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Black Hills Ranch (Wyoming)

Overview

This is a genuine working ranch set in the Black Hills of North East Wyoming - a very beautiful area known for its beauty and the variety of wildlife to be seen. It converts from timbered canyon country to creek bottom meadows to grass prairie. A variety of wildlife lives, feeds and reproduces in t…

Highlights

  • Experience a genuine working ranch with Black Angus
  • Get involved with ranch work such as calving or roundup
  • Ride through beautiful hills, creeks and meadows
  • Stay in a simple pine lodge with small groups of guests
  • Join your hosts for plentiful Western style meals

Essential Facts

  • 1 itinerary available
  • Max 15 riders per group
  • Average of 3 - 8 hours riding per day
  • Weight limit: 95kg / 209 lbs / 14 st 13 lbs

Description

This is a genuine working ranch set in the Black Hills of North East Wyoming - a very beautiful area known for its beauty and the variety of wildlife to be seen. It converts from timbered canyon country to creek bottom meadows to grass prairie. A variety of wildlife lives, feeds and reproduces in the greatest abundance on the edge where one environment changes to the next.

For many years the ranch has welcomed guests who love the ranch life. Guests (seldom more than six to eight people at a time) can join the ranch life like a part of the crew - in the house, in the corrals, on the pastures, while helping the neighbours, or in the local saloon in the next town.

The ranch breeds Black Angus and they run 2,000 Black Angus cattle including heifers. The ranch work is seasonal but guests are invited to participate from April to October with calving, branding, 'round-ups' and even breaking in horses. They have an outdoor arena that is used for team penning and roping steers.

There is a very relaxed atmosphere and no strict routine and guests can do as much or as little riding as they want. Your hosts are extremely helpful and will take you to rodeos, nearby farms and even to go shopping. Usually there is one non-riding day scheduled during the week for visiting local sites, such as Devils Tower, or perhaps to attend a rodeo.

Horses & Riding

Tack

All tack used is Western which is particularly well adapted for long hours in the saddle and for working with cattle.

Horses

Most of the horses at the ranch are American Quarter Horses which have been bred and raised there. However, you will also meet some paints, mustangs and cross breeds too. All the horses are selected for their ability to remain calm, level headed and strong around cattle, but also for their amazing stamina and willingness to work for long hours each day.

Riding

There is 1 itinerary:

  • Black Hills Ranch (Wyoming) is a based ride

Ages

The minimum age for riders is 10 years. Those aged between 10-18 years must be accompanied by an adult or guardian. Children must wear a helmet and body protector (not provided).

Health

General good health and fitness are recommended to make the most of this ranch stay. The days in the saddle can be long and the work is often very active and hands-on.

Weight

95kg / 209 lbs / 14 st 13 lbs

Food & Accommodation

Food

The food here is substantial. Food here is Western style with BBQs, homemade cake and plenty of vegetables. There is often pasta for lunch due to the Italian heritage of the ranch owners. Dinners are three courses and breakfast is a help yourself buffet taken at your leisure.

Accommodation

The ranch is situated in a landscape north east of Wyoming and has been welcoming guests for many years. Whilst the staff live in the the old ranch house, the guests have use of a lovely decorated pine lodge with eight simply furnished bedrooms each with their own bathroom.

There is also a cabin for two people with its own bathroom ideal for couples. The guest saloon has a fireplace with a pool table, a football table and has a real western feel to it with western art decorating the log home. There is also a shop on site where it is possible to buy some Western gear.

Itineraries

Black Hills Ranch (Wyoming) Standard accommodation.

Other Activities

Clearly the accent here is on ranch life which is seasonal - in April the calves are born, in May/June they are branded. July and August are lazy months - perhaps an escaped steer to round up or a small cattle drive to another pasture.

Whilst not on the back of a horse, you may like to visit a rodeo or a horse auction in a neighbouring town. From here you can visit a national monument known as the Devils Tower or Mount Rushmore which is an hour and a half's drive away. Your hosts are very happy to take you shopping!

