World-Famous Budweiser Clydesdales Wow Rock Springs Fourth Of July Paradegoers

A Fourth of July parade in Wyoming without horses is just a bunch of people in a slow-moving line.

When a team of some of the most famous horses on the planet lead off a Wyoming parade, it becomes a can’t-miss memory.

The legendary Budweiser Clydesdales made the third Rock Springs Liberty Parade the envy of the rest of the Cowboy State on Thursday, with people lining up two hours in advance along Gateway Avenue to grab a prime spot.

The team of eight Budweiser Clydesdales were primped, primed and in top form as they pranced, clopped and nodded their huge, perfectly groomed heads at hundreds of youngsters who forgot for a moment about all the free candy they were about to gather.

Oakland Grajeda, 5, spent most his time darting back and forth from the curb to snag candy dropped by many of the nearly 70 parade entries. But the Clydesdales are on another level, he said.

He said he likes them even better than getting free candy because “eating is boring.”

Riah Tarness, a local Rock Springs YouTuber, was nearly as excited as the kids, saying she could hardly wait for the Fourth of July to roll around.

“They’re the whole reason I came,” she said about the Budweiser beer wagon, its eight stunning Clydesdales and two Dalmatians. “I’ve only seen them on TV before. I’m super excited. I love horses, they are just a beautiful animal.”

About Those Horses

The team of Clydesdales — Budweiser calls them a “hitch” — is one of three the company sends around the country 300 days a year.

Each team has 10 horses, and eight at a time pull the iconic red-and-gold beer wagon.

Like making it as a professional athlete or to the Olympics, on the best of the best make the cut. There’s a reason they always look in step and on point.

They’re bred for it.

The Budweiser Clydesdales are raised at Warm Springs Ranch in Boonville, Missouri, where more than 70 of the horses are kept. The farm made headlines in May when 15 new colts were born.

Like Santa with his reindeer, getting a place on a hitch is the pinnacle for the Clydesdales, if they realize it. But to make the grade, they have to be at least 18 hands high (72 inches) and will typically weigh in between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds, although some have been even larger.

All 6-year-old Tristan cared about was how huge they were.

“I want to ride one! Mom, I want it for Christmas!” he called back to the group of adults behind him. One woman, presumably Mom, just rolled her eyes.

Not Just About Those Horses

While the buzz leading up to the Budweiser Clydesdales carried through the entire parade, Rock Springs locals and visitors got a full show.

This year’s grand marshal was Doug Uhrig, former national vice commander for the American Legion. He was a paratrooper during the Vietnam era with the 509th airborne infantry.

The Shriners in their tiny yellow cars zipping around were also a hit, along with a local barbecue joint. Pulling a smoker behind a pickup, several runners eople were hustling back and forth serving freshly smoked hot dogs to people along the parade route.

Of course, no parade would be complete without a bevy of smiling, waving local political candidates.

Several parade-goers told Cowboy State Daily that while they don’t particularly mind candidates stumping during parades, they’ve never been swayed to vote for someone because they’re in a parade.

“Nope, that doesn’t impress me that much,” said Carmen Grajeda. “I mean, they’d probably be better off just advertising or something. It doesn’t make me want to vote for them.”

Heather Hager agreed, saying she appreciates anyone showing a sense of community, but it doesn’t make her like or dislike a candidate any more than she already does.

Besides, she had something else to look for in Thursday’s Liberty Parade — her two kids, Chloe and Gregory. Both are local Scouts helping carry a large American flag to lead off the long column just ahead of the Clydesdales.

Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.