Horseback Riding Vacation
"Horse Lovers Will Think They've Died and Gone to Heaven" says "1,000 Places to See before You Die" about the Bitterrot Ranch.
The ranch has spectacular scenery and wonderful
places for a fast paced horseback riding vacation.
Horseback riding is the main activity at our ranch where many of the horses have been raised and trained. A herd of about 135 horses under saddle for an average 25 clients makes it easy to provide suitable mounts in top condition throughout the season. Rides are kept small and guests are grouped according to skill. A family of differing experience can enjoy riding together at the speed of the least skilled or join another group more appropriate to their ability. On most days there are 2-3 hour morning and afternoon rides. All day picnic excursions on Saturdays enable you to explore the high country and most weeks there will be an opportunity to herd cattle.
Take a
video tour of the Bitterroot Ranch
This video shows highlights from the Best of America by Horseback TV
show.
Varied terrain adds enjoyment to horse riding
holidays at this equine getaway.
Trail Riding
This is an area of vast expanses offering you an exceptional variety of riding terrain. Sagebrush plains, grassy meadows and rocky canyons give way to pine clad mountains with Alpine clearings. You seldom see other people since we are 17 miles from the nearest paved road and border the Shoshone National Forest where we have a choice of many wilderness trails. Some rides wind through cottonwood and spruce trees along the river; others take you through the sagebrush of the high plains desert, where the sandy soil provides good footing for spirited canters. Still others climb up through aspen groves, which become a glorious gold in the fall. There are several abandoned settler homesteads and cowboy campsites in the area. More details on some of the rides are given on the hiking page.
Cross country jumping is an option
for experienced riders. Few dude
ranches offer this activity.
Riding Lessons
There are several certified riding instructors at the ranch. You are offered the chance to take video taped lessons at beginner and intermediate levels on two mornings a week. These lessons with a maximum of 6 guests lead to a heightened awareness and will increase your confidence and enjoyment of riding holidays.
Cross Country Course
We have a cross country course with over 80 jumps which advanced riders who have prior cross country experience can try during the week. It is not an intimidating course since no jump is more than three feet, but there are a wide variety of obstacles including ditches, drops, oxers, pickets, coops and walls. Riders are required to warm up over small jumps in the arena to make sure they will not interfere with their horse.
Herding cows is often part
of your riding adventure.
Cattle Drives
Since the Bitterroot is also a working ranch you will have the opportunity to drive cattle on our summer grazing lease in the national forest through July, August and September. The cows frequently need to be checked to be sure they have not been eaten by grizzlies or wolves and they are periodically rotated around the allotment, part of which is in the wilderness. On Friday afternoons we have a friendly team sorting competition in our arena which provides a great introduction to working cattle from horseback.
Rides are exciting and include some
long canters, but the emphasis is on
safety at the Bitterroot.
Ride Safety
Your safety is of vital concern to us. We keep rides small, carefully match horses to riders, see that people of similar skills ride together and train ride leaders carefully. We insist that everyone wear a hard hat and our trail guides carry mobile phones to summon help in case it is needed. For more detailed information about our opinions on horse safety, read the article on the subject by Bayard Fox.
Tack
Our horses are trained Western so they are used to neck reining and going on a loose rein. We mostly use Western saddles, but there are English saddles available for those who prefer them and have an independent seat and hands. We are very careful to check that the saddles fit each horse well and we are happy to share our expertise in this area with anyone who is interested.
You can go high into spectacular
mountain scenery in a day’s horseback ride
from the ranch
Owner Participation
The Fox Family feels that the quality of our equestrian program is of paramount importance; therefore Mel, Bayard, Hadley and Richard lead rides personally nearly every day, which shows their dedication.
Audio Podcast: Mel talks with Anna Twinney about her youth riding on her family farm at the foot of Kilimanjaro.
Copyright© 1999 - 2010 Equitours
- Selecting the Right
Dude Ranch -
- Equestrian Programs
Bitterroot Ranch
1480 East Fork Rd
Dubois, WY 82513
800.545.0019
307.455.3363
Fax: 307.455.2354
Contact Us
Bayard's book about this part of Wyoming
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FRANÇAIS Vacances à Cheval |
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DEUTSCH Reiterreisen |
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Approved by the Certified Horsemanship Association. -
Approved by the
British Horse Society. - Bitterroot Site Map
- Resources
Licensed Permittee of the
Shoshone National Forest.-
