Here at Wide Open Pets, we love companies that truly embrace animals — and, honestly, no one does this better than the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company, home of Budweiser. Since 1986, the Clydesdale horses have been featured in many of their Super Bowl commercials. From Budweiser's 2004 donkey commercial to their 2005 Christmas kiss commercial, and especially their 9/11 tribute in 2002, the Budweiser Clydesdales have always managed to delight and tug at our heartstrings in their tv ads. (We don't know about you, but in our opinion, they really do have the best commercials!)
So, what happens when you add a cute dog to the mix along with the amazing Budweiser Clydesdales? Pure commercial magic, that's what! But please don't just take our word for it; watch this inspirational story for yourself (be prepared to get the tissues...).
Aired in 2008, the Budweiser Super Bowl ad featured the inspirational story of Hank, one of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales, who just wasn't quite good enough to get picked for the elite Bud Clydesdales team. After a few moments of sadness (which was accompanied by corresponding music), where we also felt like crying, Hank gets a little help and a lot of puppy love from a determined Dalmatian. The duo then sets out on a series of training sequences — such as Hank pulling bails of hay and a set of train cars — where the dog helps train the horse through a montage that's played out to the "Rocky" theme — naturally, of course.
Hands down the best Super Bowl XLII commercial; it definitely brought us a smile when at the end, Hank made the team a year later, thanks to his Dalmatian buddy!
There's one thing we know for sure, the Budweiser Clydesdales are one of the best parts of Super Bowl Sundays — so come time for the big game, pass the Doritos and Bud Light, and maybe we'll be lucky enough to catch a Budweiser Clydesdale commercial.
Do you have a favorite Budweiser Clydesdale Super Bowl commercial? Share them on our Wide Open Pets Facebook!
This article was originally published on January 21, 2021.
