Horseback Heaven

Exactly What is a Guest Ranch and Will It Make a Enjoyable Holiday For Your Family?

Posted on Friday, May 13, 2011 by Greg in Destinations
Tags: Dude Ranch, guest ranch, Horseback Riding

A dude ranch (also referred to as a guest ranch) is the epitome of what is now called agritourism. Agritourism (involving ranches open to individuals) has grown tremendously in popularity. This is mostly because vacationers/tourists are starting to enjoy more hands-on experiences in which they can learn and play at the same time. Visiting a ranch promotes agritourism, offers a learning experience, and can be fun for everyone. The a great deal of these ranches appear to be in the Midwest and Western zones of the United States. Some of the things that may be experienced include horseback riding, cattle/bison drives, roping/gymkhana, and other nature based activities (such as hiking, bicycle riding, or bird watching).

The majority of today’s dude ranch facilities offer horseback riding as their main staple. Rides vary from once to three times per day. The horseback portion of your excursion might include basic horse riding skills, learning how to groom/saddle the horse that you are paired with, learning how to ‘read’ your horse, trail rides, and cattle penning (using your horse to guide cattle/bison into pens). You will also learn some pretty savvy roping techniques that will be used from atop your horse.

Cattle and/or bison drives/roundups involve using your horse to round up herds (which you will guide to a designated area). A dude ranch that offers these roundups may also be called a ‘working’ ranch.

Gymkhana (American Indian for ‘games on horseback’) is a variety of horseback sport. Gymkhana activities may include barrel racing, timed cattle penning, and roping games.

If you would like to get back in touch with nature, these ranches will often offer fishing, hiking, hunting, and bicycle excursions. Do some research to find exactly which ranches offer what activities.

Amenities and prices for dude ranch excursions can vary greatly. Some ranches offer a bed and breakfast type atmosphere (to include saunas, tennis courts, and swimming pools. Pricing varies with the amenities and activities offered. This type of vacation appeals to individuals as well as families. Most of the ranches offer many things for children to do.

For more information visit the Dude Rancher’s Association