TRAVEL SPECIAL PROMOTION If horses are in your blood, wide-open Western spaces make your heart happy and WESTERN you dream of vacationing in horse country, don’t miss Western Horseman’s collection of VACATION travel destinations, events and clinics. To get you started, here’s an overview of some ROUNDUP great getaway options. Top 5 Vacation Ideas for Horse People Backcountry Excursions (outfitters, trail rides, etc.) These types of vacations offer the best scenery that the West has to offer. You can soak up the peace and solitude at the cabins at 1 southwestern New Mexico’s Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch. For camping or cabin accommodations in the West, don’t miss Montana’s 7 Lazy P Outfitters and Utah’s Hondoo Rivers and Trails. Many of these destinations boast breathtaking scenery in National Parks best expe- rienced by horseback, such as the Bob Marshall Wilderness (7 Lazy P Outfitting), Bryce Canyon National Park (Ruby’s Horseback Adventures), Gila National Forest (Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch) and Capitol Reef National Park (Hondoo Rivers and Trails). Some vacation trips traverse multiple national parks, like the Red Rock Ride and Sombrero Ranches Horse Drive. To find a dude or guest ranch, don’t miss the locations curated by the Dude Ranchers’ Association. Cowboy Towns (historic towns and their attractions, such as museums) History and community merge in some parts of the West, offering visitors a slice of a bygone era. Towns such as Wickenburg, 2 Arizona, offer something for horse lovers, shoppers, outdoorsmen and history buffs alike. And Wickenburg is home to the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, which hosts events including the Cowgirl Up! Western Art Show. Horsemanship Clinics If your ideal vacation means brushing up on your horsemanship skills, many of the destinations listed here offer that chance. For 3 example, Peter Campbell Horsemanship Clinics in Wyoming are designed to take you to the next level with your horse, whether it is green or finished, dressage-trained or a cutter. Western Events (rodeos, art and gear shows, festivals, gatherings) You can plan your vacation around special Western events for a chance to gather with tack or art enthusiasts. Events such as the 4 Cowgirl Up! Art Show, Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and Trappings of Texas gear and art show, and the Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo offer attendees the chance to meet artisans and have an opportunity to purchase truly special pieces. Working Ranch Vacations Some vacations offer guests the experience of a real working ranch—nothing touristy about it. We’ve included Rowse’s 1+1 Ranch as 5 a great option for such a trip. You’ll feel a part of the family as you contribute to the daily tasks of running the ranch. You’ll leave rejuve- nated, with a new respect for the ranching lifestyle. 86 WESTERN HORSEMAN FEBRUARY 2017 WHMMG_170200_086_SAS.indd 86 12/19/16 10:21:05 AM OF TEXAS by Herman Walker by Water Break Water Custom Cowboy Gear and Western Art Opening Weekend April 20-22, 2017 Museum of the Big Bend Alpine, Texas In The Heart of the Big Bend! Thursday, April 20 Preview & Party Friday, April 21 Grand Opening Exhibit, Sale & Reception Saturday, April 22 Ranch Round Up 432.837.8143 • www.museumofthebigbend.com Sul Ross State University Hotels book rapidly – Make your reservation today MEMBER THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM™ 136339-XX-10.inddWHMMG_170200_078-087.inddMOBB_2017Trap_FullPgAd_WH_121516.indd 1 87 1 12/16/1612/16/1612/15/16 10:21:58 9:55:26 5:04 AMPM SPECIAL PROMOTION DESTINATIONS been ranching in the same area for six great views and lots of “hoodoos”—or generations. Guests become true ranchers rock formations—in orange and cream 7 Lazy P Outfitting and friends to the couple while experiencing colors. Other rides retrace some of the Choteau, Montana everyday ranch life. From driving and routes used by the famous outlaw Butch Website: 7lazyp.com sorting cattle aboard well-trained Quarter Cassidy. On the all-day ride, you will see Contact: 406-466-2245; [email protected] Horses, to doctoring and looking for that lost one of the first hideouts used by Cassidy. stray in the thick junipers, you’ll be involved While in the Bryce Canyon area, let Nestled in the forest on Montana’s in exactly what the ranchers are doing. You’ll Ruby’s Horseback Adventures be your Rocky Mountain Front, 7 Lazy P perform these vital ranching duties aboard a source of adventure and make memories Outfitting offers visitors peace and horse that’s yours for the duration of your that will last a lifetime. Check out Ruby’s solitude. Facilities include five quaint stay. The visit is enhanced for guests with