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The Budweiser Clydesdales will make an appearance in Lake George Aug. 18.
LAKE GEORGE — Organizers believe it’s been since the 1990s that the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales have made an appearance in Lake George.
They are set to make the Charles R. Wood Park one of the stops along an upcoming Capital Region tour next month, brought by Saratoga Eagle Sales and Service.
The eight-horse hitch will be harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon for stable viewings daily Aug. 16-21 at the Saratoga State Park warming hut.
On Aug. 18, that viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. before the team makes its way to Lake George. From 4 to 5 p.m. the horses will be in the Charles R. Wood Park for free photo opportunities with guests.
A 5 p.m., the horses will parade down Beach Road and Canada Street.
The Clydesdales’ appearance locally is one of hundreds made annually by the traveling hitches. Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to America in the mid-1800s. Today, the giant draft horses are used primarily for breeding and show.
To be chosen to be a Budweiser Clydesdale, the animal must be at least three years of age and stand approximately 18 hands, which equates to six feet tall at the shoulder. They must weigh an average of 2,000 pounds and be bay in color. All four legs must be white, with a blaze of white on the face. The mane and tail are required to be black.
Most importantly, said E.J. Harkins, Saratoga Eagle Sales and Service general manager, the horses must have a gentle temperament, as hitch horses meet millions of people each year.
“A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day,” said Harkins.
Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian, he said. “In the early days of brewing, Dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.”
Amanda Metzger, marketing director with the Lake George Chamber of Commerce, said, “We are really happy to have them here in Lake George. The Festival Commons provides a great space. It’s family friendly, the horses are beautiful and everyone will love coming to see them.”
