The 2,100-pound Budweiser Clydesdale fielded a few questions, then leaned out of his stall to try to chew on a reporter’s notebook.

“Duke, she doesn’t need any help,” handler Todd Radermacher told the 9-year-old gelding.

In neighboring stalls were Bud, Rocky, Jeff, King, Newton, Bob, General, Scotty and Andy — members of the West Coast Budweiser team, in town to perform at the 20th annual Carousel Horse Show, beginning Thursday. The Clydesdales also wilI be at Luke Air Force Base to welcome back troops from the Middle East.

It’s the same team that filmed the free-running romp through the snow in Aspen, Colo., for a commercial a year ago. Radermacher said it was not as hard as it looked to set up.

Two pens were placed at opposite ends or the filming area. The horses were shown a couple times that apples were available in the second pen. When they were turned loose from the first pen, there was no stopping them, he said.

The team of 10 will travel about 30,000 miles this year. Eight pull the red Studebaker beer wagon at a time, with two serving as spares. All must be geldings with the proper markings of white stockings and a white blaze on their face.

The big guys were upstaged for a little whiIe by something equally as eye catching — Toy Jewel, a 26-inch tall miniature horse, owned by Larry Strubhar of Desert Hills. The 7-month-old stallion will stay under 30 inches, Strubhar said. The horse weighs 65 pounds.

Toy Jewel is a competitor at the show. Eleven breeds will participate in all, making the Carousel Show the largest all-breed competition in the state. The breeds include: Arabians; Morgans; Miniatures; Peruvian Paso horses; Roadster, Hackney and Welsh ponies; American Saddlebreds; and National Show Horses.

Classes begin at 9 a.m. Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and run all day. Admission is free.

One to watch for is the Peruvian Paso Champagne Class, in which competitors ride with a full glass of bubbly in their hands to show how smooth their horses are. The rider with the most in his glass at the end wins.

The Clydesdales will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the show and will be at Luke from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Miss Michelob, an 11-month old Dalmatian, will accompany them.