You can also swim or fish in the lake

There is much wildlife to see here - deer, antelope, coyote, racoon, marmot, beaver, prairie dog, eagle and turkey. Your hosts are happy to take guests sightseeing.

Travel

Set-time group transfers from Rapid City Airport, South Dakota, are included on Wednesdays and Saturdays for those staying at the ranch for a week or longer.

Pick-up at the airport will be between the hours of 3 pm - 8 pm.
Drop-off at the airport will be between the hours of 10 am - 3 pm.

All guests will be met when their flight lands and taken to the western store to wait for later arrivals (as needed). The group transfers will only leave for the ranch once all guests scheduled that day have been safely met.

Transfers on other days of the week are available at a supplementary charge. Pickup times will again be between the same hours as the included transfers (above). Outside of these times, you should use a local airport shuttle company (arranged and paid locally). You will need to confirm with us that a transfer will be available for you on these other days if you would like to book it.

Check-in at the ranch is from 5 pm on arrival day. Check-out is by 11 am on departure day.

Testimonials

Shawn H., Oct. 25, 2022

Great riding, not trail riding but out in the fields really enjoying life and the countryside. We did some cow moving and sheep moving which made it real. The property is a working ranch and everyday you could be part of the operation. The views are something you cannot imagine until you experience this location. Barbara, Ferdinano and Robbie are amazing. You feel at home at the ranch and not just like a visitor. Comfortable beds, lots of pillows and great, hot showers. The food was outstanding and in no shortage. Beautiful horses, different levels of spirited horses so they matched with the riders.


Steph P., Sept. 12, 2022

Amazing. Trip of a lifetime. Perfect. Ferdinando and the ranch staff were AMAZING. Accommodation was nothing more than needed - perfectly simple and the food was INCREDIBLE.


Kathleen G., Sept. 28, 2021

We had a wonderful time! Danny and I were the only riding guests. Fernando, Robbie, Alfredo, and Zach allowed us into their ranch lives. We got to ride every day, chase a llama (yes, it really happened), wrangle two studs and their mares, move cattle, move sheep, visit Devil’s Tower and Mount Rushmore!


Maëlle G., Sept. 20, 2021

I had an amazing time! Apart from the first day, I was the only guest at the ranch, meaning I spent most of my time with the owners and team there. This made me feel extremely privileged and created a strong sense of belonging, as if amongst long-time friends. It also allowed me to have a lot of flexibility and say in the type of rides I would go on every day, with only one from the ranch’s team. The quarter horses were amazing rides and had at least as much fun as I had, which says a lot about their well-being. I am looking forward to going back there next year!


Meredith D., June 30, 2021

Loved being at the ranch with the owner Roberto & riding guide Heiko. Very authentic experience & had the option of being very involved with the ranch activities. Food was great. Enjoyed having meals together. The experience was very inclusive! Accommodation was authentic & cosy.


Anne B, June 26, 2009

Fabulous holiday, good company, a lifetime wish come true. Brilliant! Fantastic accommodation, friendly staff, good horses.


Deborah S., June 26, 2009

Brilliant! The holiday was fantastic - everything I expected and more. I took Far & Rides recommendations given my riding ability and had an absolutely wonderful time.. The horses were excellent. The accommodation was very good and the food was great.


Itinerary & Pricing

Days 1 to 8

Riding: 3 - 8 hours

This is a working cattle ranch where you will be able to get involved in as much of the ranch work as you wish. You have a great choice of Quarter Horses and they all have different temperaments, most having been bred and broken on the ranch. The goal of the breeding programme here is to produce strong and healthy horses and if they look good as well that's a bonus!

The day begins with a good buffet breakfast: coffee, fruit, yoghurt, cereal, ham, cheese, cookies, eggs, etc. Around the table the cowboys will explain the plan of the day. The cowboys will catch the horses who run free in the pasture and bring them into the corrals, where a horse will be assigned to every guest for the day. 

