| EQUINETOURISM.co.uk USA - Ranch Vacations - Bitterroot Ranch, Wyoming, USA |
The owners of Equitours present their Flagship Home Ranch and Beautiful Arabian Horses |
Bitterroot Ranch - For bookings & enquiries:
Mel & Bayard Fox
Tel 001 307 455 2778
Fax 001 307 455 2354
email: [email protected]
www.bitterrootranch.com
Bitterroot Ranch, PO Box 807, Dubois, Wyoming 82513, USA
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BHS Approved Riding Holiday
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Member of The Wyoming Dude Rancher's Association
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For the horse riding ranch holiday of a lifetime - visit Bitterroot Ranch in Wyoming, USA |
You can enjoy some of the best and most diverse horseback riding in North America at the Fox family's Bitterroot Ranch in Wyoming. Located in a remote valley bordering the Shoshone National Forest, 50 miles of unspoilt, mountainous wilderness separate the ranch from Yellowstone Park - where perpetually snow capped mountains are always in view.
The broad range of riding activities includes trail riding, pack trips, cattle drives, roundups, team sorting, herding cows on the grazing allotment in the national forest, lessons with certified instructors and a cross country course for experienced riders. This a working cattle ranch and the family's passion are their wonderful Arabian horses - bred for their lovely temperaments, beauty and versatile riding ability.
CLICK HERE to see the Bitterroot Ranch VIdeo
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| Ranch Vacations and Horse Riding Holidays at Bitterroot Ranch |
The Bitterroot is not a typical dude ranch. Your hosts, Bayard and Mel Fox and their son Richard, have explored the world with their other company, Equitours Horseback Riding Vacations, and have a collective wealth of experience in what makes the riding vacation of a lifetime.
They focus on providing guests with a top quality riding vacation - leading many of the trail rides personally - and are especially proud of their Arabian horses, many of whom have been raised and trained on the ranch. Bitterroot Ranch is the place they call home and which they have nurtured and shared with guests for the past thirty five years. You can ride all day on beautifully trained horses and experience the peace and harmony that exists between the Fox family and their corner of the wilderness.
Horse Riding: The ranch has spectacular scenery and wonderful places for a fast paced horseback riding vacation. Horseback riding is the main activity at the 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.
Varied terrain adds enjoyment to horse riding holidays at this equine getaway.
Working Cattle Ranch: The Bitterroot is a family run working ranch and during your vacation you will have frequent opportunities to help drive cattle, which graze in the adjacent national forest during the summer. You can hone your skills during the weekly team sorting competition. Working cattle on horseback can give new meaning to the partnership between horse and rider adding another dimension to your riding holiday.
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 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.
Fly Fishing: There is excellent fly fishing in the private stream and the trout filled East Fork of the Wind River flows through the center of the ranch, giving it life and enhancing its beauty.
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| Accommodation and Food at Bitterroot Ranch |
The atmosphere at Bitterroot Ranch is informal and guests stay in comfortable, individual log cabins located along the river for maximum privacy and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The invigorating mountain air and a day in the saddle will whet your appetite for the delicious food and wine we serve including ranch raised beef, lamb and salads.
The cabins have evolved over the years Bitterroot has run as a dude ranch. They all have electric heat, some have wood burning stoves, all have showers and most have bathtubs. There are a variety of choices as far as sleeping arrangements go; a few cabins have a double or queen bed, several have two twins and there are a few duplexes designed for families with a double or queen bed on one side and twins on the other. They retain the authenticity and rustic charm of a bygone era, which is reflected in the atmosphere of the old main lodge with its huge stone fireplace and broad porch where guests gather for meals and relaxing evenings.
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| Horse Riding and Horsemanship at Bitterroot Ranch |
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 Bitterroot Ranch is 17 miles from the nearest paved road and borders the Shoshone National Forest where there is 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 which provide interesting destinations for riding adventures.
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Riding Lessons: There are certified riding instructors at the ranch including Mel Fox. 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: There is 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.
Ride Safety: Your safety is of vital concern. Rides are kept small in numbers, horses are carefully matched to riders, people of similar skills ride together - and the ride leaders are well trained. Everyone must wear a hard hat and the rail guides carry mobile phones.
