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Archive for the ‘Ranch Testimonials’ Category

Laramie River Ranch and Dr. Robert Miller

December 10th, 2012 by Kim @ The DRA

Some places have a powerful influence on our lives. Laramie River Ranch is one of these places. On occasion, extraordinary people pass through and leave an indelible mark of their own. One of these people is Dr. Robert Miller.

As a young man, I read Western Horseman magazine. I’d turn first to the comics and enjoyed the humor of Dr. Robert Miller. Doc Miller’s comics were delightful, but his “Vet’s Corner” feature was a must read. He illuminated for me the mysteries of horse health. This year Western Horseman named Dr. Robert Miller recipient of their 2012 Western Horseman Award.

My beautiful wife Krista Kaplan and I came to the UT Bar Ranch in ’95, restored the abandoned ranch, and re-opened as the Laramie River Dude Ranch. We connected with the former owner Rick Leake and his delightful daughter Maury who gracefully shared their stories of the ranch. Among their gifts – numerous old black and white photos. With this post you’ll see one photo labeled “The Two Bob Millers.” Maury mentioned in passing that one of the Bobs was a wonderful cartoonist but I did not make the connection.Bob Miller grew up in Arizona and returned to the West following service in Germany after WWII. He found work on ranches and quickly became interested in horse training. Bob completed his undergraduate degree and headed for Colorado State University where he was accepted into their Vet program. This is where Bob’s life first intersected with our UT Bar ranch. He took a job starting colts, leading trail rides, and doing whatever “needed done” that day. Bob was given the independence to start his colts in complete privacy. Instead of the traditional ‘bucking them out’, Bob applied his ideas to start each colt with the least amount of fear and stress possible. His patience and insight into horse psychology was immediately successful.Within a few years, the newly minted Dr. Robert Miller set up practice in Thousand Oaks, California. He was put to the test by numerous Wild Animal Farms run for the benefit of Hollywood movie companies. Bob believes that he is the only vet to treat a humming bird and a whale in the same day. As his practice and the horse community in Thousand Oaks grew, Bob again focused on his favorite animal, the horse.

In his practice, Dr. Miller observed big differences between horses he handled at birth and those without much human contact. The handled horses were “less fearful, gentler and easier to handle; in fact, they seemed to recognize him days, weeks or months later.” At the time, horsemen felt it was best to leave the colt to itself if at all possible. Bob turned this idea on its head, handling the horse for up to two hours at its birth while the mare bonded with its foal. The results were immediate and striking – the foals were confident, unafraid, and easily desensitized to human interaction.

At 60, Miller retired from his practice and took up full time study and promotion of his methods. He crossed paths and exchanged ideas with the greats of the horse world including Billy Linfoot, Ray Hunt, and Pat Parelli. His book “Imprint Training for the Newborn Foal” was groundbreaking. His video “Early Learning” was an incredible influence on our practices at LRR. We’ve used Bob’s imprinting methods on every foal born on the ranch. Ironically, we were using Bob’s techniques before we realized he was one of “The Two Bob Millers.”

In 2006, we had the pleasure of meeting Bob and his charming wife Debby on the ranch. They returned with family to one of the places that had influenced Bob’s career. We were sure to thank Dr. Miller for the many ways in which he had touched our lives and the lives of our beloved horses. This year we congratulate Bob as he adds Western Horseman’s Award to the many accolades which he truly deserves.

For more visit these links :
www.RobertMMiller.com
www.LRRanch.com
www.WesternHorseman.com

Tags: colorado dude ranch, dude Ranch History, Horse Information, Horses, Testimonial of the Week
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Colorado with kids: sleds, bikes, horses, fun

August 7th, 2012 by Kim @ The DRA

This is a great article about a family’s trip from Pennsylvania to Colorado. Especially loved the part about Drowsy Water Ranch which I have highlighted below. To read the entire article please click on the following link: http://blog.pennlive.com/life/2012/08/colorado_with_kids_sleds_bikes.html

Howdy, Colorado!