Horseback Adventures on Facebook. guest cabins and a historic lodge. Guests delicious home-cooked meals taken with stay in these accommodations prior to the ranchers in their home. Dude Ranchers’ Association backcountry trips to the Bob Marshall Jerry and Tammy’s son Kyle and his wife, Website: duderanch.org Wilderness, as well as the night they Traci, also work on the ranch. Guests are Contact: [email protected]; return from the mountains. limited to a small number of adults, so you 866-399-2339 Owned and run by Dusty and Danelle won’t get lost in the crowd. As a guest, you’ll Crary, the 7 Lazy P can host special be thrown into the ranching lifestyle from Find your perfect vacation through events at the ranch, such as family day one of your stay, allowing you to truly Dude Ranchers’ Association. Since 1926, gatherings, retreats and meetings. Guests live the ranching experience. You’ll enjoy the association has curated the best are well cared for by the 7 Lazy P crew, genuine hospitality from the open, friendly dude and guest ranches in the West. The and are made to feel part of the family. ranch folks in the community. Guests more than 100 ranches listed on the The operation focuses on summer traverse wide-open range in the Nebraska association’s website undergo a rigorous backcountry pack trips to iconic Sandhills, one of four remaining regional membership process that includes destinations in the “Bob,” with an intact temperate grasslands in the world. inspection and adherence to the additional season of fall hunting. Pack-in association’s values. You can quickly find archery hunts, bugle-season rifle hunts, Ruby’s Horseback Adventures all the information you need—including and ranch and private land hunting Bryce Canyon City, Utah reviews—on the site. The organization opportunities are also available. Website: horserides.net has added three new member ranches The Bob is 2 million acres of wild Contact: 866-782-0002; this year. country with no motor vehicles allowed. [email protected] For an unplugged vacation for your Access is limited to those on foot or whole family, consider visiting a dude or horseback. To be immersed in such a Ruby’s Horseback Adventures guides guest ranch. Ideal for riders of all levels, special place on the back of a horse with a trail riders though some of the most scenic these types of destinations have horses to string of mules packing all the gear, and led areas around Bryce Canyon National Park. match everyone’s ability. Options include by a top-notch crew, makes a trip with 7 The company features a four-day horse- breakfast rides, fast rides, wine and Lazy P Outfitting unforgettable. Passionate back ride with nightly campfire cookouts cheese rides, all-day rides and half-day horse people will quickly recognize and and entertainment, and deluxe lodging at rides. At some ranches you get the appreciate the care and level of stockman- the Best Western Bryce Canyon Grand opportunity to work cattle and hone your ship that 7 Lazy P upholds. The company’s Hotel. The Bryce Canyon area has miles of horsemanship skills. stock is seasoned, well cared for and horseback riding trails, and Ruby’s Dude and guest ranches are located in appointed with excellent equipment. Horseback Adventures is a great way to some of the most pristine, spectacular Guests receive thorough horsemanship experience the park. country in the West. You can choose training and can build on it during the trip Riders can bring their own horses and scenic mountain rides or vast open if they desire. Hearty, wholesome meals are camp, or stay in the hotel. Horse boarding meadows, or meander along a creek provided to guests and include the faculties are available and included in the bottom. You can find exactly what you’re company’s own home-raised grass-fed beef price of the ride. Ruby’s also has horses searching for in a riding program, and and local products. available for rent. some ranches pair you with one horse Ruby’s Horseback Adventures is located for the entire trip, allowing you to bond Rowses’ 1+1 Ranch at the entrance to Bryce Canyon National at a greater level. With a dude and guest Burwell, Nebraska Park. Visitors can stay in one of the area’s ranch vacation, you can personalize Website: 1plus1ranch.com three hotels and visit four restaurants and your experience. Contact: 308-346-5530; a general store. Horses can be boarded at Dude and guest ranch vacations have [email protected] an 18-stall horse motel. With rodeos four something for everyone, even the nights a week from Memorial Day through non-riders of the group. Dining at a dude If you’re looking for a vacation where August, you’ll have lots of entertainment ranch can range from home-style cooking you have real riding freedom and a chance options.