Horseback Riding Vacations
After 70 years of riding horses and half of that time spent in actively leading and organizing horseback riding vacations I decided it was time to begin a blog to discuss and explain the wonderful adventures with horses which are now available around the world. There are some serious misconceptions and myths out there which diminish one’s chances of finding the most appropriate adventure. My name is Bayard Fox and I own Equitours, America’s oldest and largest horseback riding vacation company. My wife, Mel, our son, Richard, and I also own the Bitterroot Ranch in Wyoming where we have about 175 horses of different types and raise and train purebred Arabians.
Rating Riding Programs at Dude Ranches
A huge problem with enjoyable riding in most parts of America is highways, fences, housing developments, paved roads, traffic and the loss of rights-of way for riders. The Rocky Mountain region is the logical place to turn since it is natural, healthy horse country with spectacular scenery and wide open spaces. The trouble is that out there the places to ride are dude ranches and among many equestrians “dude ranch” evokes a folksy, pseudo Western atmosphere where the main features are cook outs, square dances, hay rides, Marlboro hats and heated swimming pools and the managers expect their clients to have minimal riding experience. Certainly there are plenty of places which fit this image, but there are also many which can provide a first rate riding vacation on excellent horses.
So how do you tell which ones can offer some good riding and which don’t since most ranches claim they have great riding programs? One question to ask is, “Do the owners ride with their guests or do they figure they have more important things to do?” It shows how they rate the importance of the riding program. Another question is, “Do they have their own horses or do they rent them for the season?” Rental horses vary from year to year and are of uncertain quality. Another vital question is, “Do they keep riding groups small and arrange them according to ability?” Otherwise experienced riders will not be able to move out at a good pace without terrifying and endangering the inexperienced. A question of paramount importance for riders is, “What is the ratio of horses to riders?” In my opinion two horses per rider are a minimum if they are catering to good riders. One horse could not possibly hold up well and give a good ride throughout a four or five month season for five or six hours per day.
For a more in depth discussion of this topic go to Choosing the Right Ranch.