Go on Vacation, Come Back a Cattle Herder!
Long ago, cattle roamed over wide, open land in western North America. Cowboys and cowgirls tended to herds from the southern part of the U.S. all the way north to British Columbia in Canada. They slept outside to guard the animals. They cooked food over campfires. They were some of the best horse riders around.
The days of wide roaming cattle are long gone, but that doesn’t mean the fun is over. Dude ranches have helped guests experience the cowboy and cowgirl life for more than 100 years! Even today, visiting a dude ranch means helping take care of animals, eating some of the best meals ever, and, of course, riding horses!
Horse Riding
People who lived or worked on ranches used to call people from the city “dudes.” Dude ranches were invented to show people from cities what life tending to cattle was like. On a dude ranch, visitors can have all the fun of being outdoors without any of the danger that cowboys and cowgirls faced long ago.
Horse riding is an important part of being on a dude ranch. Many people who visit dude ranches already know how to ride. But there are always lessons if a guest needs to learn.
What if you’re already an expert rider? Then maybe you can try your hand at cattle sorting.
Real ranchers have to sort cattle. They take growing calves from the adult cows. They also have to separate the cows they take to market. At White Stallion Ranch, a dude ranch in Arizona, team cattle sorting becomes a competition.
“You go in teams of four,” said Susanne Walsh, who lives and works at the White Stallion Ranch. “It’s a timed event. You ride to the other end of the arena, in and amongst all of these little steers. You try and cut one out… Cutting is the idea of taking one animal away from the herd. You can imagine it’s a little tricky… You ride in and cut out one of them. Then you and your team try to ride behind it, and it’s called ‘pushing it’— like pushing cattle — and you push it across the arena, down a little bit, and back up into an enclosure.”
The fastest team wins! It’s an exciting way to put your riding skills to the test.
Living the Outdoors Life
“We don’t have televisions in our rooms!” said Susanne. “You are here to be outdoors in the fresh air. Yourself, your friends, your family… and the beautiful environment you’re in.”
Dude ranches have many activities other than riding horses. Hiking is a fun way to see gorgeous scenery. Many ranches are also near rivers or lakes. Canoeing, rafting, and fishing are all great ways to spend time outside. Learning to cook over a campfire is another way to experience the cowboy and cowgirl life. Even if you don’t make a full meal, enjoying freshly-toasted s’mores is always a treat!
A vacation on a dude ranch is the trip of a lifetime for anyone who has ever dreamed of living the cowboy or cowgirl life!