Our horse program will exhilarate riders of every ability.  We walk, trot, and canter across tens of thousands of acres of Colorado's spectacular Rocky Mountains.  You will fall in love with the variety of terrain at your disposal - beautiful vistas, interesting geologic formations, open parks, wooded areas, and abundant wildlife.

Experienced wranglers accompany small groups of riders to provide the personal attention and instruction necessary to ensure that you enjoy your days in the saddle.

Morning rides leave the ranch at nine and return for lunch.  Afternoon rides leave by one-thirty and return about five.

Adventuresome riders can take a pack lunch and spend the whole day exploring the sage plains, the aspen topped ridges, or the dark timber of the Roosevelt National Forest.

Special brunch or lunch rides, team penning, and instructional rides are scheduled each week.

Because we're not limited to trails, much of our time is spent riding side by side.

"Wow!  That's the only way to describe the views, the horses, the food, and the staff.  We had a great family vacation."

The Laramie River valley is home to cattle and bison ranches.  Our neighbor's buffalo can be seen in the background of this photo.

The valley is also home to a wide variety of wildlife including antelope, elk, moose, eagles, and coyotes that you'll often see while horseback.

Kids six and over are provided with a complete riding program.  In addition to spending lots of time in the saddle, kids and adults will have the opportunity to learn the parts of a horse, learn about tack, and learn to groom and saddle.  Real horse enthusiasts can get up early and head for the barn with our wranglers to saddle their own horse.

Children under the age of six enjoy pony rides in the corral and around the ranch.  It's a great way for young riders to learn about horses and develop confidence.

Orientation -

Your first full day at the ranch will begin with an orientation.  You'll hear about horses and their natural instincts.  And we'll demonstrate the basic skills you'll need to know.

 

With a large string of fine riding horses, we will find a horse that is just right for you and your level of ability.  Each guest is assigned a horse for the duration of their stay.

 

"We adored our horses! - Flax and Dusty, we love you!"

Horseback Riding Instruction - 

Experienced riders will be on the trail following a short orientation. New riders, or those who desire a refresher course, can stay in the arena a little longer for additional instruction.

Beginning, intermediate, and advanced instructional rides are scheduled during the week so you can work on your riding.  

These rides begin in our arena where we practice specific skills; learning to post while trotting, for example, and then progress to the trail where you can practice some more.

Team Penning -

Team penning is all the rage in the West.  It's a simple game in which riders sort and move cattle in a timed competition.

Twice a week our guests gather our small herd of steers from their pasture and bring them back to the ranch for team penning.

Once in the corrals, you'll learn to separate (or "cut") selected steers out of the fifteen or so in our herd.

It's your job to move these steers to the other end of the arena and into a pen before they can escape back to their buddies.

What makes this so much fun is that the steers often do not cooperate!

Cookouts -

For the all-day cookout ride guests can choose between a long ride through the Roosevelt National Forest and a shorter more direct route along LaGarde Creek.

Non-riders and kids who were back at the ranch participating in our children's program are driven to the picnic site.

You'll be greeted with ice cold lemonade and iced tea, lunch from the grill including vegetarian options, and goodies sent by our baker.

 

After lunch you can pull off your boots and refresh your feet with a dip in the cold waters of nearby LaGarde creek.  Or you can just kick back and reflect on your week's adventures.

For the return to the ranch, you will have several rides to choose from.

"This stay at your ranch has been not just a relaxing retreat from my regular life, but a truly enriching and expanding experience.  Something I will always treasure!  I was completely comfortable with all the accommodations, relaxed with everyone's warmth, exhilarated by the riding experiences."