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77 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, August 14, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 25, 2004 Kristen Sessions gives Billy a shower in preparation for an afternoon performance. At 5 years old, Billy is the youngest � and friskiest �among the Budweiser Clydesdales visiting the Jackson County Fair. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Gentle giants The famous Budweiser Clydesdales demonstrate their strong and graceful presence at the Jackson County Fair By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Billy’s in love, and he won’t quit talking about it.At least, his handler thinks he has a thing for a gal in a nearby stall.That’s why he keeps whinnying, tossing back his mane, and stomping his white fluffy feet in the sawdust. "He’s been vocalizing the whole time he’s here," said Kendra Lewkow, supervisor and hitch driver. Advertisement Billy’s one of 10 famous Budweiser Clydesdales visiting the Jackson County Fair for the hitching and driving demonstrations Saturday and 2 p.m. today in the Isola Arena. The horses also can be seen and petted in the stalls near the arena. There are currently six hitches that travel the country, and this team is based in SeaWorld San Diego. Lewkow said the geldings may be 2,000 pounds and 6 feet high at the shoulder, but looks are deceiving. "Draft horses in general are pretty gentle," she said. She says their popularity with the public is because they’re so fun to watch. "They’re a real flashy horse with the four white legs and the proud gait," she said. Grace Gamble, 12, of Central Point was showing her Arabian, Belle, in the 4-H Horse Gymkhana Saturday, and looked on as Billy was getting his legs washed. "I think they’re really cool," she said. "They’re just huge." Margaret Clark, of Talent, oohed and ahhed as she approached the stalls Saturday. She said until 1985 she lived in St. Louis, Mo., and would go watch the young Clydesdale colts playing in a field at the Budweiser Clydesdale breeding farm. "They were so big but just as playful as any other horse," she said, adding it was a real treat to see them at the Jackson County Fair. Clydesdales, originally from the River Clyde region in Scotland, were among the horses used before automobiles to deliver beer to local taverns and hotels. August A. Busch Jr. presented a hitch of the gentle draft horses to his father to commemorate their first bottle of post-Prohibition beer brewed in St. Louis in 1933. Bud, a Dalmatian mascot that rides in the wagon, is also part of the modern tradition. The horses will be performing a hitching and driving demonstration today beginning at 2 p.m., although fair visitors are invited to come watch and even pet the horses all day. In addition to the hours of daily washing, combing and braiding, the harnessing process takes handlers about 45 minutes per horse. There are eight horses on a team, but they travel with 10 horses, so vacation days get rotated in. Lewkow said these horses each consume 30 to 40 pounds of hay, 15 pounds of grain and 50 gallons of water per day. As far as Billy, the youngest on the team at 5 years old, he is their most spirited member. "He’s an instigator, shall we say," said Lewkow. "It’s going to take him a longer time to grow up." But the handler, who’s worked with horses all her life, not only had high hopes, but also a definite fondness for the youngster, and grinned when she talked about him. "I just never met anybody like Billy," she said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] What: Jackson County Fair. When: ends today. Where: Jackson County Expo, Central Point. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 4-H exhibits open earlier. Admission: $8 adults, $5 for youth ages 7 to 12 and seniors 62 and older, and free for children 6 and under. Parking: $4. Shuttle: From the Rogue Valley Mall in Medford, the shuttle will run every 30 minutes; from Crater High School in Central Point, it will run every 15 minutes. Cost is $1, with discounts for seniors and children. Carnival rides: Individual ride coupons are 85 cents each. Wristbands, good from noon to 5 p.m., are $17. Sheets of 24 coupons cost $17, 80 coupons $50. Most rides take four to five coupons. Today at the fair 10 a.m.: Round Robin Showmanship Contest, Olsrud. Noon: Brothers/Jugglers, Dinner Theater. 12:30 p.m.: Birds of Wonderment, Fountain Plaza. 1 p.m.: Blues Festival, Headline Stage; 4-H Horse Award Ceremony, Olsrud. 1:30 p.m.: Suzy Haner, Dinner Theater; Skibber and Zip, Fountain Plaza. 2 p.m.: Budweiser Clydesdales, Isola; Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, Fountain Plaza. 3 p.m.: Birds of Wonderment, Fountain Plaza; Brothers/Jugglers, Dinner Theater. 4 p.m.: Suzy Haner, Dinner Theater. 5 p.m.: 4-H Awards Ceremony, Olsrud Pavilion. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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