Budweiser says it has stopped chopping the tails of the iconic Clydesdale horses used in its commercials and promotions

• Budweiser's famous horses will have longer tails now that the company has stopped clipping them.
• An Anheuser-Busch spokesperson said the company discontinued the practice earlier this year.
• Budweiser has received criticism from PETA, the animal rights organization.

From now on, some of Budweiser's famous horses will have longer tails.

Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of the beer brand, said in a press release on Wednesday that it no longer clips its Clydesdales' tails, a procedure known as docking. In a statement to Insider, a spokesperson said the company discontinued the practice earlier this year.

The American Veterinary Medical Association defines docking as amputating the bony part of a horse's tail, though sometimes it is used for the act of clipping only the hair. Usually the procedure is done when a foal is young, and it is a common method used to prevent a horse's tail from interfering with carriage equipment.

The animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which has sharply criticized Budweiser, claimed victory, saying the PETA staff was "cracking open some cold ones today."

The group conducted an investigation into the company and protested the company's treatment of its horses. In its campaign, PETA noted that horses use their tails to communicate and swat away flies, which can carry diseases.

"The safety and well-being of our beloved Clydesdales is our top priority," an Anheuser-Busch spokesperson said in a statement to Insider. "Combined with our highly trained staff of professional caretakers, we partner with an equine medical expert to ensure our animals receive the highest level and quality of care."

The company added that it recently received American Humane certification for its "outstanding treatment" of its Clydesdales and Dalmatians.

The Clydesdale breed of horses originated in Scotland and are synonymous with the Budweiser brand. They've been the brand's mascot for 50 years and have appeared in commercials and advertisements, including several Super Bowl ads. The horses also make public appearances at events like the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.

According to the Anheuser-Busch website, the founding family purchased a six-horse Clydesdale hitch in 1933 to celebrate the end of Prohibition. A second horse-drawn beer wagon was sent to the Empire State building and continued on a tour of New England and the Mid-Atlantic states.