Meet The Giant Clydesdales At Parnellranch In Sandpoint, Idaho
A stallion imported from Scotland once inspired a rancher to write a whole children’s book about him. That horse was a Clydesdale named Ramsey.
His bloodlines helped shape a herd of draft giants in the northern reaches of Idaho.
The man behind that book also wrote another one, called The Old Apple Tree. School kids who visit the ranch have gone home holding a copy.
Before that, they meet the horses, the dogs, and a crew of barn cats.
I like how personal this place feels. It isn’t a theme park or a big-ticket attraction with turnstiles.
It’s a working family ranch where tours happen by appointment, and the story is still being written.
So how does a quiet Idaho valley end up with a Scottish legend in its history? The answer starts with one couple.
A Clydesdale Ranch Sitting Quietly In The Selle Valley
Few ranches in the Panhandle can say their whole identity revolves around one breed. ParnellRanch Clydesdales is that kind of place, built around raising purebred Clydesdale draft horses.
The ranch sits in the Selle Valley, just outside Sandpoint in North Idaho. It’s farm country with forests and mountains framing the pastures, and the horses look right at home.
Clydesdales are the feathered-hoof giants many people know from parades and holiday commercials. Seeing one on a screen is fun.
Standing next to one is a different scale entirely.
The ranch has worked as a breeding operation, offering registered Clydesdales to buyers who want the real thing. That means the horses here aren’t props.
They’re part of a lineage the family has tended for years.
Visitors come for tours, but the ranch isn’t set up like a petting zoo with a gift shop. Think of it more like being invited onto someone’s property to meet their animals.
That small, personal feel is the whole appeal. In a part of Idaho known for lakes and ski runs, a ranch full of draft horses is a pleasant surprise.
Most people driving to Sandpoint never realize it’s out there.
The Rancher Who Built A Legacy On Big Hooves
Every herd has a person behind it, and here that person was Jack C. Parnell.
His love for Clydesdales shaped the ranch and the reputation it earned among draft horse fans.
Jack wasn’t just a horse owner. He was a rancher who believed these animals deserved to be shared with anyone curious enough to visit.
He and his wife, Michelle, ran the place together for years. Their hospitality became part of what made a visit memorable, alongside the horses themselves.
Jack passed away in April 2023. It was a real loss for the ranch and for the Sandpoint community that knew him.
Still, his fingerprints are everywhere on the property. The herd, the barns, and the stories he wrote down all carry his vision forward.
I believe that’s what gives this ranch its heart. It isn’t a corporate operation chasing numbers.
It’s one family’s long-running devotion to a breed that once pulled the plows and wagons of an earlier America.
Knowing that backstory changes how you look at the pastures. Those horses represent decades of patience, early mornings, and a man who simply adored them.
Michelle Parnell Keeps The Gate Open
Behind every great ranch tour is someone who knows each horse by name and personality. At ParnellRanch Clydesdales, that someone is Michelle Parnell.
She worked alongside Jack for years, helping raise the herd and welcome guests. After his passing, she has continued caring for the ranch and its animals.
Her knowledge of the horses is a big part of the experience. She can explain the breed, the bloodlines, and the daily care these giants require.
Visits in the fall of 2025 show the ranch still welcoming small groups. That’s good news for anyone who worried the doors had closed.
Running a draft horse ranch is no small job, especially solo. Clydesdales eat a lot, need sturdy fencing, and demand serious hoof care.
Keeping that going while hosting visitors takes real dedication. It also says a lot about how much this place matters to her.
If you book a tour, you’re supporting more than a fun afternoon. You’re helping a family keep an Idaho ranch tradition alive.
That feels like a pretty good use of a day off.
Ramsey, The Scottish Stallion With A Famous Family Tree
Not many horses cross an ocean and end up as the star of a children’s book. Ramsey did both.
He was a Clydesdale stallion imported from Scotland, the breed’s homeland. At ParnellRanch, he became a foundation of the breeding program.
His bloodlines mattered beyond the Selle Valley, too. Ramsey’s lineage has been connected to the breeding behind the famous Budweiser Clydesdales hitch.
That’s quite a resume for a horse living in North Idaho. Picture telling your friends the horse you met has relatives on national TV.
Clydesdales originally came from the Clyde Valley in Scotland, where farmers bred them for hauling. Bringing a Scottish stallion to Idaho tied the herd directly to those roots.
For breeders, a strong stallion shapes generations of foals. Size, temperament, and those flashy white feathers on the legs all pass down the line.
Ramsey’s influence lives on in the herd that remains. When you stand in the pasture, you’re looking at a bit of Scottish history settled into Bonner County.
Not a bad claim to fame for a ranch off a country road.
A Pair Of Ranch-Grown Children’s Books
Here’s a souvenir you won’t find at a typical attraction. Jack Parnell wrote children’s books inspired by life on the ranch.
The first, titled My Name is Ramsey, tells the story of the Scottish stallion. It gives young readers a horse’s-eye view of a famous Clydesdale’s life.
He also wrote The Old Apple Tree. Both books have been available to visitors who tour the ranch.
That’s a lovely touch for families. Kids get to meet the horses and then take the story home for bedtime.
Books like these turn a single visit into something that lasts. Months later, a child flipping the pages will remember how tall those horses really were.
I can’t imagine a better way to keep Jack’s voice around. His words carry the same warmth he brought to greeting guests at the barn.
For grandparents, these make a thoughtful gift too. A book written by an Idaho rancher about his own horses beats another plastic keychain any day.
