Warm Springs Ranch Tour
For years, visiting Grant's Farm in St. Louis has been one of our family's favorite stops on the Eastern side of the state. The beautiful park is a free destination (fee for parking) with many animals to enjoy including elk, deer, eagles, prairie dogs and the World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales. Visitors may see the Clydesdales in their pasture and take photos. This peaceful park with tram rides through the deer park, a petting zoo, animal shows, and a Biergarten is a favorite family-friendly attraction in St. Louis. However, many fans of the horses want to learn more about them and see the horses up close and personal. Budweiser offers another location where you can do just that.
In 2008, visitors were given another opportunity to see the majestic horses with the opening of Warm Springs Ranch in Booneville. The 300-acre ranch is the breeding farm for Budweiser Clydesdales where visitors may take guided tours of the 25,000-square-foot facility which include a mare/stallion and foaling barn, veterinary lab and 10 pastures.
Warm Springs is home to more than seventy Clydesdales who live a pampered life in the luxurious (by all horse standards) facilities. This Missouri attraction is a must-see for horse lovers! Visitors meet the Clydesdale handlers who teach them about the horses, training, breeding, and what it takes to be an official Budweiser Clydesdale.
Our family recently attended the ranch's first-ever “Free Range” VIP experience. Typically, visitors are only permitted to explore the grounds on guided tours, but this day-long event allowed guests to explore the stations on their own time.
The girls loved exploring the stables and seeing the horses up close, including foals as young as a few weeks old up to a few months:
We met the Clydesdale handlers, explored the stables, saw the stations including the Mare and Foal wing, the Pre-Foaling lab, the Stallion and Shoeing wing, and the Roadtrucks and Trailers station. The star of the show was two-week-old Gloria, the Budweiser Clydesdale foal born just after the final buzzer when the St. Louis Blues won their first-ever championship.
The handlers shared information about the care and training of the horses. Every day, each hitch horse eats as much 20-25 quarts of whole grains rich in minerals, and vitamins, 50-60lbs hay, and 30 gallons of water. Everything the horse needs is provided on-site from bathing to health care, and shoeing. The horseshoes are massive, each about the size of a large dinner plate. The shoes measure more than 20 inches from end to end and weigh about five pounds each. Clydesdale shoes are about twice as long and five times as heavy as the shoe worn by the typical riding horse.
Early in the day, we watched as trainers practiced with horses on a training hitch, and then hitch an 8-horse team to the authentic Budweiser Clydesdale Hitch. The handlers trained four-year-old geldings who were paired with older, more experienced Clydesdales to learn how to pull the hitch and work as a team.
After training, we were then able to watch as the Budweiser Clydesdales were hitched-up for the first time ever at Warm Springs Ranch, followed by a photo opportunity and Q&A with handlers. We learned that there are tough requirements to be a member of the hitch. Each horse must stand at least 18 hands high (or 6 feet tall) and weigh 1,800-2,300 lbs. Only geldings, at least four years old, are members of the hitch and their coloring must be perfect: a bay coat, four white stockings, a blaze of white on the face, a black mane and a black tail.
The girls loved seeing the horses in their pastures. They were able to pet the horses and take photos. The land is beautiful and lush - a perfect home for the Clydesdales.
We took a peek inside the 50-foot-tractor-trailer to see how the team travels in style to parades, festivals, and showings. When they travel they transport ten horses, the beer wagon and equipment. Each harness and collar weigh about 130 lbs.
For lunch, we purchased food from the Super Smokers BBQ food truck. During visits to the ranch (special events and tours), guests 21 and older are offered two complimentary Budweiser samples.
This was the first VIP event at the ranch, where they promise more events in the future including the all-new Holiday Lights program at www.WarmSpringsRanch.com.
More Events at Warm Springs Ranch:
- Holiday Lights Nov. 29- Dec. 29, 2019: Come for the lights and experience the incredible display of holiday spirit and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. Reservations are required.
- 1.5 hour Guided Walking Tours (March - Nov): Interact with Clydesdale handlers. See the Clydesdales’ harness, luxury trailer and 1903 beer wagon. Take a photo with a Clydesdale – cameras permitted throughout the tour. Sample Budweiser beer (Guests 21+ only). Visit the gift shop for the latest in Clydesdale souvenirs. Tour is ADA compliant and accessible for the disabled – all paths are flat, level and paved.
- Private V.I.P. Tours: Tour the facility in a personal, custom-built vehicle. Interact with Clydesdales across 300-plus acres of rolling pastures. Take a private walking tour of the 25,000 square foot breeding facility. Talk to a Clydesdale handler and visit the foaling area. View the traveling hitch equipment. Take a photo with a Clydesdale – cameras permitted throughout the tour. Sample Budweiser beer (Guests 21+ only).
Our family highly recommends a visit to Warm Springs Ranch for a tour or event. The attraction is off I-70 about an hour and a half from KC, and a great stop en route to St. Louis for a weekend getaway!
BONUS:
Can't make it to Booneville? The horses are coming to Kansas City, Sept. 2019! Check out one of these Clydesdale Meet and Greets!
- Sept 11, 3 pm: Hitch Appearance 500 Block of S Commercial Dr Bonner Springs, KS.
- Sept 12, 3 pm: Hitch Appearance 9100 Block of NW Hwy 45 Parkville, MO 64152.
- Sept 13, 3 pm: Hitch Appearance 4900 Block of Roe Blvd Roeland Park, KS.
- Sept 14: TBD
- Sept 15, 12 pm: Hitch Appearance 1100 Block of S 7 Hwy Blue Springs, MO.