This year, Budweiser faced criticism from PETA regarding their treatment of horses. Now, the company is implementing a change that has garnered support from animal lovers.
During the earlier portion of this year, the animal welfare organization PETA launched an inquiry into the treatment of Budweiser’s Clydesdale horses. They inspected the horses’ breeding facility at Warm Springs Ranch in Missouri and Grant’s Farm, where the horses undergo training. During their investigation, they discovered that Anheuser-Busch was performing tail docking on Clydesdales for cosmetic purposes.
This practice, widely condemned within the horse community, is banned in 10 U.S. states. According to PETA, the American Association of Equine Practitioners “expresses strong disapproval of tail alteration for cosmetic or competitive reasons,” and this practice contradicts the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics set forth by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Tail docking is typically carried out when horses are foals, involving the severing or tying of their tail bones to halt blood flow. Horse owners resort to this procedure for aesthetic purposes, but horses rely on their tails to protect themselves from insect bites and related diseases. Equine veterinarian Sid Gustafson stated, “The tail supports and facilitates insect defense, comfort, welfare, reproduction, and disease prevention.
Depriving a horse of their tail is abusive and inhumane, resulting in a lifetime of impaired balance during activities such as running and turning. Except in cases of medical necessity, tail amputation is both inhumane and medically undignified.”
Budweiser’s Response
Following PETA’s exposure of these practices, aptly referred to as “Tailgate,” thousands of supporters petitioned Anheuser-Busch to discontinue the practice of altering Clydesdale tails. In response to the controversy, the brewing company announced this week that they have ceased tail docking. A spokesperson from Anheuser-Busch emphasized, “Our topmost priority is safeguarding the well-being and safety of our cherished Clydesdales.” The practice of equine tail docking was discontinued earlier this year.”
PETA welcomed this development, with Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo stating that the staff were celebrating the news. Guillermo remarked, “This victory comes after numerous PETA protests, nationwide advertising campaigns, and appeals from more than 121,000 concerned consumers. It sends a clear message to other companies that animal abuse is not marketable.”
Over the years, Budweiser has featured several memorable mascots, including the Budweiser frogs and the “wassup!” guys. Nonetheless, the Clydesdales truly set themselves apart as the most enduring and iconic, boasting a legacy that traces back to the 1930s.
These horses made their debut to commemorate the end of prohibition. Budweiser hitched a beer wagon to six Clydesdale horses, who transported beer to an enthusiastic crowd at the Empire State Building and even journeyed to Washington DC to present a case to President Roosevelt.