The heart of our trip was three days at the Drowsy Water Ranch, where we donned cowboy boots, learned to ride horses and began to say howdy to everyone we met.

Grand County has several dude ranches, but Drowsy Water was a no-brainer. It’s rustic and has been run for 36 years by the hands-on Fosha family, whose passion is horses.

“Our goal is that everyone who comes here is a little better rider when they leave,” Ken Fosha told me.

The ranch has 120 of the magnificent animals, well-fed, well-trained, groomed and pastured every night. Each horse has a name, and each guest (50 maximum) has a horse carefully chosen to match that person’s riding experience (or, in our case, lack thereof).

There’s a special riding program for Range Riders (kids 6 to 13) as well as programs for adults at all levels of ability. Each day begins with a clinic, followed by half-day or all-day trail rides up into the hills with a wrangler.

In addition, there’s swimming, fishing, Western dancing and good, hearty grub three times a day when the dinner bell rings. Zip-lines are being added this summer.

“They aren’t very Western,” Fosha said, “but older kids will enjoy them.”

In 2010, TripAdvisor named Drowsy Water Ranch the No. 1 all-inclusive resort in the world.

Ten minutes after Ken’s wife, Randy Sue, fitted us for well-worn rental cowboy boots and showed us to our cabin, the kids were out exploring, getting wet in the creek, tossing horseshoes and playing volleyball with other kids and Lily, one of the resident sheepdogs.

Then the dinner bell rang and we all gathered around long tables in the dining room for turkey and pumpkin pie.

Our days at Drowsy Water flew by. One night we gathered in the round teepee building for Western dancing. Another night the kids had a hayride and cookout while adults had dinner by candlelight. We made dream catchers, saw calves branded and each day got to be more confident riders. The kids took to their steeds, Buckwheat and Times are Tough, like ducks to water.

All too soon it was time to leave. Most people spend a week at the ranch; we were there for three days.

Tags: adventure vacation, all-inclusive, colorado dude ranch, Family Vacations
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City Slicker Tries to Feel at Home on the Range

September 6th, 2011 by Kim @ The DRA

By Les MacPherson, The StarPhoenix August 27, 2011

Last week, while city folk toiled in their grim cubicles, I was in Montana. On horseback. Driving cattle.

Yippie ki-yay . The place was the historic 63 Ranch, a vast spread of pastures and pine trees and mountain meadows, nestled up against the Absaroka Mountain Range, just north of Yellowstone Park. Beyond the forested Absarokas looms the jagged, sawtooth ridge of the Crazy Mountains, with nearly vertical peaks reaching almost two miles high from the Yellowstone River valley. To try to go over them, you would have to be crazy.

The 63 Ranch is a family operation, staked out in 1863. Since 1929, it has been a dude ranch, but always with a big herd of beef cattle, too. The cattle have to be moved to new pastures from time to time and us dudes sometimes are allowed to help. The legitimate wranglers could manage without us, I suspect.

My horse was Shiloh, a bouncy and responsive sorrel gelding, splashed with white. What really distinguished Shiloh, however, were his eyes. They were two different colours, one brown, one icy blue. He sometimes gazed back at me over his shoulder with that icy blue eye. I think he was admiring my hat. (read more)

Tags: In The News, Montana Dude Ranch, Working Ranch
Posted in Choosing a Ranch, Dude Ranch, Ranch Testimonials | Comments Off

Go West, Young (or Old) Man

August 3rd, 2011 by Kim @ The DRA

I enjoyed this article so much that I wanted to share it.

by Ron Loretti of The Skinnie Magazine

A little change of pace this time: I took a break from profiling active and former military men and women and headed west. I drove my car across the country and back, stopping to play cowboy a bit along the way.

