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[4HMom]

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/201211 ... /711219959

I was hoping to avoid Walmart this coming weekend but it might be worth the crowd just to see them:) Or maybe I'll drive to Monroe. Longer drive but less crowds.

[Joan Deutsch]

We're looking forward to seeing the Clydesdales at the Monroe Fairgrounds this weekend. I noticed they're also going to be in Puyallup on Wednesday, Nov. 28 and Thursday, Nov. 29 and at Lewis-McChord on Friday, Nov. 30.

[Joan Deutsch]

The Clydesdales can be seen at the Fairgrounds until (I think) 4 p.m. Rain stretches out their harnesses so today's performance has been canceled.

The Nelson family of Carnation was among those visiting the Clydesdales this morning at the Monroe Fairgrounds. Catherine, 14, and Claire, 11, are members of Hoof-n-Paws 4H Club. Catherine reaches out to Dick, who's 10 years old and at 19.5h is the tallest on the team. He's a wheel horse. John Fink, who's handling Dick, said the horses eat 40 to 50 pounds of hay a day plus grain and supplements -- and drink 20 to 30 gallons of water or twice that on a hot day.




HihoSilver scratches one of the Clydesdales.




The team travels with three semis and Brady, the Dalmatian.

[Joan Deutsch]

Several of the horses in this team are about 19h and about 2,300 pounds.



The horses seemed to enjoy the attention from visitors. And Dick (not in this photo) banged on his door once they put him back in his stall.



Claire and Catherine Nelson from Carnation are in 4H.

[horsepeople2001]

I can't by into the harness getting stretched by rain. If that was true western saddle stirrup leathers would be all stretched out so would English ones,breast collars you use on saddles would stretch. leather stretching is a bogus thing or others who drove would have issues. sweat is basically water and salt that would stretch leather then too.I can how ever say that rain can be a factor in causing galling under the harness no matter how clean the equine or harness is.
It would just be they have to take extra time drying,cleaning and oiling it after a drive in the rain. plus driving in rain is no fun and doesn't present the gig/wagon at it's best.

[kriss10]

Leather does stretch when it is wet. The stretching of harness straps is going to be much more obvious than a fender on a western saddle. Even the leathers on an english saddle will not show the same stretch since they will not have the same pressure applied as the harness on a draft horse. I'm sure the leather is cleaned after every use, however, trying to dry out that much leather in a moving van as they head across country is not really practical.

[Joan Deutsch]

A real Seattle Times photographer covered the Clydesdales today. He caught a nice shot of a blind girl who was picked up so she could tell how tall the horses are:

http://seattletimes.com/html/picturethis/2019765246_blindgirllifteduptoseehowtallbudweiserclydesdalehorsesare.html?cmpid=2628

[Joan Deutsch]

Kriss, You're right -- rain is bad news for leather. I've been riding in a lot of soakers this season. My saddle is getting repeatedly drenched, so I treat it each time with Leather New. Even so, it's taking a beating.

[Joan Deutsch]

Here's the Clydesdale schedule for this week. All appearances are based on the weather. They won't go out in the rain. The Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) appearances are open to those with base access. Unfortunately, the horses cannot be seen at the Puyallup Fairgrounds where they're staying, because of the fairgrounds schedule.

Wednesday, Nov. 28, 11 a.m to 1 p.m. at main Bx JBLM, event

Thursday, Nov. 29, 2 to 4 p.m. Walmart, 310 31st Ave SE, Puyallup

Friday, Nov. 30, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. main Px, JBLM, event

Saturday, Dec. 1, 1 to 3 p.m. Walmart, Bonney Lake

Edited to add that the military appearances are open to those with base access.

[4HMom]

We made it to the Smokey Point Wal-Mart just as they were getting ready to unhitch. In my opinion, watching that process was far more interesting than watching them trot around the parking lot would have been. It was fun watching them just stand there loose next to their hitch buddy with the lead ropes looped through their halters while their coolers were put on. Such good boys!