• Dana Priest, a Pulitzer prize winning journalist, captures the spirit of a dude ranch vacation riding at the Bitterroot Ranch for the Washington Post.

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FRANÇAIS
Vacances à Cheval

DEUTSCH
Reiterreisen

Approved by the Certified Horsemanship Association.

Approved by the
British Horse Society
for riding holidays.

Bitterroot Dude Ranch

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I feel at home if I come as a single?  -  Many of our guests are single people and they usually make friends quickly at the ranch.  Those who come here often have much in common with one another and a love of horses is a great ice breaker.   

What preparations should I make before coming?  -  If your main focus is riding, the more you can practice before coming, the farther you will progress while you are here and you will feel more comfortable.  Those who are physically fit and not overweight have an advantage. 

If I am not a very experienced rider, is this the right place for me?  -  Since we split our rides into four of five different groups according to skill, riders at any level can be accommodated.  Anyone who likes horses and wants to improve riding skills is most welcome and should feel at home here.      

If I have a spouse or friend who is not particularly interested in riding, will they be happy at the Bitterroot?  -  People who are interested in hiking, fly fishing, or just reading and relaxing in beautiful country can enjoy themselves.  Our location is quite remote so if they want many opportunities for shopping, tennis courts and heated swimming pools they will be disappointed.  There is a nine hole golf course 45 minutes away by car.

I have diet restrictions.  Can you accommodate them?  -  The food we serve is extremely varied and our cooks are willing to prepare special dishes.  Vegetarians are usually happy with our normal meals. 

I have younger children who will not ride all day.  Will they enjoy themselves? - Most children really enjoy the foals, dogs and the many other domestic animals and birds we have here.  They also enjoy the sense of freedom and ability to wander anywhere without danger of traffic or strange people.  Many of them enjoy fishing. 

The wranglers will take them on short rides, but we do not have other special programs for children.  Arrangements can usually be made to get baby sitters in the afternoons if they are needed.  We have a VCR and some movies for children and also a good selection of children’s books. 

I am interested in taking an international horseback riding vacation.  Is this a good place for me to prepare? - Absolutely; many of our guests have already been on trips around the world and others are considering them.  We can evaluate and improve your riding skills here and give you a good idea of what to expect on various trips.