Here's How:
- What Really Interests You
Start by deciding what type of experience you want. Are you primarily interested in the riding and comfortable with rustic accommodations and basic meals. Or, would you prefer to be pampered, stay in rustic-looking but luxurious cabins or lodge rooms and have fine dining in the evenings? If you're taking the kids do you want to spend days riding together and dine in a group each evening, or would you prefer a ranch with supervised kids programs?
- Styles of Dude Ranch Experiences
What's most appealing? At traditional dude ranches riding is the main focus and there’s usually a minimum stay, often a week in the summer. These are popular with families, but confirm other kids will be there at the same time. The higher-end ranches have nicer lodging, supervised kids programs and possibly a spa. At a working dude ranch you’ll help with the livestock. Guest ranches offer riding plus activities such as fly fishing and mountain biking.
- What’s Included in the Package Price?
Confirm what’s included. Typically, an all-inclusive package has lodging, meals, riding and any other on-ranch activities whether it’s swimming, tennis, or other sports. Some ranches charge extra for overnight pack trips. Ask what other charges to expect. Are tips included; if not what’s the suggested amount to leave? Confirm which credit cards will be accepted for incidentals at the end of the trip.
- What Kind of Riding Experiences Are Offered?
Ask about the variety of horseback riding experiences you can expect. Do you have to help care for the horse you ride during the week? Will a wrangler spend time teaching you how to ride a horse properly? Are there two-hour rides, full-day, overnight rides? Are the riders split into groups according to ability levels?
- Clothing You Should Bring
- Heeled boots that are broken in. If you don’t have cowboy boots, a friend of our prefers heeled boots sold at army and navy stores claiming they cost much less than cowboy boots.
- A brimmed hat with a strap to keep it on your head.
- Functional jeans and long-sleeve shirts.
- A bandana is the all-purpose tool every rider needs.
- Leather gloves to keep your hands from blistering after holding reins all day.
- A hand sanitizer, such as Purell.
- Finding a Dude Ranch
Here are two organizationsand other sources that list ranches in the United States and other countries. The Dude Rancher’s Association lists 100+ ranches in the Western U.S., while the Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association focuses on choices in that state. Two other sources are Ranchweb.com, an independent internet site run by Gene Kilgore who has visited hundreds of ranches, and EveryDudeRanch.com, a catch-all listing of western ranches.
