ALL THE KING'S HORSES

[Music] Behold the noble Clydesdale, magnificent among God's creations, known for power, grace, and beauty. Bearer of style and poise that's evident in own bloodlines. Descendant of the great Flemish horse. First bred on the bunny banks of the river Clyde in Scotland. Bred bold and strong to carry the weight of men in shining armor across the misty moors and into battle. The Clydesdale king among horses and loyal servant to kings and working men. Their hooves pound through the ages and into legend. [Music] There you go. Thank you, Tom. Hi, I'm Darren McGavin. You've just been watching a scene that was common place as recently as oh 70 80 years ago. An activity that took place daily in cities throughout this nation. One man, two horses delivering beer to the local tavern. Today, of course, delivery techniques have certainly changed, but not this symbol. The Clydesdale, this mighty horse, this gentle giant. For 50 years, they have remained an elegant tribute to bygone days. Come with me and we'll discover just how these magnificent animals became all the king's horses. [Music] It was a long journey from the rolling pastures of the Clydes native Scotland to the cobblestones of our early American cities. Imported to this country just before the war between the states, Clydes Dales quickly became a part of the American scene. In the fields, they were worth their weight in gold. But at the turn of the century, the horseless carriage, a noisy, fuming infernal machine, took over the streets of this country. And the days of draft horses plotting along urban thorough affairs, went the way of knights and armor. But one lingering vestage of ecquin dependence was with the farmer in his fields. Backbreaking labor at the mercy of mother nature. He was burdened with the responsibility of satisfying the appetites of the assembly line workers and their families. So the farmer very wisely relied on the dependability and strength of these great horses. Together they produced the basis of a popular American tradition. three meals a day. In 1919, America embarked on what was known as the noble experiment, prohibition. 1933, it's repealed. And August A. Bush Jr. put his brewery back on the map with an enterprising idea, an all American phenomena, a marriage of the majestic Clydesales with the worldrenowned King of Beers. He told his father he'd bought a new car, but surprised him with the first Clydesdale hitch. And I had the two teams set up behind the Bivo plant. And uh when they had the right signal and daddy was down to look at a car and was raising heck with me because he sent us premature to go buy one after we just got relegalized and we're going through a hard time until we get started. So, we turned around and I had the two teams come down and it was the most gratifying thing I think I've ever done in my life. The response was overwhelming. Crowds went wild and an American tradition was born. [Applause] A Clydesdale destined for the famous 8- horse hitch has to measure up to certain standards. Weight between 1900 and 2,300 lb. That's a ton of horse. color bay with a white blaze and white fetlocks. Those distinctive clumps of hair at their feet are called feathers. Height about 18 hands or about 6 ft of the shoulder. They're actually about 8 ft tall from head to hoof. Breeding a horse like this is a full-time job. The Budweiser Clydes Dales are bred here on Grant's Farm just outside St. Louis. It's called Grant's Farm because President Ulissiz Srant lived on and worked this land before the war between states. These are the prize breeding stallions. You can trace their bloodlines over the centuries. You might call this the maternity ward. These mares in fo will give birth to a new crop of Clydesales in the spring. Only a few of these colts will meet the high standards of the hitch. The first step in a yearling's education isn't always wellreceived. So, as he's learning to be led, the rope around his rump encourages him to step out. [Music] At the age of two, they're fitted for their first harness and then turned out in the paddock for a little private meditation. The bit in his mouth takes a little getting used to. The next step, feel the weight and learn to work together. The stone sled offers enough resistance in case the youngster tries to bolt. And the quiet, experienced mayor is a settling influence. And his education continues. At 3 years old, judgment is passed. If the horse has the temperament, the strength, and the style, he may someday know the honor of being a part of the eight-horse hitch. Great care goes into breeding a champion like this. [Music] Occasionally, new strains of the Scottish Clydes Dales are reintroduced to their American cousins. Scotland, the original birthplace of the Clydesdale breed, is still like a storybook land. Here, the mighty Clydesdale was put to the task of planting, plowing, and reaping the harvest. The stones turned up were stacked for fences and boundaries that still crisscross the countryside. A representative from Grant's farm is here in search of those horses that represent the best of their breed. He looks for fresh foss and stallions to take back to the states. One visit, the farm of