How Many Clydesdales Does Budweiser Have

Have you ever watched one of the Budweiser Super Bowl commercials and thought, "Wow, those horses are massive"? You're not alone. The iconic Clydesdales are basically celebrities in horseshoe form.

But here's a question you've probably never even thought to ask: how many Clydesdales does Budweiser actually have? The answer might surprise you.

The Famous Budweiser Clydesdales

The Clydesdales first joined the Budweiser family back in 1933 to celebrate the end of Prohibition. They made their debut parade in the streets of St. Louis, and honestly, the public went absolutely wild.

These aren't just any horses, by the way. Clydesdales are massive — they can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand nearly six feet tall at the shoulder. Think of them as the gentle giants of the horse world.

Budweiser's Clydesdales live at the Warm Spring Ranch in Missouri and the Bestway Farm in New Hampshire. It's basically a five-star hotel life for horses — except way more grass.

So, How Many Are There?

Here's the fun part. Currently, Budweiser keeps around 50 Clydesdales in their entire herd. That's a lot of horsepower if you think about it — literally.

Budweiser Clydesdales Return for the Smoky Mountain Air Show - Blount

Now, you might think, "Fifty? That doesn't sound like that many for a company that huge." And sure, compared to a massive ranch, it might seem small. But these horses cost a pretty penny to raise and maintain.

Only eight matched horses are needed for a single iconic wagon team. Each hitch team requires horses of the same color and height to look perfectly uniform — talk about a tough job interview.

What Makes a Clydesdale so Special?

To qualify for a Budweiser hitch, a Clydesdale must meet some pretty strict rules. They need to be at least ______ inches tall and have a specific white blaze pattern on their face. Yep, even horses have dress codes.

Their grooming routine is no joke either. A single hitch horse might spend over two hours getting bathed and brushed before an appearance. That's more pampering than most of us get on a spa day.

Clydesdale Horse Budweiser Tour

And between you and me, Clydesdales are louder than you'd expect. Their famous clip-clop on pavement is distinctive enough that you'll know a Budweiser hitch is rolling in from a mile away.

A Lineup of Names?

You might be wondering — do all 50 Clydesdales have cute names? Absolutely. They have names like Hotshot, Digger, Tornado, Rocky, and Brody. The naming process honestly sounds like naming a rock band.

The older legs of the team are treated like royalty since they've earned their position. It's basically a hierarchy — the older and more experienced the horse, the more senior it is in the hitch.

Budweiser Clydesdales

Fun fact: each Clydesdale is trained for about three to four years before it can perform in a parade or commercial. So yes, even horses have to go through an apprenticeship.

Why Should You Care?

Look, this might sound like random trivia, but it's actually pretty cool to know. You're talking about living, breathing mascots that have brought joy to millions of people for over 90 years. That's more longevity than most brands will ever achieve.

Clydesdales also serve as a reminder that sometimes the best things in life are old-fashioned. In a world that moves fast, watching eight massive horses pull a wooden wagon down a street never gets old.

So next time you see those gorgeous giants trotting across your TV screen, you'll know a little more about what's behind the magic. Not bad for a handful of Clydesdales being oversized celebrities on four legs, right?