My two favorite western states are Oregon and Wyoming, for different reasons. Oregon: My daughter, Leslie, lives there, and 28 months ago she and her husband, Eddie, became the proud parents of little Rudy, our only grandson. What makes this exceptional is the fact that Leslie was slightly on the long side of 40 and never thought she would become a momma. But she did, and Rudy is now a new joy added to our family tree. Understandably, we now visit Oregon as often as possible, in spite of the fact that the only states farther away from Georgia are Washington, Alaska and Hawaii. Delta Airlines is happy about Rudy, too.

Then there’s Wyoming. I used to hunt there almost every year, trekking over the southeastern mountains and prairies of the Cowboy State in quest of antelope, deer and elk. I became permanently captivated by the relaxed-yet-pioneering spirit of the people and the wide-open spaces. I loved the contrast to the hustle and bustle of my industrial and commercial world east of the Mississippi. As I got older, the hunting took a backseat to family, business and other pursuits. But I always knew I’d head back to Wyoming someday.

With another visit to Rudy as motivation and the wilds of Wyoming still beckoning, I tossed a suitcase into my convertible and headed northwest on I-16. I would make the cross-country trip by car – age (mine) and distance (long) be damned.

Six days later, I pulled up in front of Leslie’s house in Portland. My daughter and her young son were sitting on the porch waiting for me. Rudy did not seem shy around a grandpa he sees only every so often. It was a great visit – the zoo, parks, restaurants, playtime, sightseeing. The sun even shone occasionally, in spite of the Pacific Northwest’s well-earned reputation for rain.

A few days later, I put the car on I-84 and headed toward Wyoming, the second part of my journey. A thousand miles later, I arrived in Saratoga, Wyo., an authentic western ranching, hunting, fishing and cowboy town, little changed from my visits there a few (or more) decades ago. It still has a saloon with swinging doors, wooden floors, a long antique bar and hitching posts outside (although instead of horses, there were a couple of long-haul motorcycles waiting for their riders).

One thing was noticeably different from the old days: The National Guard was in town sandbagging the low spots along the swollen North Platte River. Because of heavy rains and melting deep-mountain snowpacks, most rivers and creeks west of the Mississippi were at or near flood levels as I made my trip through the western states.

The next morning I left for my final destination in Wyoming, the Medicine Bow Lodge, which is 22 miles west of Saratoga on a very scenic mountain highway. It is located in a secluded valley in the Snowy Range at the foot of the majestic Medicine Bow Mountains of southeastern Wyoming. The lodge’s sea-level elevation is 8,500 feet, with surrounding peaks, some still covered by deep snow in late June, clocking in higher than 10,000 feet. Medicine Bow Lodge is an activity-driven guest dude ranch that began 94 years ago as a basic hunting and fishing lodge. Today’s guests enjoy horseback riding (at all levels), fishing (in multiple lakes and streams), hiking, cookouts, overnight pack trips, skeet shooting, birding and various kids’ programs. Or nothing at all for those who just want to lie back and take it easy in one of the most beautiful areas of the West. (read more)

Tags: The Dude Ranchers' Association, Wyoming Dude Ranch
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Dude Ranch Vacations Five things to know before you go

April 6th, 2011 by Colleen @ The DRA

April 4th, 2011 | by Jamie Pearson

1. Find the right ranch

I know you wish the ranch fairy would fly down and just tell you which ranch is perfect for your family. I wished that too, but it didn’t happen. So I made a list of all the things we wanted (not too many guests at a time, a high staff to guest ratio, riding clinics at no extra cost, luxury accommodations, and river rafting), and then researched until I was cross eyed. After talking to some horsey friends and Googling myself silly, I chose Vista Verde Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. If you don’t know a working ranch from a guest ranch and have no idea what you’re looking for in terms of amenities, I highly recommend you start with The Dude Rancher’s Association website.

Knowing your family helps. If you have shy kids, don’t choose a ranch with mandatory separate kid and adult activities every day. If you don’t care about anything but riding, don’t pay extra for activities you won’t try.

