Budweiser Clydesdales are in town
Published 6:04 pm Wednesday, February 7, 2018
- Port Arthur Police Officer Al Gillen pets Max, one of 10 Budweiser Clydesdales in town for Mardi Gras Southeast Texas. Mary Meaux/The News
The Budweiser Clydesdales are back in town to help celebrate Mardi Gras Southeast Texas.
The 10 renowned horses are housed at the former Aurora building at the corner of Waco Avenue and Procter Street inside the festival grounds.
Also along for the trip are April and Chip, Budweiser Dalmatians.
Budweiser Dalmatians April, left, and Chip, look away from their stuffed horse toy and look toward the Clydesdales in adjacent stalls in a building at the corner of Waco Avenue and Procter Street on Wednesday. Visitors to Mardi Gras Southeast Texas can get an up close view of the Dalmatians and the Clydesdales when they aren’t participating in upcoming parades.
Mary Meaux/The News
Nick Green Clydesdales ambassador explained the group travels with 10 horses but only eight are used to a hitch each day of parades- leaving two Clydesdales behind to rest.
On average the Clydesdales weigh 2,000 pounds and stand a little over 18 hands or 6-foot tall at the shoulder.
The Clydesdales are known to bring a smile to people’s faces.
A Budweiser Clydesdale sports a mane with braided ribbon and roses prior to a visit to Beaumont on Wednesday.
Mary Meaux/The News
“Everyone gets really excited to see them,” Green said of the reception they received when they are in parades. “It’s good to get out in the community and always fun to see the smiles and people’s reaction from both the older folks and the younger one as well.”
The public will have several chances to see a Budweiser Clydesdale before Mardi Gras commences: one horse will be available for photos at 3 p.m. Thursday at Kroger in Orange, 4 p.m. at Market Basket in Port Neches, 4:45 p.m. at Longhorn Liquor in Nederland and at 5:30 p.m. at H.E.B. on FM 365.
Festival gates open at 5 p.m. Thursday with a $1 admission.
Mardi Gras Southeast Texas runs from Thursday through Sunday in downtown Port Arthur.
