Tim O'Neal, president and equity owner of Eagle Distributing.
"It's a coveted deal. You have to start Jan. 1 trying to maintain that level of excellence," O'Neal said. "It's a team award, and it took every person in the building to earn it. Sales, warehouse, delivery, administration -- everyone has goals to meet. It took the whole staff to accomplish this."
Only 16 out of 600 distributors have received the honor.
"The company sets benchmarks, and they are lofty goals to meet," O'Neal said.
The horses are the symbol of Anheuser-Busch InBev, Budweiser's parent company.
During their visit to Texarkana, the horses will stay in a stable at Spring Lake Park. Details of their visit have not been completed, but the horses will be available for visits and photos with the public on at least one day.
O'Neal said he believes people will enjoy seeing the horses up close.
"They are magnificent," he said.
Not just any Clydesdale can be a Budweiser Clydesdale.
Budweiser has its own Clydesdale breeding farm near St. Louis. The horses chosen to be official Budweiser Clydesdales have specific markings, including four white socks and a white blaze on the nose.
The horses also have to be trained at the Budweiser Clydesdale Training School and have the right temperament to make frequent public appearances.
The Clydesdale breed was first developed 300 years ago for farm work in the region of Clydesdale, Scotland.
They are most easily recognized for their substantial feather -- the long hairs of the lower leg that cover the hooves. They are very strong horses that are capable of pulling a one-ton load at 5 mph.
The Budweiser Clydesdales made their first appearance April 7, 1933. They were a gift from August Busch Jr. and Adolphus Busch II to their father in celebration of the repeal of Prohibition laws.
Realizing the marketing potential of a horse-drawn beer wagon, the company also arranged to have a second six-horse Clydesdale hitch sent to New York to mark the event. The Clydesdales drew a crowd of thousands as they clattered down the streets of New York to the Empire State Building. After a small ceremony, a case of Budweiser was presented to former Gov. Alfred E. Smith in appreciation of his years of service in the fight against Prohibition.
In 1950, the Budweiser Clydesdales received their very own mascot: the Dalmatian. Traditionally used to guide horse-drawn fire carts, this spotted dog serves as friend and companion to the team, sitting beside the driver.
The Budweiser Clydesdales have been in numerous parades and figured prominently in two presidential inaugurations. They appeared in Missouri native Harry Truman's inaugural parade in 1949, and then again for Bill Clinton's in 1993.
NW News on 06/28/2015