During their vacation every guest will have the chance to try several horses and find the horse that suits them. You will ride for 3-4 hours in the morning, return for lunch and will ride again in the afternoon for another 3-4 hours. The programme may change due to cattle work or ranch activities. When no cattle work is necessary you can just ride for fun, enjoying the beautiful landscape through canyons, forests and endless prairies.

The riding changes seasonally. April-June is calving season so you will be able to ride to the herd to check on the babies every day to be sure that they are thriving.  At the end of the calving season there will be a branding which is reminiscent of the old west with horses, ropes, sweat and dust.

July-August is the time to manage the pasture. There will be 1200 head of cattle to sort. The cowboys will explain to the guest the technique used for the cattle drive and the way to move cattle.

In August-October, they will begin their roundup of cattle and choose which ones to keep and which to sell before winter. The cattle they keep will be moved to the winter pasture. This is a time of very hard work and where you might be riding all day.

When you have time you can go into the arena and practice team penning, breakaway roping, barrel racing or cutting horses. Or you can just relax in the beautiful lake or in the hot tub. When possible they will  take you to visit Devils Tower (First national monument of America), Black Hills National Forest, Deadwood, Badlands National Park etc. There is no strict routine here and you can participate as much as you wish in the ranch activities. The spare time is used for long and interesting horseback rides. 

We would recommend a 7 night stay, however you may choose to stay for less time or longer (minimum of 3 nights).

Accommodation

Each night is spent in one of eight comfortable guest bedrooms at the ranch, with private bathrooms.
Experience Intermediate / Experienced

All levels of rider may be accommodated with prior notice. However advanced and experienced riders are best suited to the ranching programme here and will be able to make the most of their stay.
Minimum group size 1
Maximum group size 15
Departure windows

At any time during: April 20, 2023 - Oct. 31, 2023  (Dates to suit, with arrivals on Wednesday or Saturday.)

At any time during: April 17, 2024 - Oct. 31, 2024  (Dates to suit, with arrivals on Wednesday or Saturday.)

Pricing

2023
Weekly rate (7 nights), Sharing		 £1615 $1970 €1855
2024
Weekly rate (7 nights), Sharing		 £1780 $2170 €2045
Included Accommodation (in double/twin rooms), all meals on the ranch (meals off-site during sightseeing are at your own cost), drinks (except alcohol), riding, transfers from Rapid City (Weds/Sat only) and taxes.
Not included Flights, alcoholic drinks, meals off-site when out sightseeing, airport transfers on other days of the week, travel insurance, tips (recommend c. 10%) and personal expenses.

Extras

2023 - Extra Night £225 $280 €260 per night
Paid to Far and Ride
The cost is for each additional night beyond the 7 included in the weekly ride package.
2024 - Extra Night £250 $310 €290 per night
Paid to Far and Ride
The cost is for each additional night beyond the 7 included in the weekly ride package.
2023 - Set-time Airport Transfer £164 $200 €189
Paid to Far and Ride
Applicable for transfers required on weekdays other than Wednesday and Saturday. The price is per person.
2024 - Set-time Airport Transfer £205 $250 €235
Paid to Far and Ride
Applicable for transfers required on weekdays other than Wednesday and Saturday. The price is per person.
2023/2024 - Short Stay Supplement 20.0%
Paid to Far and Ride
Supplement of + 20% payable for stays of 6 nights or less.
2023/2024 - Single Room Supplement 20.0%
Paid to Far and Ride
Supplement payable to guarantee a single room. Those willing to share with another guest do not have to pay a supplement.
2023/2024 - Child discount Children aged 10 and under stay for free when sharing a room with their parents.
2024 - Multi-week Discount Stay two or more weeks at the ranch and receive a 10% discount on your stay.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.