Photo taken by Paul Zizka
of the West - the property purchased by the Tass family in 1920. Running 200 cow/calf pairs and 100 head of yearling, the cowhands are constantly riding on the herd and moving them to new pastures, so you can expect to spend plenty of time in the saddle. Brimming over with Wild West history, the TA Ranch (site of the 1892 Johnson County Cattle War) and The “Outlaw Cave” (featured in the classic motion picture “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”) are located nearby, and while lawless gunslingers no longer hang out in these parts, the rugged landscape and the way of life here remains seemingly unchanged.
Travel deep into the Canadian Rockies, the Banff Wilderness rides taking you over high passes with spellbinding views and across fertile valleys carpeted in wildflowers - the journey punctuated with stops at picturesque lakes and rivers. Find the favourite haunts of the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Canada Goose, Black Bear, and an animal kingdom first, Wild Plains Bison. North America's largest mammal was obliterated from the landscape for a span of almost 150 years, but now thanks to Parks Canada, there is a thriving herd, two calves spotted ambling across the high meadows with their mothers last summer - these the first “wild-born” calves to grace the back- country of Banff in over a century. Five-night Banff Wilderness Ride from £1,445pp (two sharing).
Aptly named the “Land of the Giants” for its baobab studded plains and large herds of elephant, the Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana's Tuli Block is remote, unspoilt and packed full of flora and fauna - the big cats, plains game and over 350 species of birds also residing in this little known wildlife sanctuary. Gallop along the river courses and trail across the plains each day from camp to camp - the guided mobile safari including a little luxury in the bush - the new Tree Camp opening last November. Seven-nights from
£2,150pp (two sharing).
Close to Colorado Springs and owned by the Colorado State Land Board, the Chico Basin Working Ranch uses age-old sustainable ranching practices and progressive grazing management to maintain healthy lands - the stay ideal for the eco-centric hoping to give it a go as a cowhand. One of six guests, the intimate atmosphere makes this experience all the more authentic, your mornings spent gathering a pasture or moving a herd, and your aſternoons focused on tending to the needs of the livestock. Six-nights at Colorado’s Chico Basin Ranch from £1,879pp (no single supplement).
The cowhands at Wyoming’s New Haven ground keen equestrians in the art of moving cattle, locating strays and “cutting” - separating individual cattle from the herd. Experience branding in the spring or round up the cattle in the autumn, the surroundings magical at any time of year. Timbered canyons, high plateaus and endless sagebrush prairie dot the landscape, and the majestic Devils Tower is only 30 miles shy of the property - America's first- ever national monument visible on many of the rides. Seven-nights from £1480pp (no single supplement).
Ranch Rider is one of the few remaining independent riding holiday specialists, its handpicked collection of horseback adventures covering the USA, Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania and NEW for 2020, Kenya. The company has been operating for over two decades, the team, who share over eighty years combined experience in the saddle, constantly adding new experiences to the mix. Ranch Rider's aim is to offer horse riding holidays for everyone, the tour operator catering to single travellers (who want to steer clear of supplements), couples, senior travellers and families looking to explore the world from the back of a horse - wannabe cowhands as young as eight learning to work the cattle.
For more information contact Ranch Rider (01509 618 811;
ranchrider.com). ATOL PROTECTED No 4660 ABTA 96395/V9150
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