2. Book the right week

Once you’ve decided on a ranch, the next step is choosing a week to book. Weather is obviously a consideration and holiday weeks (such as July 4th) may cost more. We went the third week in July and were lucky to be able to participate in a cattle drive. Had we gone in June, it would have been too wet and boggy.

Also, call the ranch and ask who has already booked the week you’re considering. Ideally you want there to be kids your kids’ ages. I’d also recommend avoiding weeks with big family reunions—these groups tend to be very self-contained, which limits socializing opportunities.

3. Bring a sports bra

I won’t go into too much detail on this one, but suffice it to say there’s a lot of trotting and galloping at dude ranches. Hours and hours of trotting and galloping, in fact. And running around with your kids. And mountain biking. And rock climbing. You get the point.

4. Pack more clothes than you think you’ll need

I travel extensively, often, and all over the place with my kids and I flatter myself that I know how to pack. I could have done a lot better on our dude ranch vacation, however. Every time we stepped outside the door of our cabin, we got really, really dirty. My husband and I could have used another two or three outfits each. The kids were so perpetually filthy (and happy) that I’m not sure that would have helped.

Dinners were casual, but I wished I had cuter clothes. Not to mention clothes that weren’t covered in dust and horse slobber. Laundry service was convenient and inexpensive, but I wasn’t willing to part with my favorite jeans to have them washed. If you choose a ranch in Colorado, throw in a rain jacket for everyone too. It rained briefly (or threatened to) nearly every afternoon.

5. Don’t expect to relax too much

There are so many exciting things to do at dude ranches that it can be hard to relax. I wasn’t able to just sit down with a book and read because I felt like I’d be missing something fun. Worse, I felt like I’d be paying to miss something fun.

If you’re the kind of person who prefers to lounge around a pool or on a beach doing nothing for seven consecutive days, this might not be the right vacation for you. There are evening activities too, like campfires, rodeos, and barn dances, so you won’t go to bed early very often. Even the kids got a little worn out by the end of the week

Tags: Activities, all-inclusive, Choosing a Ranch, Family Vacations, Resort Ranch, Things to know about Dude Ranch Vacations
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TripAdvisor® Names Colorado Dude Ranch Top All-Inclusive Resort

March 9th, 2011 by Colleen @ The DRA

Having Fun at Drowsy Water Ranch

- – Granby’s Drowsy Water Ranch earns spot as singular U.S. resort on Top 10 list – -

Granby, Colo., March. 4 , 2010 – TripAdvisor® has named Colorado’s Drowsy Water Ranch one of the 10 best all-inclusive resorts in the world for the second year in a row.

Drowsy Water Ranch is an all-inclusive dude ranch in Granby, Colo., located 70 miles west of Denver. The Ranch, a member of the Grand County Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association, the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Assn., and the Dude Ranchers Assn. earned the No. 4 ranking on the TripAdvisor 2011 Travelers’ Choice® awards list this year. The ranch is the only U.S. resort among the top 10 resorts on the list.

The annual TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards, now in their ninth year, honor the world’s best hotels, and earn their distinction from those who know the lodging properties best: real travelers. Unlike other hotel awards programs, the TripAdvisor awards are based on millions of unbiased reviews and opinions posted at www.tripadvisor.com and content from across the Web.

“With the help of millions of travelers around the globe, TripAdvisor recognizes the world’s most outstanding hotels,” says Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. “From the best bargain hotels to best luxury hotels, remarkable service, value and quality are the hallmarks of the Travelers’ Choice winners.”

For TripAdvisor reviews on the Drowsy Water Ranch, visit http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-cAllInclusive. For the complete 2011 Travelers’ Choice list, see www.tripadvisor.com/travelerschoice.

TripAdvisor® (www.tripadvisor.com)

TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site, offering trusted advice from real travelers, and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and TripAdvisor Trip Friends) with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor® Media Group, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts more than 50 million unique monthly visitors across 17 popular travel brands.

TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 40 million unique monthly visitors, 20 million members, and over 40 million reviews and opinions. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Group are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).

Drowsy Water Ranch (www.drowsywater.com)

Drowsy Water Ranch, a member of the Grand County Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association (www.dude-ranch.com), is a 600-acre, all-inclusive dude ranch. The ranch, nestled in its own private mountain valley 70 miles west of Denver, has provided visitors from around the world authentic western vacations for more than 75 years.

Tags: Colorado Ranch, drowsy Water, Trip Advisor
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Guest Testimonial of the Week

August 6th, 2010 by Kim @ The DRA

Here are a few great guest reviews that we found on TripAdvisor that I thought I would share with you…

Price Canyon Ranch Arizona

“Welcoming service, beautiful accommodations, awesome views, great rides!”

Mar 19, 2010
Trip type: Friends getaway

The moment we drove up the winding road to this jewel of a ranch, my buddies and I knew we had picked the right place for a de-compression week from the stress of the business world! Greeted warmly by Price Canyon’s staff, we began 4 phenomenal days of rides, relaxation, great meals and camaraderie. Though the trip was made some time ago, my ribs still ache from the laughter we enjoyed – not just amongst ourselves, but with the ranch’s host, cook and cowboys – all of whom went out of their way to make us feel like family. Among our four guys were riders of varying experience, but Randy found ways to ensure everyone of us could enjoy the challenge – whether it was navigating thick brush, climbing rocky peaks, driving cattle, loping in wide-open pastures, or barrel racing in the rodeo pen. You can bet that all of us were well-tired at the end of each day. But none would miss the fabulous dinner that awaited us every evening (the third of three hearty, delicious meals each day)! Of course, there’s nothing better than an open fire-pit around which to regale the days events, especially with the Chiricahua mountain range and billion-star sky as the backdrop. If you live in the city or suburbs, you have no idea what a REAL starry sky looks like until you experience this one! None of us had ever seen anything like it!! Slowly, we acknowledged that we must get some sleep, so off we went – usually one by one – to our own beautifully appointed rooms, each tastefully decorated as if it were a suite at a 5-star resort! Then up again, bright and early for breakfast and morning rides. As you might imagine, we hated to leave – and we’ll definitely be back. Kudos and thanks to the Kemmerly family and their team for creating this rare treat!

Date of stay October 2008
Visit was for Leisure
Traveled with With Friends

“I cried when I left…but was back four months later for more PC bliss”

Rancho de los Caballeros Arizona

“More than We Expected!!!”

Wow! I think that is a good way to start. I suprised my wife with a two night; three day stay at the Ranch thinking that we would get bored if we stayed any longer…I was wrong. We vacation two to three times a year and I have to say this was one vacation that I wished I would have booked more time on.
From the moment we arrived we were greeted like regular guests and we found the location; amenities and activities outstanding. We did the all inclusive meals and we stayed in the large suites. The suite was very spacious and centrally located to all the activities. The breakfast; lunch and dinners were very good. The pool area is clean and the water is kept a a refreshing and crisp temperature. We did the 10:00 am 2 hour horseback ride through the desert. The views from all around are outstanding. The guide was very hepful and we were able to gitty-up on the horses through several spots throughout our desert ride.

My wife had a massage at the SPA which she really enjoyed. I played 9 holes on the golf course. The course layout is great; holes are challenging and the views are spectacular! We hung out at the Saloon in the evenings after dinner to chat with the locals and the bar staff. Music played and we had a great evening each night. We also hiked the Vulcher moutain peak and did the trap shooting with Cowboy Bob.

We are going back soon with our two kids. The trip from Phoenix Airport is a smooth 1 hour and 15 minutes. You will not be disappointed with this place.

Echo Valley Ranch & Spa British Columbia, Canada

June 6, 2010
Trip type: Family

The Echo Valley spa is one of those places you want to tell everyone about, but at the same time hope that it keeps its charm as a secluded getaway. The ranch is located in a gorgeous valley of the Southern Chilcotin region. The views from all around are breathtaking. The amenities are exceptional. The architecture is amazing (especially the authentic Ban Tai spa with exquisitely detailed carved moldings. The food is out of this world! Delicious! – prepared by their own multi-award winning chef.

