Express Clydesdales back in Jackson in February
The Express Clydesdales, a team of rare black and white draft horses, will return to Jackson for the third time this February, to help kick off the Dixie National Rodeo and press the horseflesh with kids at Batson Children's Hospital.
The big, powerful horses are named after and imported from Clydesdale, Scotland, and while breed hues include bay, chestnut and black, only about 10 percent of North American Clydesdales are black and white in color, the Express Clydesdales website says. They stand about 18 to 19 hands high and weigh almost a ton. Express Clydesdales are the goodwill ambassadors of Express Employment Professionals.
Company CEO/founder Bob Funk has three passions and Clydesdale horses are one of them, said Tim Dillard, Express Employment franchisee in Flowood and host of the in-demand team. (The other two passions are staffing and Limousin cattle, he said.)
The Express Clydesdales' first capital city visit in 2012 got rained out; they weren't able to hitch up since their ornamental wagon can't get wet. But their 2014 return was a hit and Commissioner of Agriculture Cindy Hyde-Smith rode the hitch in the Dixie National Rodeo Parade.
"Last year was a wonderful redemption," Dillard said, and he's hoping for clear skies again for the Clydesdales' Feb 13-14 visit, coinciding with the 50th annual Dixie National Rodeo and Parade.
Weather-permitting, the Express Clydesdales will participate in the Feb. 13-14 night rodeo shows, the rodeo parade, a visit to Batson Children's Hospital and a weekend fundraiser and public meet-and-greet that'll benefit Batson, a Children's Miracle Network hospital.
Young patients got a kick out of the visiting horses last year, said Joely Musgrove, a child life specialist at Batson. "They were amazed, and their parents were, too," as 10-20 children came downstairs to see and pet Clydesdales in front of the hospital. "The days can run together while patients and families are at the hospital," and a visiting horse is a highlight. Particularly these, which dwarf the children.
"I think they dwarf everybody," Musgrove said, laughing. "But they're really gentle, so it provides comfort and distraction for the patients and things that they're dealing with at the hospital."
Two separate raffles will give folks a chance ride along in the hitch (contingent on the weather) — in the Feb. 14 morning parade, or when the team enters the Mississippi Coliseum before the rodeo that night. Chances for the parade ride are on sale now through Feb. 13, $5 each, through Express Employment Professionals in Flowood, (601) 355-7000.
Raffle tickets for the rodeo ride-in and an autographed guitar will be on sale at the Feb. 14 afternoon meet-and-greet at the Mississippi Trade Mart, for $1 apiece, or donate what you can.
To contact Sherry Lucas, email slucas@jackson.gannett.com or call (601) 961-7283. Follow @SherryLucas1 on Twitter.