Ranch Holiday????

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05kitty93

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Hi,

It's my 30th in March of next year and have decided I want to stay on a ranch somewhere (maybe the rocky mountains) in America. I would appreciate any and all advice/experiences. I want to go on my own too.

When is the best time to go?

Would/did you go for 1 week or 2?

Where is the best place to go - I've narrowed it down to America but thats it really?

How far in advice would you book up?

Sorry for so many questions.
Cheers
Ruth
 
I have never been but have been looking at some things myself! I would go to Montana, Colorado or Wyoming I think. As for time of year, unless you wnat to be cold, only go to the above in March if you like snow! I would heda there in June-July.

but if you head towards Texas, New Mexico around there then you should be able to go in March I would think.
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I am so pleased as my very very non-horsey OH first suggested it, and I have wanted to do this as one of the things on my list way before I met him. I thank the City Slickers film for that
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i went to ranch in colorado one xmas. was excellent! went with the family who were all pretty non-horsey. i went riding at least once a day for 2-3 hours, mum usually joined me despite never having sat on a horse. but sometimes went by mysef with just a ranch hand as guide. dad and brother busied themselves shooting and snow mobiling (sp). it was great, we were the only ones there except for some day trippers, we stayed for a week. it was a family run working ranch - had xmas day lunch with the family. they had chalets for the visitors and organised day trips to Vale if wanted. only thing is it was very expensive (not that i was paying, thanks dad!) and watch out for extras, esp insurance. we were supposed to pay per activity but since we were the only guests the did a deal. summer activities included rounding up the cattle, fishing etc
 
I went to a ranch in Texas in March a few years ago and it was warm but not quite hot enough to swim in their unheated outdoor pool. When you look at places, ask lots of questions about group size and the pace of the rides - we found ourself in a mixed group with 8 others and they wouldn't let us canter until the last day when the 3 begineers went out with another wrangler.

We saved several hundred pounds by finding it on the internet and booking ranch, car hire & flights ourselves rather than through a riding holiday company. I went with a friend but it would have been fine to have gone alone.
 
i know its not america but i went to the lazy m which is near calgary in canada and i LOVED it...
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i went for a week in august on my own and had a fabulous time as had lots of other horsey people to talk to. we rode all day every day and did lots of galloping around in my advanced group. we also played loads of games and did a bit of cow herding. the horses were lovely and margie and lane were great. Lane does (ahem) natural horsemanship but is the sensible "its all common-sense type" and hates parelli. i actually picked up some great tips from him about catching horses that don't want to be caught....
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the accomodation was lovely and weather very hot but changed the following week after i left to mad snow. they had a hot tub too
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i think they also do a wild camp for guests staying longer that is supposed to be excellent.
here's the web. think my dad booked it through ranch america. think it was pricey tho
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http://www.lazymcanada.com/welcome.html
 
Thanks you all for your replies and advice etc.

I dont really mind when I go it doesnt have to be in march - I would prefer to be warmer rather than colder. lol
 
It may be more of an adventure than you had planned, but have you considered Argentina?

I spent 3 months working (food, board & laundry in return for Labour) on a QH stud and Hereford & Bradford cattle beef operation in the north of Argentina, called. I believe you can go for shorter periods if you wish.
English is spoken, spanish dominates with a confusing mix of Portugese as it is close to the border with Brazil. March would be a nice time of year to go as the heat will have just broken after the summer.
I made the mistake of go there over summer, it was 38C in the shade at 6am.....

This place has ALOT going for it especially if you really want to be a real working cowboy (or Gaucho) for a while and a few Cons as well.

But I learnt alot, spent hours in the saddle after cattle, learnt to rope and had the time of my life! =)

Oh the ranch was called 'El Altillo'

If you want more info let me know.
 
If you're after something a bit different you might want to have a look at http://www.thelongride.co.uk/

On The Long Ride 2010 a group of 5 riders will cover 2000 miles along one of the old cattle trails, first used in 1860/70. An expedition rather than a holiday, it starts in Texas on 4th April 2010 and travels through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and finishes at the site of the Battle of the Little Big Horn in Montana and is real trip of a lifetime stuff as it's extremely unlikely ever to be repeated. You can join for two weeks or more - all the details are on the website.

I'm going for part of the Wyoming stretch in August. Can't wait!
 
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