Jim Pickins in Kil Kubri on the southwest coast. These longtime friends have plenty of gossip to catch up on, but is put aside for the moment as horse trading begins. He measures, checks, assesses and analyzes. But like any savvy horse trader, he shows no reaction. Concord or Enterprise was a con. >> Enterprise was a Concord. The mother, she was a Johnson sensation. Well, the hair's always been good in the whole thing. The traden's done and it's on to another farm. Hugh Ramsay and his matched pair of blue ran Clydesales take him on an inspection of his latest stock. Ramsay proudly boasts that he's never sat a top a tractor. In the northeast near Cooper in Fe, the entire Brewster clan parades their best stock for the visiting American in the finest Scottish tradition. Ah, now here's a champion. Strong legs, good shoulders, a fine head. This horse meets the standards and may have a trip to St. Louis in its future. [Music] If she's that lucky, this is her destination in St. Louis. This is the home of the famous 8-horse hitch. Originally the private stable of Adulus Bush, this building on the grounds of the Anheiser Bush Brewery is now an official national landmark. The living is lavish as beffits a horse of this stature. And always on hand are the Dalmatians, the Clydesdale's constant companions. This is Missy. She's been with this wagon for 7 years and about 200,000 miles. This wagon, all three and a half tons of it, is a real classic. Built in 1905 by Studebaker, it was originally designed as a meat wagon and then oh around 1910 it was converted by the brewery to a more permanent use, a beer wagon. The Clydesales are on the road for most of the year, but on the occasions when the Clydesales are home, their grooms exercise them in the paddock behind the stables. [Music] Each champion has his own set of harness handmade from imported leather, silver, and brass. Weight $130. Worth more than $5,000 a piece. Just like the shine of the harness, great time and care goes into the grooming of the Clydesales. Full dress when meeting the public is mandatory. The mans are braided with colorful lengths of cloth, flowers attached every few inches, and the tail is braided and knotted. A bow adds the finishing touch. Then it's into the harness and all the fittings of a well-dressed horse. Now he becomes part of the team. The eight-horse hitch as the driver snaps the res. These horses know they are part of the legend and they high step every foot of the way. Heat. Heat. Of [Applause] course, the Clydes Dales are in great demand by the public, and when they hit the road, it's to the tune of 60,000 m a year. The Clydesales, the wagon, crew, and equipment travel in a trio of tractor trailers. The horses trucks have a special suspension system, giving them a smoother ride than the drivers in the cab. From coast to coast, these horses have marched down just about every main street in America. and they're invited back again and again. They make more than 300 appearances a year, but if every request could be filled, they'd appear more than 10 times as often. [Music] The Clydes Dales travel with their own portable stables right down to the name plates on the stalls. Nothing seems to delight the horses and crew as much as the wideeyed fascination that comes from children. At first touch is remembered forever. No matter where they go, the reaction is always the same. Thanksgiving Day in New York City. Heat. Heat. Another stop at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo. [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] This is the world's richest thorbred race. The Budweiser Million at Arlington Park in Chicago. And the eight horse hitch is here to perform. [Music] here at the Champion of Champions quarter horse race. They show off their famous docking maneuvers. [Applause] The left right movement of the team really gets the leather flying through the driver's hands. [Music] It's Veterans Day at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, and the hitch is hard at work. It's an interesting site as the descendants of medieval war horses review the men and machines of America's first line of defense. And there was this especially proud moment as the Clydesales entered Bush Stadium carrying August Bush Jr. to his box for the opening game of the 1982 World Series. [Applause] Joining his son August III, they stayed on hand for an eventual World Series championship by the St. Louis Cardinals. [Applause] [Applause] Meanwhile, requests for the world famous Clydes Dales keep pouring in. Who knows, their next stop may be in your hometown. And as you watch them marching down your street, your heart may stir at the sight of the majestic Clydesales and the thought of their proud heritage. Heat. Heat. [Music] So this then is the legend of the Clydesdale. From the banks of the river Clyde in Bonnie old Scotland to the smiling faces of children watching a parade, these noble steeds have worked hard for man and brought joy to millions since this breed's birth long centuries ago. And the Clydesale will go on forever through legend and time. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Applause] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music]