Published: June 25, 2009 12:10 pm      

Thunder rumbles in: Clydesdales an early highlight of cycle rally

The leading edge of 200,000 visitors expected for this week’s Thunder in the Valley arrived Wednesday – on four hooves.

Clydesdales were warhorses about 200 years ago, and now they strut in parades.

This week, the chargers will be paraded in Windber and Johnstown as part of Thunder in the Valley-related events.

One of the four nationwide teams of Budweiser Clydesdales settled in Wednesday to their temporary home at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

“The general public just loves these horses,” said Hans Jager, 45, of Atlanta, a German native who is supervisor of the horse team. “They can relate to these horses.”

In between giving baths to the team of eight, Jager took a moment to reflect on the beer company icons and their history.

He said they became associated with Anheuser-Busch Inc. in 1933 to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition, delivering beer to President Franklin Roosevelt.

They had been bred as a warrior breed in Scotland before being used in the farm fields.

Jager said the teams travel 320 days per year, though not always with the same horses. Budweiser keeps a stable of 250 Clydesdales, which are rotated in and out of touring duty about every three months.

“It would not be fair to keep them out there too long,” Jager said. “Let them be horses in the pasture.”

People ask about their weight and diet all the time.

The 2,000-pound gentle giants eat 6 to 8 pounds of sweet feed – oats, molasses, corn – per day, along with 50 pounds of hay, 25 gallons of water and vitamins.

Their names include Ringo, Prince, Stuart, Mike and Smokey.

“It’s a wonderful job – you get to see various parts of the country,” Jager said.

He’s had no bad experiences with the horses.

“The best part is when you do stuff with the handicapped, the physically handicapped and the mentally challenged,” he said. “That really puts in perspective what this means.”

He recently attended an event for the wives and children of soldiers in Afghanistan.

“That lets you know what you are doing. It makes you realize,” Jager said.

Friends Kathy Babik of the West End and Peggy Clements of Westmont happened by the arena Wednesday to see the horses.

“It’s just a thrill to see how well taken care of they are,” Clements said, “and their gentleness.

“They’re the most beautiful animals in the world.”