28 Baby Budweiser Clydesdales Join the “Class of 2012”

BOONVILLE, Mo. (June 7, 2012) – Warm Springs Ranch, the state-of-the-art breeding facility in mid-Missouri for the Budweiser Clydesdales, saw 28 foals born this year. The last two babies were born on Tuesday, June 5, which marked the end of the 2012 foaling season for the Budweiser Clydesdales. In total there were 18 fillies (girls) and 10 colts (boys) born at the ranch in 2012.

“One night we had three foals born in an hour,” said John Soto, supervisor of Warm Springs Ranch. “Two weeks ago we had two foals born within 15 minutes of each other.”

Want to visit and see the baby horses? Tours of Warm Springs Ranch are by reservation only and last approximately an hour and a half. Tours are offered daily, except Wednesdays, April 1 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.

Soto said two of the most recent arrivals were colts with the same father born within minutes of each other to a different mother (Diane and Ashley). It was mentioned that they were “almost twins,” so Soto said the Clydesdale team thought of the movie “Twins.

“We usually try to name our foals using the first letter of the mother’s name,” he said. “This worked out perfectly. So now, Diane’s colt is named Danny, after Danny DeVito, and Ashley’s colt is named Arnold, after Arnold Schwarzenegger.”

Guests to Warm Springs Ranch 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. 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 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. New this year at the ranch: Just like Anheuser-Busch’s brewery tours, adults guests may sample Budweiser (except on Sundays) at the end of their tour, which is fitting considering the horses’ connection with the iconic beer brand.

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.

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.

Anheuser-Busch has about 200 Clydesdales in its herd, with about half of them at Warm Springs Ranch in Cooper County.