My Quilty World: Quilt Sisters Exploring - Warm Springs Ranch (The Clydesdales!)

Good Morning! We are up EARLY, had breakfast and have arrived at our 9:00 appointment with 15 minutes to spare. That is enough for some picture taking. Warm Springs Ranch is our plan for this morning and I'm super excited. A little about the sign - the "W," "S," and "R" measure 15 feet tall, weigh more than 2,000 pounds each, and sat on top of the Bevo plant for more than 30 years. The entire "Budweiser" sign on top of the Bevo building was replaced in January of 2013. The "W," "S," and "R" were chosen for installation at Warm Springs Ranch, the breeding facility for the World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales. This little piece of St. Louis serves as an important landmark for those visiting this facility.

The view from the sign looking the other direction. So pretty.

We are told to move to the parking lot, leave the vehicles, and follow on foot. This day is already warm so many went back to their cars for water.

As we approach the main buildings, this beautiful (and pregnant) mare greets us warmly.

As does the facility.

Now, let it be known that I am not a fan of Budweiser beer, but, come on --- who doesn't love these horses and a chance to get this close couldn't be passed up. Here comes the first barn. Check out the buggy in front. Love it.

Into the greeting room - which it turns out is also the Breeding Room - yep all the magic happens right here - where we are offered beer or cold water. Cold water all around for our group, but not for all. It IS 9:00 a.m. y'all.

The Budweiser wagon - or at least one of them. I'm going to share some information in this post and if it becomes too much or you just want to see the pretty horses, that's okay. I wanted to learn so here we go: "The Budweiser Clydesdales live a regal life. Newcomers to the hitch are between 4 and 5 years old. An adult Clydesdale stands approximately 18 hands at the shoulder and weighs about 2,000 pounds (kinda like the sign letters out front). They consume up to 20 quarts of oats and grain, up to 50 pounds of quality timothy hay and can drink up to 30 gallons of water DAILY. The harness for each Clydesdale weighs approximately 130 pounds and is handmade from patent leather and brass. Before each showing, the horses are fully groomed and their legs are washed to maintain the signature appearance of quality and tradition. The familiar red-and-white ribbon is placed in the horse's mane and tail before each showing. It takes a crew of six handlers four to five hours to prepare the horses and harnesses for a hitch showing. The Clydesdales make hundreds of appearances a year at local fairs, rodeos, festivals and high-profile parades. Special attention is made to ensure the Clydesdales visit small towns as well as large events. When traveling, the Clydesdales stay either at a local stable that meets the strict standards, or stay in their custom-made portable stalling display. If their next destination can't be reached in one day, the team will lay over for the evening - the health of the horses while traveling is paramount.

Paying Homage to the GREATS. Early Spring marks the beginning of the foaling season at Warm Springs Ranch. Mares are pregnant for approximately 11 months, and as the delivery date draws near, the mare is monitored for signs of labor. For a Clydesdale, labor is generally speedy and relatively painless. A Clydesdale comes into the world usually standing three-and-one-half feet tall at the withers and weighing in at 125 pounds. Foals are able to stand, walk and follow their mothers just hours after birth. For the first 6 months of a foal's life, they nurse by their mother's side. Up to 40 foals are born at Warm Springs Ranch during each foaling season.

We'll be going into the Hitch and Stallion Row shortly (after the movie), but . . .

Sherri manages to catch a perfect moment going by. As the foals near 6 months of age they become more independent, venture further away from their mothers and develop a better understanding of the world. Their diets increasingly include hay and whole grains and depend less upon the mare's milk. Weanlings are turned out in pastures with groups of other like-aged fillies or colts. Training really begins at this age as the young Clydesdales are taught "Ground Manners." These manners include standing for grooming or examinations, picking up their feet in preparation for being shod and being lead by a handler. A mutual respect between the horse and handler is the foundation of a good training program.

As we enter, we discover that one is being groomed for pictures with us later and the second one is getting new shoes. Training to pull the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales hitch wagon begins at 2 years of age. The hitch training process starts slowly with the Clydesdale wearing light rigging as it is introduced to the driving bit. The driving bit is how the driver communicates with the horse. At first the young Clydesdale may buck and kick a bit in an effort to throw the equipment off. However, once they realize the harness is comfortable, they will stand quietly waiting for direction from the trainers. The Clydesdales are first hooked up to a training sled that allows them to adjust to the feeling of pulling a rig.

Our guide explains the signage on the stalls --- the gold nametag does not mean that that horse is in there. It means, he was a great and is honored that way. Newer names are shown as below.

It's really hard to pay attention when a beautiful horse is so close.

New shoes coming his way.

And grooming to meet the public being done here.

He is sooooo patient with this process.

However, I get a kick out of his mouth. Is he trying to tell us something?

These shoes are a whole heck of a lot larger than you think. Check out the horse in the paddock outside -- waiting his turn or just being supportive?

The harness room. Each horse that is on the hitch has it's own personal harness and it never changes throughout their life. The "elaborate harness" (not these) worn by the hitches is a beautiful and expensive pieces of custom design. Each harness and collar weighs nearly 130 pounds and is handcrafted with sold brass, patent leather, and stitched with pure linen thread. Collars come in various sizes and must be individually fitted like a finely tailored suit. Like everything else associated with the Clydesdales, the tack is meticulously cleaned and prepped for each event. Two handlers oil and polish the leather harness on a daily basis. Prior to each event, it takes two people four hours to prepare the tack for the show. Following the event, the same crew will spend over an hour cleaning and storing the gear.

I mentioned "hands high" awhile back. Here's a peek, wacky hair and all.

We get a chance to say Howdy to a few of these amazing creatures.

Some are not interested in saying Howdy back.

The Clydesdales have cross America for over 80 years , covering almost 2 million miles. Millions of people have seen them in person and millions more on television. The 40 pounds of driving lines held by the driver plus the tension creates a total weight of over 75 pounds. Handlers for each hitch care for 10 horses and their tack as well as the equipment to transport. The combined weight of the wagon and horses exceeds 12 tons. Ten horses, the famous red, white and brass beer wagon and other essential equipment are transported in three 50-foot trailers. Cameras mounted in the trailers are connected to monitors in the cabs to enable the drivers to keep a watchful eye on their precious cargo during transport. The team stops each night at local stables so the "gentle giants" can rest. Air-conditioned suspension and thick rubber flooring in the trailer eases the rigors of traveling.