Ask about copies when you set up your visit.
Tours Happen By Appointment, So Plan Ahead
Showing up unannounced at a working ranch is a good way to meet a confused dog and nobody else. At ParnellRanch Clydesdales, tours are arranged by appointment.
That setup keeps things personal. Instead of a crowd, you get a small group and time to ask questions.
Tours have long included meeting the horses up close. Getting a hand on a Clydesdale’s neck gives you a real sense of how massive these animals are.
Hosts walk guests around the ranch and share stories about the herd. Expect to learn about the breed, the bloodlines, and the family behind it all.
Since it’s a private ranch, details can shift with the season and the schedule. Reach out ahead of time and confirm before making the drive.
Wear sturdy shoes, because barns and pastures aren’t sidewalks. A jacket helps too, since North Idaho weather loves a plot twist.
The payoff for a little planning is big. You’ll get an unhurried visit with some of the largest horses you’ll ever stand beside.
That’s worth one quick call.
Field Trips Kids Will Talk About All Year
Warm drinks, treats, a wagon ride, and a free book. That’s a field trip lineup most teachers would happily sign off on.
ParnellRanch Clydesdales has hosted school groups who got exactly that experience. Kids met all the horses and the other ranch animals.
The wagon ride is the showstopper. Being pulled along by draft horses gives children a taste of how people traveled long before minivans.
Each student went home with a book in hand. That small gesture turns a fun morning into something kids can revisit.
The hosts also brought patience and plenty of knowledge. For curious kids firing off questions, that matters a lot.
Teachers in the Sandpoint area looking for a hands-on lesson have a strong option here. Animal care, farm history, and reading all fit into one outing.
Homeschool groups and youth clubs might find it a good match as well. Contact the ranch to ask what’s possible for your group size and season.
Just be ready for the bus ride home to be loud with horse facts.
The Supporting Cast Of Dogs And Black Barn Cats
The Clydesdales get top billing, but they aren’t the only residents. Dogs and cats roam the ranch too.
A pair of black barn cats has charmed recent visitors. They add a cozy, homey feel to a property built around enormous animals.
Kids especially love this part. After craning their necks at a horse, crouching down to pet a cat feels just right.
Ranch dogs round out the crew. On a working property, they’re part of daily life and often the first to say hello.
The size contrast is pretty funny when you think about it. A Clydesdale can top a ton, while a barn cat weighs about as much as a bag of flour.
Animal lovers of every age find something to enjoy here. Some people come for the horses and leave talking about the kitties.
It’s a reminder that this is a real home, not a staged exhibit. Every critter here has a job, even if the cats’ job seems to be looking adorable.
They’re very good at it.
Log Homes, Big Barns, And Eighty Acres Of Room
Housing horses this large takes serious space. The ranch spreads across roughly 80 acres in the Selle Valley.
The property has been described as a showplace, with log homes and barns fitting the Idaho landscape. Timber construction suits a valley ringed with evergreens.
Barns built for Clydesdales need extra height and wide stalls. These horses are not built for cramped quarters.
The ranch has also offered a guest house rental in the past. Earlier visitors enjoyed overnight stays with s’mores around the fire.
Winter traditions once included horse-drawn sleigh rides with campfires and storytelling. That sounds like a holiday card come to life.
Current offerings may differ from those earlier years, so ask about lodging and seasonal rides directly. Things on a family ranch evolve with time.
Even without an overnight stay, the setting is worth seeing. Open pasture, sturdy log buildings, and giant horses make a classic North Idaho ranch scene.
Bring a camera and keep the flash off around the animals.
Finding Your Way Out To Selle Road
Country roads, open fields, and mountain views make the drive part of the fun. ParnellRanch Clydesdales sits at 4250 Selle Rd, Sandpoint, ID 83864.
The Selle Valley lies north of town, a short drive from downtown Sandpoint. It’s quiet farm country, a world away from summer lake traffic.
Once there, you’re in classic Panhandle territory. Forests, pastures, and rural homes line the way.
Since tours run by appointment, confirm directions and timing when you book. Rural addresses can trip up phone maps now and then.
Pairing the ranch with a Sandpoint day is easy. Downtown sits on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho’s largest lake.
Schweitzer Mountain looms nearby for skiing in winter and lift rides in summer. Lake beaches and trails fill out the warmer months.
That makes the ranch a great add-on for a weekend in North Idaho. Morning with Clydesdales, afternoon by the water sounds like a solid plan.
Few road trips offer that kind of variety in one small area.
Why These Gentle Giants Earn A Spot On Your Idaho List
Small, personal, and full of history. That sums up what ParnellRanch Clydesdales offers anyone willing to plan a visit.
You get massive horses with Scottish roots and a family story that spans decades. Toss in barn cats, wagon rides, and books written right on the property.
It suits families, school groups, and horse fans of every age. Grandparents who remember draft horses on farms may enjoy it most of all.
Remember that this is a working family ranch, not a drop-in attraction. Call ahead, confirm a tour time, and be flexible about seasonal changes.
Respect goes a long way here. Listen to your host, keep little hands where they’re told, and give the horses space.
I believe places like this are rare in modern Idaho. As towns grow and change, a family-run Clydesdale ranch feels like a link to the past worth protecting.
So next time you’re headed toward Sandpoint, think about a detour to the Selle Valley. A Clydesdale’s soft nose and towering shoulders make a memory that sticks.
Your phone’s camera roll will thank you.
