Draft horses settle in at Clydesdale Corners

By Marty Metzger
North Forty News

Something big is going on in Wellington--a draft horse business, Clydesdale Corners, owned by Curtis and Kathy Bridges.

The impressive equine venture began prudently enough as a creative way to write off a very nice barn the Bridges had built west of Golden. They had moved to the Lookout Mountain area in 1981 from Ann Arbor, Mich., an area of the country dotted with beautiful vintage barns. The Bridges' tax preparer suggested operating a business out of their barn rather than using it merely to house pleasure horses.

Curtis Bridges had always been fascinated by drafts and figured that the breed on which Budweiser spent its substantial promotional dollars was the one to get. So, in 1982 he bought his first Clydesdale. That mare was soon pulling a Studebaker carriage for Lookout Mountain weddings. A second mare joined her and event participation expanded to include parades and hayrides. When Bridges eventually had his mares bred, he purchased a gelding to fill in during each one's maternity leaves.

The draft business glittered its way into show business when Denver's KCNC television station hitched its events to Bridges' Clydes. Starting in 1984, the small herd of big horses became well known as the News Center 4 Clydesdales. For the following five years, they starred in approximately 25 events per year (including the St. Patrick's Day Parade), carrying Channel 4 folks on wagons and sleighs in town and on Lookout Mountain. Then-news anchor Bob Palmer incorporated the horses into a commercial. Bridges even honored his partnership with the TV station by naming one foal "KCNC."

Bridges headed north to Larimer County in February 2004 and established a breeding program in Wellington. He became friends with Budweiser staff members and designed his current barn based on Bud's facilities around the country.

The two-story, fully heated brick structure is a handsome and practical combination that includes 10 stalls, 1,400 unfinished square feet with 6-ton hay storage upstairs, a wash rack, office and full bath. So remarkable is the barn that, at its completion, Budweiser's Jim Poole stopped by to tour it while on a visit from St. Louis.

Happy residents of the spacious stalls are five mares and herd stallion, Benji. The big, black, 7-year-old stud that was imported from Canada stands a lofty 17 1/2 hands and weighs in at 2,100 pounds.

When not comfortably lounging in their cozy abode and contentedly munching (the Clydes each consume about 24 pounds of hay and 5 pounds of grain daily), they perform sundry tasks. Bridges exhibits his horses at the Larimer County Fair Draft Horse Show, the National Western Stock Show and others around the state. He offers carriage rides at Colorado State University events and also does occasional wedding duty.

Colorado isn't a particularly draft horse-plenteous state. Some guest ranches use them, but they're far more abundant in the Midwest and back East. Bridges knows of less than a dozen Colorado Clydesdale stallions. He markets his horses via the Internet on www.draftsforsale.com and www.clydesusa.com, as well as by word-of-mouth.

At one time, draft horses were as ubiquitous as today's pickup trucks. Then tractors displaced the loyal, hard-working creatures. Within the past 30 years, however, Anheuser-Busch and others rejuvenated interest in Clydesdales through importation of Scottish breeding stock and vigorous promotion.

Most horse-drawn farm implements were abandoned to rust behind deserted, sagging barns. And, while some drafts (Amish-owned, for example) still strain in the traces while plowing furrows, the majority don't. Rather, they proudly strut in show hitches, farm team classes, pleasure driving or pulling competitions, or Ride-A-Draft and Pleasure (riding) classes. Some, like Bridges' 1980s horses, pursue show business careers. Movie studios often contract with locals for film roles and commercials.

To anyone seeking more detailed information about Clydesdales, Bridges recommends the publication Draft Horse Journal and www.clydesusa.com.

One excellent way to meet and greet area Clydes up close and personal is to attend the Larimer County Fair Draft Horse Show. This year's event at The Ranch in Loveland begins at 8 a.m. on Aug. 1. Classes will include halter, hitches and farm teams.

Anyone desiring to make a big impression in the horse world would do well to consider the mighty Clydesdale. Curtis Bridges' decision to do so led him on some mighty interesting trails and into a barn fit for a king's own steeds.