Budweiser Clydesdales display poise and grandeur in Cape Girardeau

Bandit and Master took their places at the front of the Budweiser Clydesdales 8-horse hitch Thursday morning at Arena Park. For the 7-year-old geldings, it's an important job to lead the team that pulls a 1903 Studebaker beer wagon with two drivers and two Dalmatians.

Just don't tell them it's an entry-level position.

Dave Johnston, one of the handlers traveling with the hitch based in Merrimack, New Hampshire, said the smaller, younger Clydesdales are put in front and the larger, stronger horses, the wheel team, pull next to the wagon and do most of the work.

"The lead team develops more of a showy personality," Johnston said. "They are high-spirited."

The hitch is one of three in the nation; the others are based in St. Louis, Missouri, and Fort Collins, Colorado. It is unusual for the East-Coast hitch to travel as far as Cape Girardeau, but the St. Louis hitch was already booked for the home-opening St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.

Will Kurtz adjusts the harness for Bandit at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau.

The Clydesdales' appearance was requested by Drury Hotels and River Eagle Distributing.

The handlers began prepping the horses before sunrise Thursday for their first public showing not far from the stable: the new Cape Girardeau Police headquarters across from Arena Park. Each horse was led out of its stall to the washing area. Spraying water from a propane-heated wash hose, John Fink soaped up Hansi's white feathers on his legs. "It's nice not having ice-cold water," he remarked.

A few horses munched hay that was drop-shipped from Idaho before getting their manes, foretops and tails braided in their stalls.

Getting close to show-time, the hitch proceeded toward the front of the Arena Building to pose for pictures. Then the hitch rolled on toward the police station as the Budweiser theme "Here Comes the King" played from the wagon while a few folks lined the way taking pictures.

The Clydesdales pulled in to the police parking lot where people were waiting to see them. Children smiled, cameras clicked and police chief Wes Blair climbed aboard the wagon seat with Barley the Dalmatian posing behind him.

The Budweiser Clydesdales arrive at the police station Thursday, April 5, 2018 in Cape Girardeau.Fred Lynch

flynch@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3643