So, You Want to Own Your Own Ranch!

This dream you're having is not as surprising as you might think. Usually, we hear it while we eat the evening meal. Guests have been horseback riding all day with a mission. The energy level is still sky-high. It's been an exciting day looking for uncooperative cows. The horses have worked flawlessly. The riding challenge has been successfully met, the job rewarding. The confidence level has reached a new high. Hesitatingly, someone asks: "Alan, Debbie ... ...

The stables are part of Smoke Tree Ranch, which has been an established destination in the desert for over sixty years, and welcomes both beginning and advanced riders, who want to observe the desert flora and fauna on horseback.

With an average of 350 sunny days each year and a variety of activities, Palm Springs is a top vacation destination. While on vacation with a friend's family, I was eager to ride.

As I headed down the desolate road toward the ranch, I initially drove right past the handwritten ... ...

As Lead Cowboy for almost seven years, I sat atop some of the finest bred American Quarter Horses that ever breathed air, and interpreted the history of Texas, and the George Ranch to thousands every year. As the crowds looked on, we also demonstrated life as the cowboy does it - in full partnership with his horses. They began to realize the prize that the combination of a great cowboy with a great cowhorse made for the rancher, and how much work could get done in a day’s time with such. The equation ... ...

Cowboy luxury

Our few days at the Bar W Ranch in Whitefish, Montana offered surprising experiences at every turn. First was the lodge. This wasn't a rustic mountain lodge, by any means. It was originally a luxurious home, nestled on a 100 acre state of the art Arabian horse ranch, with its own private lake that backed up to a 3200 acre state park, and thousands of national forest acreage just a trailer ride away. We had the master suite with a Jacuzzi tub that overlooked the pastures, pine forests ... ...

Riding at the ranch is diverse. We headed through fields of tall grass and mesquite trees, towards hills of oaks and up to a point where you had great views of the Brazos and Cooper Rivers. There's a lot of history in the area relating to Native Americans, 1920's wildcatters looking for oil and the early frontiersmen who lived and worked here in Texas. You still ride by old oil tanks that are sprinkled throughout this part of Texas.

I am enjoying the fact that everything is bigger in Texas here,by ... ...

I went on a day ride with Lou, a Welsh wrangler who rode a Quarter Horse named Sonny, and Dale, an Oklahoma steer wrestler turned Texas wrangler who rode his wonderful horse Poncho. If nothing else, experienced riders can enjoy some nice, fast gallops at the ranch.

After a big, hearty breakfast of breakfast burritos, eggs, bacon, sausage, homemade banana bread, coffee and fresh fruit, we headed over to the barn. I was able to try a couple of horses before we chose Linus. My first horse was having ... ...