The ranch also has its own ‘battalion’ of well-mannered border collies, who will befriend you and attend to you on your walks around the ranch. And, as if this were not enough, the staff are without exception, some of the friendliest most welcoming people you will ever meet.

Date of stay June 2010
Visit was for Leisure
Traveled with Family with Young Children

Tags: adventure vacation, all-inclusive, Arizona Dude Ranch, Canadian Dude Ranch, Testimonial of the Week
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Lost Valley Ranch Receives 34th Consecutive AAA Four-Diamond Award

June 28th, 2010 by Kim @ The DRA

Congratulations to DRA Ranch Member, Lost Valley Ranch in Sedalia Colorado! Western dude ranch hospitality at it’s best!

For the 34th consecutive year, Lost Valley Ranch – Colorado’s premier dude ranch and family vacation destination – has been awarded the prestigious Four-Diamond Award from the American Automobile Association (AAA). Less than three percent of the 58,000 properties approved by AAA achieve this designation, representing the “best of the best” throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

In addition, Lost Valley Ranch is one of just three lodging properties in Colorado, and the only ranch in the state, to receive the AAA Four-Diamond status every single year since the rating system was introduced in 1977.

“We’re delighted that our brand of Western hospitality and tradition of excellence has been recognized for the 34th year in a row,” said Bob Foster, owner of Lost Valley Ranch. “From the kitchen to the cabins, from the corral to evening entertainment and especially with our staff, we work hard to set the standard exceed guest expectations. This honor confirms that dedication and commitment, something we are extremely proud of.”

To be considered for AAA rating and approval, properties are evaluated for overall quality, range of facilities and level of services. Judging criteria is broad and includes everything from the size of the resort to regional architectural style and design.

Lost Valley Ranch offers one-, two- and three-bedroom cabins featuring mountain-side views and deluxe accommodations. Privately situated among the pines, each cabin includes a stone fireplace, a shaded porch with lounge swings and traditional western décor with authentic designer furnishings.

About Lost Valley Ranch

Lost Valley Ranch, Colorado’s premier dude ranch, provides a guest ranch experience for adults and families, including the best of the West activities: horseback riding, cattle round-ups, swimming, fishing, hiking and more of the great outdoors. Situated an hour and a half from Denver, Lost Valley Ranch is recognized as the only Colorado ranch to receive AAA’s Four Diamond rating for 34 consecutive years. To learn more, please call 303.647.2311 or visit www.lostvalleyranch.com.

Tags: Activities, added value, adventure vacation, all-inclusive, colorado dude ranch, In The News, Things to know about Dude Ranch Vacations
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Bar Lazy J Ranch Video Testimonial

June 8th, 2010 by Kim @ The DRA

Tags: Activities, adventure vacation, all-inclusive, colorado dude ranch, Ranch Videos, Testimonial of the Week
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Guest Testimonials of the Week

