Moving horses to winter pasture
RANCH ACTIVITIES
Moving horses to winter pasture
We offer pretty simple fare - we ride, do some flyfishing, take a few overnights to the Bar-B, work horses, move some livestock, fuss around at the corrals, work with the Brood Mares and babies, and take a few cookouts. Some folks hike, some do some photography, some just sit around and read a good book. If you want to see a Ghost Town or take a day trip to Yellowstone Park, we can accommodate you. But, we think it's your vacation, and it's your decision on how you want to spend the day. If you need a tour director, folks, you're at the wrong ranch....
A typical day (some are atypical, but that's life on a ranch) starts with breakfast - served 7:30 to 8:30 . Carol will post the rides for the day, normally two half days (they leave between 9:00 and 9:30 and again at 2:00) and an all-day which leaves by 9:30 and may go up to 20 miles or more depending on the terrain and rider ability/experience. All-day riders and others (hikers, fishermen, etc.) who want a sack lunch sign up after breakfast and pick it up in "the store" on the way to the corrals or the creek. With only a few exceptions, our fish keep banker's hours so our fishermen don't have to depart at the crack of dawn. Lunch is served in the lodge from 12:30 to 1:00. The rides are back between 3:30 and 5:00 so you have time to clean up, join some friends and have a toddy if you're so inclined, and get ready for dinner, which is served from 6:30 to 7:00. After dinner we may show a video of some local attraction like Custer's Last Stand, Spike or Barbara's specials, or some similar historical fare. For those so inclined, there is always the 1890 Brunswick Pool Table. We do host a few of our infamous "Talent Shows" two or three time a year. I think our last was the 160th or so. We try for one evening cookout/dinner ride per week, weather permitting. John & Kelly's breakfast walk on Sunday morning, complete with Cajun Pancakes, is a "must do" while at the ranch. We try to take at least one trip to the Brood Mare Pasture every week, where we meet with the mares and their babies, and Sam, on their turf and become part of the herd. If there are enough folks that want to do it, we combine it with an overnight to the Bar-B and work with the yearlings and two-year-old's. If you want to learn about "horse-whispering" this is the place to do it. Carol learned from her father, Spike, before he passed away. We also have a new round corral for working the young stock - you can often watch Carol working with the twos and threes in the evening. After one session, one of the guests turned and asked "Should I clap or cheer? That was the most incredible thing I've ever seen!"
Saturday is steak fry night followed by a square dance. This is a really foot-stompin' good time. We start from "scratch" so beginners have nothing to worry about - and there are normally friendly neighbors that drop in to join us. Sunday is horse holiday (no riding - they deserve some rest, too).
A few special dates you might want to
consider:
Moving horses from
winter pasture during the first week
The Big Timber Rodeo on last weekend in June
Fourth of July Rodeo
in Harlowton (No riding on the Fourth - we have very
patriotic horses....)
Move cattle 14 miles
cross country to mountain pasture during the third week in July
The Sweet Grass County
Cutting Horse Competition the first week in August
The Sweet Grass County
4-H Fair is the second week in August
Branding baby colts
third week of August
Moving horses to
winter pasture Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day Rodeo in
White Sulpher Springs
And of course, there is always riding and repairing fence and doing chores as required, which seems like everyday....