11/10/2024
After a long busy weekend the stall horses are officially settled back at the ranch and the mares are expected to arrive today. We appreciate everyone’s help!
Kraus Farms Equestrian Center
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- Kraus Farms Equestrian Center
70 years in business as one of Missouri's largest facilities, approximately 5000 Acres of trails, and supporting a wide variety riding and training styles.
(120)
Address
333 Hillsboro Road
St. Louis, MO
63049
Opening Hours
| Monday | 8am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 9:30pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 9:30pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 9:30pm |
| Friday | 8am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 8am - 6pm |
| Sunday | 8am - 6pm |
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Kraus Farms Equestrian Center
Kraus Farms began business in 1936 as 66 Riding Stables, twenty miles from St. Louis and accessible to city cowboys by the famous Highway 66. Ben Kraus and his business partner offered hay rides, boarding and rental horses on 200 leased acres that included the property now owned by Valley Mount Ranch as well as the present Kraus Farms property. Ben lived at the stables while his wife Freida and their eight children, Shirley, Gene, Darwin, Gerry, Laverne, Norita, Dorothy Lee and Sheila remained in town. Ben was a talented promoter, and 66 Riding Stables was soon providing hayrides for more than 100 people each night, using 12 wagons and as many as 15 teams of horses. Area farmers were often pressed into service with their teams on busy nights. The same horses were rented out as saddle horses during the day, with guides provided for trails through 1000 acres of leased woods to the east of the ranch, on what is now Forest 44 Conservation Park. The business soon allowed for Ben’s family to move from town to a frame farmhouse just north and west of the existing barns. The family made-do without electricity or inside facilities, heating water and cooking on wood stoves and bathing in the creek.
Ben Kraus, his sons and ranch hands broke all the horses used at 66 Riding Stables, maintaining a herd of 25 to 30 horses. Hay for the operation was grown in the bottom lands on the other side of what is now I44 and along the Meramec River, now covered by the land fill and industry. The hay was put up loose using the same horses ridden by renters. Ben also grew the grains the ranch converted to feed with their own mill. The hay and grain fed not only the ranch horses, but also the rodeo stock – Brahma bulls, calves, and steers. The popular holiday rodeos of the 1940’s attracted large crowd to stadium-style grandstands and a red, white, and blue arena with eight bucking stalls, located on the site of the present Valley Mount arena.
All the Kraus “kids” took part in the rodeos and shows as trick and Roman riders, trick ropers, rodeo contestants, barrel racers, and livestock managers. Norita and Dorothy Lee went on to championship seasons as barrel racers.
Ben Kraus also organized the famous Fireman’s Fund Rodeos and Parades in downtown St. Louis, complete with bands, floats, clowns, and as many as 200 horses. Many dignitaries and movie stars visited the ranch during these years, in town for the Fireman’s Benefit and looking for a relaxing ride. Hollywood visitors included Joel McCrae, Andy Devne, Scott O’Conners (the Rifleman), Gene Autry and Debbie Reynolds. The ranch was also the site of midget auto races!