May 25th, 2010 by Kim @ The DRA

Bar W Guest Ranch, Whitefish, Montana

“Our visit to the Bar W was two-fold. Firstly it has been a lifelong dream to visit Montana after years of writing to a pen pal here as child. Secondly it was to overcome a fear of horse riding as a result of a near fatal accident n the UK. Our visit here has met all our expectations, dreams and more! The careful management of the ranch by Ted is evident in all his people show have a “can do” attitude at all times (with safely and fun built in at all times). A special mention must go to Dave whom without I don’t believe I would have trusted myself to overcome my fears and enjoy the rest of the week. Thank you Dave! We would like to give special mention to Mandy who is not only a talented rider but a beautiful photographer and talented girl. Justin we thank for his manner and caring smile. James we thank for his fun and taking us on trails that needed to be ridden. Steve we thank for his kindness and genuine interest in people. Leah we thank for showing us some of the most stunning scenery in the world and her caring nature. Above all I must thank Blue Duck for taking care of me and restoring my faith in horses, they are God’s special creatures. If I could pack him in my suitcase I would take that gentleman home! Thank you all for a super holiday. We will be back.” I wrote this in 2007 and indeed did return to the Bar W in 2009 to experience the Cowgirl Up for the first time. In life we are taught never to go back as it may not live up to our memories, however, coming back here has broken that myth! The 2009 holiday afforded me time with friends, old (met at the Bar W in 2007) and new, fabulous riding thanks to Buster and as expected professional and knowledgeable staff whom have truly been a pleasure to interact with especially as they predict our needs before we even know we have any! I will be back!!! Thank you to everyone at Bar W! The Bar W in Montana is a little piece of heaven and I thoroughly recommend you visit soon. Pauline, Scotland, UK

Kay El Bar Ranch, Wickenburg, Arizona

The Most relaxing place on Earth, Kay El Bar we’ll be back – My Wife and I had our second visit to the KL last year. It was like coming home. Everyone is so friendly, Guests and Staff. It is like one big family. The rides are amazing and tailored to your ability and what you would like. Fast paced loping ride or a long scenic mountain hike. All day ride with lunch overlooking fabulous canyons. Nothing is too much trouble the wranglers are great fun but professional too. The food is amazing, simple home cooking with family style seating discussing the rides and views and enjoying being relaxed. You don’t need to think for the week you can just … be….and at the end of the day the sumptuous bed just floats you off to dreams of being a cowboy. Ready and refreshed more of the same. Not once did I want to see a TV, Phone or Newspaper, nor did I ever want to again. I could seriously live that life. Our second visit will NOT be our last. I seriously cannot stress how stress free a visit here is. It is well worth the 11hour flight in fact it is a positive bargain when you feel that stress just pour away into laughter. Thank you Kay El Bar. Daniel, West Sussex, England.

Spotted Horse Ranch, Jackson, Wyoming

Well I just returned from our trip out west with my daughter, son-in-law and my husband, I’m thankful we ended our final day of our vacation at the Spotted Horse Ranch. If we would have started our vacation at the ranch we would have not left to our other locations. The personal treated you like family, we where there only for a few days and felt we knew these people forever. The was a little of something for all of us. I am not a horse person but did go out riding a few times and was amazed at the view and how well the horses responded. We went whitewater rafting, hot springs swim, fly fishing which is more my thing, ate wonderful food and enjoyed entertainment in the evening at their private Saloon. I have been telling everyone about it and can’t wait to return, but this time for the full week. If you haven’t tried a dude ranch, this is the place, you will not be disappointed. Sincerely, Kathy Rader, Kenosha, WI.

Drowsy Water Ranch, Granby, Colorado

I have been to Drowsy Water Ranch five times and can’t wait to get back this spring. I have taken several different friends with me, including my 82 year old aunt, and they all loved it. The valley is beautiful, the owners are so nice, and the staff goes out of their way to help you. Not only do you get to ride great horses, but you can go white water rafting, eat breakfast on the mountain top, square dance, hike in some of the most beautiful areas, kids can catch trout (and then eat them if they want to), wade in a mountain stream, see all kinds of wildlife, eat great meals (I gain 5 or 6 pounds every year), and so many more great things that I would have to write a whole page. They make you feel at home the whole time you are there plus they have so many activities you never miss the television or telephone. I especially would recommend Drowsy Water for folks with children. They have a wonderful children’s program with activities for all ages. I have seen so many happy first time riders, young and old. It is amazing what they can do for beginners in just a week. This is a great place for a vacation and I will be going back every chance I get. Paulette, Kentucky.

Tags: Arizona Dude Ranch, colorado dude ranch, Montana Dude Ranch, Testimonial of the Week, Wyoming Dude Ranch
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