Tack: The horses are trained Western so they are used to neck reining and going on a loose rein. So mostly Western saddles are used, but there are also English saddles for those who prefer them and have an independent seat and hands. Each horse has its own bridle and great care is taken to check that the saddles fit each horse well.
World Class Clinics at Bitterroot Ranch
The ranch hosts clinics with world renowned clinicians Linda Tellington-Jones (the founder of the Tellington Touch method), who has backed many of the Arabian horses over the years, and Donna Snyder-Smith, who runs the Centred Riding Clinic.
It is an honor that one of America's top riding instructors, Donna Snyder-Smith, feels our ranch is a good location for her centered riding clinic. In recent years there have been a number of important innovations in horsemanship philosophy and Donna provides insights into how you can improve your riding and enhance communication and cooperation with your horse. To insure a maximum learning opportunity in the clinic, classes are limited and instruction is offered in a variety of learning styles, including auditory, tactile and visual. Each day includes unmounted exercises, classroom lecture, and mounted work. With the proper technique and training you can improve your equine relationships and help to alleviate any aches and pains associated with riding. |
| The Horses at Bitterroot Ranch |
Life at the Bitterroot revolves around the horses. Their selection, breeding, training and care are of paramount importance and consume most of the family's energy throughout the year.
The horses have a good life and are well treated, happy animals. They socialise naturally in a herd environment and are released every afternoon to roam naturally in a large pasture until the next morning. The horses are responsive and attentive to the rider - and are more like private horses.
The ranch herd is made up of many different breeds including Quarter Horses, Mustangs, Percherons, Appaloosas, Icelandic Horses and crosses. The Fox family raise friendly, sensible, purebred Arabians which have proved excellent for trail riding and herding cattle as well as taking jumps on the cross country course. In training the young horses, the non confrontational techniques of Linda Tellington-Jones are used - who has been coming to the ranch for many years to start the young Arabians.
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| The Arabian Breeding Programme at Bitterroot Ranch |
Mel Fox grew up with horses on a farm at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. A neighbour, who had been the agricultural officer in Aden had a beautiful Arabian mare, given by the local tribesman as a wedding present to his wife and brought to their ranch in Tanzania. This was the type of horse that Mel always wished for and in 1983 on another continent the dream became reality.
TC Mr Lucky: Stallion, TC Mr Lucky is a pure Polish Naborr son.
Indian Sundown: One of Mel's favorite riding horses for many years was an Abu Farwa grandson, who led her towards the Crabbet Arabian horses. The focus of the Bitterroot Ranch breeding programme has always and used to cross on mostly Crabbet mares.
Si Si Savvy: In 2003 Bayard and Mel visited the Diego Mendez' La Aldara Stud in Spain. They were very impressed with the Spanish Arabians who looked big, athletic and also had quiet temperaments. They were lucky enough to have the use of the Stanley Ranch bred straight Spanish Arabian Si Si Savvy owned by Ginna Frantz for two breeding seasons. This up and coming young stallion was the Region 7 USEF Arabian Dressage Champion in 2004. In 2005, in a lease agreement with the Stanley Ranch they had the services of Wradar (*Esperanto x Granada 1). Since some of their Crabbet mares were growing older they decided to keep that line going through the athletic SSA Mistics Shadow PC (RAS Amyr Dargee PC x FV Silver Mistic), whom they leased for 2 years. Val's Day Dream (Aurlani Fawa x Valentine Dream)
The Bitterroot Arabian mares are a little bit of everything; part Egyptian, mostly Polish, mostly Crabbet, straight Spanish. They can all be ridden and when not being bred are put to work in the dude string. The emphasis is on temperament, good gaits, and a willingness to do whatever is asked of them; they may be required to herd cows one day and jump the cross-country course the next. The foals and young stock are outside all the time, running in large pastures, which puts a good foundation on them. The Fox family own a total of around 90 Arabian horses, and raise about 9 foals
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How to Book a Ranch holiday at Bitterroot Ranch |
Simply email or telephone Bitterroot Ranch (details below) and visit www.bitterrootranch.com |
CONTACT
BITTERROOT RANCH
email: [email protected] |
Bitterroot Ranch - For bookings & enquiries:
Mel & Bayard Fox
Tel 001 307 455 2778
Fax 001 307 455 2354
www.bitterrootranch.com
Bitterroot Ranch, PO Box 807, Dubois, Wyoming 82513, USA |
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