Bitterroot Ranch

While I was giving thanks this Thanksgiving weekend, I remembered that I hadn't written you a thank you note…since you were included in my thoughts, I figured I better sit down and drop you a letter.

I still beam when I tell, or attempt to tell, others about my experience at Bitterroot Ranch. I still find it hard to put into words, where do I start? There are so many reasons why the week I spent at your ranch moved me (just think how I would feel if I did indeed get me a cowboy!). I usually start by saying it was one of the most incredible experiences in my life…How do you explain to someone the intoxicating smell of wild sage covering the mountains, the exhilaration of wind and mud in your face as you gallop across the fields, the pride I felt when we found our first nine cows and moved them to the bigger herd…I remember the trust I had in mine and the other horses that they would take us safely up the mountains where the terrain was rocky and steep…we went places that I didn't think humans could go, let alone on horseback! The fear I had when Casey and I got separated from Sam and then I got separated from Casey… Whew! I was a bit nervous, I really felt how small I was and how big the wilderness is (even if we were only separated for a few minutes). The sense of camaraderie and teamwork that I gained with my fellow horsemen during the day, the new friendships I formed and the laughter and stories I shared in the evenings.

I wasn't sure what to expect when my trainer Stacia first told me about the Cattle Round-Up in the spring. It was something new that no one in our group had ever done before. All I knew is I love being around horses and the idea of a vacation on horseback and being a part of a cattle drive was enough for me. Being an English rider, I went out and bought chaps, paddock boots, rain gear, even a cowboy hat. Everyone joked about us being "City Slickers", which I guess we deserved going into it, but little did I know just how much we would be working! My family joked that I was paying to do work, but let me tell you, I think it is the best money I have spent. Absolutely invaluable. I can't wait to do it again.

The fresh air, clear skies, the creek that ran through the ranch, the vast open spaces, the dark night sky that was littered with stars so incredibly bright…We don't get these things living in Los Angeles, and every day was a reminder that I was truly in God's country.

By the end of most vacations I am ready to come home. Not this one. It was very sad to watch the last cows get on the truck and drive away, that meant our job was done and we would be leaving. We were all very quiet on the way home, reflecting on the week and what it all meant to each of us. I became a much stronger and more confident rider, and I certainly looked at my horse Ody differently when we got back. I was amazed at your horses, so well behaved and in such great shape! The endurance these animals have is incredible. I credit you for taking such good care of these guys and informing us on how to be the kind of riders you needed us to be. Yes, I was a bit nervous at first--our evaluation--I thought I was a good rider, but quickly found out how little I knew when it came to western riding. These were a different set of rules we had to follow -- and I quickly learned why. We normally sit one hour a day on our horses in a nice soft arena and you ask them to carry us all day long up and down mountains, over creeks and through forests. You know what is best for them, so thank you for helping us learn to ride them correctly. They really took care of us!

So once again from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank You for sharing your ranch, your home, with those of us who would never have the opportunity to have such an experience anywhere else. I would come back in a heartbeat, and I hope to see you next year!

Susan Burig
Burbank, California