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Ranch with Baby Clydesdales Now Open for Tours

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Public Invited to Visit Newest Budweiser Clydesdales at Warm Springs Ranch in Missouri

BOONVILLE, Mo. (April 2, 2012) – Warm Springs Ranch, the state-of-the-art breeding facility in mid-Missouri for the Budweiser Clydesdales, has opened for tours at the height of foaling season, with more than 30 baby Clydesdales expected to be born this year.

“Spring is here and that means baby Budweiser Clydesdales are arriving, sometimes daily,” said John Soto, supervisor of Warm Springs Ranch. “Our foaling season starts in February and continues until June, so we still have a lot of work ahead of us and look forward to sharing the experience with visitors.”

Guests get to see and interact with the more than 100 Clydesdales who call the farm home, including those that appear on the traveling hitches and in some of the brand’s beloved television commercials. The herd includes “La Russa,” one of last year’s new arrivals who was named after St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa following his team’s World Series victory last November.

“La Russa is doing exceptionally well, growing up and looking good,” Soto said.  “He is the perfect Budweiser Clydesdale and loves the beautiful pastures here in Cooper County. Look for him possibly to be leading a hitch in a few years, just in time for Tony La Russa’s entrance to Cooperstown.”

Last year the farm welcomed 11,648 visitors from around the country, up almost 30 percent from the year before, with visitors coming from as far away as Sweden and Australia.

The Budweiser Clydesdales have been an integral part of Anheuser-Busch’s heritage for more than 75 years and their strength and majesty symbolize Budweiser quality. They were formally introduced on April 7, 1933, to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition for beer.

“The symbol has become synonymous with Budweiser — the quality that goes into the beer, as well as the time, energy and passion we put into taking care of the horses,” said Jeff Knapper, general manager of Clydesdales Operations for Anheuser-Busch.

Dedicated staff is on site around the clock to ensure the baby Clydesdales are welcomed into the world in comfort and safety.  Those Clydesdales born with the proper markings for a Budweiser Clydesdale – a bay coat, a blaze of white on the face, four white stocking feet, and a black mane and tail – have a future spot on one of the traveling hitches.   Warm Springs Ranch features a 25,000-square-foot breeding barn with a veterinary lab and 10 pastures, each with a customized, walk-in shelter and free-flowing water dispensers.   The farm sits on 300-plus acres of land, allowing the Clydesdales plenty of room to exercise and roam.

Tours of Warm Springs Ranch are by reservation only and last approximately an hour and a half.  Tours are offered daily, except Wednesdays, now through Oct. 31.  Admission price is $10.  Children under the age of 2 are admitted free.  Visit www.warmspringsranch.com for more information or to make a reservation. Tours are scheduled twice per day and last approximately an hour and a half.

Guests on the tour also will view the Clydesdales’ custom-made harnesses, a 1903 Studebaker-built beer wagon, and three luxury tractor-trailer units that transport the Clydesdales to appearances all around the country.  They also will learn about the Budweiser Clydesdales’ breeding techniques. 

“Last year we welcomed 35 foals into our Budweiser Clydesdale family and expect a similar number this year,” Knapper said. “We take great pride in each and every one of our horses, and Warm Springs Ranch is a great home. Anheuser-Busch has about 200 Clydesdales in our herd, with about half of them at Warm Springs Ranch in Cooper County.”   

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For downloadable photos, videos or more information, contact: Joe Muehlenkamp, Joseph.muehlenkamp@anheuser-busch.com, 314-577-7528

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 47.7 percent share of U.S. beer sales to retailers.  The company brews Budweiser and Bud Light, two of the world’s largest-selling beers.  Anheuser-Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico’s leading brewer.  Anheuser-Busch is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and has been a leading aluminum recycler for more than 30 years.  The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo.  For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

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Anheuser-Busch Budweiser Clydesdales Jeff Knapper Warm Springs Ranch baby Clydesdales Booneville Tony La Russa Clydesdale warmspringsranchcom Budweiser

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Quick facts

The Clydesdale Breed: Farmers living in the 19th century along the banks of the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland, bred the Great Flemish Horse, the forerunner of the Clydesdale. These first draft horses pulled loads of more than 1 ton at a walking speed of five miles per hour. Soon their reputation spread beyond the Scottish borders. In the mid-1800s, Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to the United States where the draft horses resumed their existence on farms. Today, the Clydesdales are used primarily for breeding and show. Hitch Requirements: To qualify for one of the traveling hitches, a Budweiser Clydesdale must be a gelding at least four years of age, stand 72 inches at the shoulder when fully mature, weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds, have a bay coat, four white legs,a white blaze, and a black mane and tail. Feed: Each hitch horse will consume as much as 20 to 25 quarts of whole grains, minerals and vitamins, 50 to 60 pounds of hay, and 30 gallons of water per day. Tours of Warm Springs Ranch are by reservation only and last approximately an hour and a half. Tours are offered daily, except Wednesdays, now through Oct. 31. Admission price is $10. Children under the age of 2 are admitted free. Visit www.warmspringsranch.com for more information or to make a reservation. Tours are scheduled twice per day and last approximately an hour and a half.
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