See The Budweiser Clydesdales At Warm Springs Ranch

Warm Springs Ranch is Boonville, Missouri opens this Saturday, March 26, for its eighth season. The facility is the world headquarters for the Budweiser Clydesdales breeding operation and sees the first steps of every single one of the world-famous horses.

The Budweiser Clydesdales are celebrating their 83rd anniversary this year. They became synonymous with Anheuser-Busch and Budweiser on April 7, 1933 when they helped the company celebrate the end of Prohibition by marching out of the gates at the company’s headquarters in downtown St. Louis down Pestalozzi street delivering legal beer to thirsty St. Lousians. The Clydesdales also delivered beer to mark the occasion to New York and to Franklin D. Roosevelt in the White House.

More than 70 Clydesdales call Warm Springs Ranch home, including Mac, the first foal born in 2016.  Warm Springs Ranch officials expect 20 or more baby Clydesdales to be born at the facility this year. The foals are trained initially in Boonville before moving on to Grant’s Farm in St. Louis for further training. At the age of three, they are moved to the company’s brewery grounds in Merrimack, New Hampshire where they are trained to harness. Horses must be four years old before being able to join a Hitch team.

Jeff Knapper, Budweiser’s General Manager of Clydesdale Operations had this to say about the Budweiser Clydesdales in a press release from the company.

“Whether it’s Super Bowl commercials or the hitch team and red wagon marching in community parades, the Budweiser Clydesdales have a special connection with people across the globe. We’re proud to offer guests the opportunity to see where Clydesdales spend their first years and showcase how they have been an integral part of our company’s heritage for the past 83 years.”

Warm Springs Ranch spans 300-plus acres and includes a mare/stallion and foaling barn, veterinary lab and 10 pastures. Each pasture also has its own walk-in shelter.

The Boonville facility offers two different tours daily (with some exceptions) from March 26th to November 6th. Guided Walking Tours last about 90 minutes each and include interaction with the Clydesdales handlers, photo opportunities, Budweiser beer samples and a visit to the 1903 beer wagon.

The Private V.I.P. tour includes much of what is included in the Guided Walking Tour as well as a special ride around the rest of the 300 acres and more interaction with the Clydesdales and a stop at the foaling area.

The Guided Walking Tour is $12 per person with children under 2 free. The Private V.I.P. tour is priced at $500 per tour with up to 16 people allowed in each group tour.

Tours are offered daily from 10 am until 2 pm between March 26 and November 6 with the exception of Wednesdays when no tours are offered. Tour availability is extremely limited so you’re encouraged to book your tour as soon as possible. Reservations can be made on the Warm Springs Ranch tour website.

Learn more about the life of a Budweiser Clydesdale in the video below.

Becoming a Budweiser Clydesdale

 

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