WHITE STALLION RANCH – LIVING THE COWGIRL LIFE AT ARIZONA’S DUDE RANCHES
Ever fancied the life of a cowboy? Are you sucked in by the romance of the West? Do you love nothing more than sitting on a horse surrounded by stunning scenery?
If you answered yes to any of these, then you need to book a stay at one of Arizona’s dude ranches.
If you are not familiar with the term, then basically replace the word ‘dude’ with ‘guest’. Dude ranches are exactly that; guest ranches. You get to do lots of ranch-like activities, but you won’t be expected to work, herd cattle, or eat dry rations out on the trail. It’s far more civilised than that. You’ll have a warm comfy bed, decent food, and lots of activities to choose from if riding every day doesn’t appeal.
I visited two very different dude ranches; White Stallion Ranch (not far from Tucson) and Rancho de la Osa (about 90 minutes further south, close to the Mexican border).
White Stallion Ranch
This large, upscale ranch has 43 guest rooms, a four-bedroom Hacienda and a herd of over 150 well looked after horses. Accommodation is in private ‘cabins’ with ensuite bathrooms, a sitting room area and an outside ‘deck’.
Guests who choose to ride are paired with a horse appropriate to their level of horsemanship and generally you stay with this horse for the duration of your stay, allowing you to build (at least the beginnings of) a relationship. I was paired with a mustang gelding called Dorado who was a steady ride, with a smooth canter and a love of apples.
There are what are called ‘slow rides’ and ‘fast rides’. The slow rides are suitable for absolute beginners. These are taken entirely at walking pace, and are a lovely introduction to your horse, riding and the landscape. If you are an experienced rider (and remember Western riding is very different to English riding) don’t be put off by the ‘slow’ description. Ranch riding is not fast, and this isn’t an endurance test for you or your mount. These rides are the perfect way to enjoy the scenery and just soak up the wonder of being out on the back of a gorgeous horse. Much as I love a good canter, these rides really didn’t need the speed to make them interesting; they were just perfect as they were.
If the fast ride appeals to you, then you need to take a short fast ride test first. This just ensures you can control the horse, stay in the saddle during a canter and stop as needed. The fast rides are not all cantering; they are walking with short stretches of canter (known as loping). I enjoyed, as many riders do, the adrenaline of the canter, but overall, the slow rides were just as enjoyable, if not more so.
Team Penning was described to me as ‘the most fun you’ll have with your clothes on’, and although I am not sure I 100% agree, it was certainly hugely enjoyable. In short, your team (all on horseback, of course) has to separate three calves from the small herd, and then lead them through a narrow corridor and turn them into a pen. The calves have clearly done this before and most are quite accommodating, but it was exciting to pretend that it was our outstanding cowboy skills that helped us win that day’s competition.
If you, or your thighs and bottom, don’t want to ride every day, then there are plenty of other activities on offer. Book in for yoga, or a breath-work walk, get your aching muscles massaged in the spa, or try your hand at archery or sport shooting. Plus, there is hiking, rock climbing, and e-biking on offer. So, you can fill your day from breakfast through dinner or decide simply to relax by the pool and soak in the hot tub.
I chose to ride as much as possible, but I did take time out to try my hand at shooting a .22 calibre rifle and pistol. Our small group of six were driven out to the shooting range, given a safety talk, and then individually shown how to shoot at a range of static targets from the large and difficult to miss to the small and difficult to hit. I have what I would consider a healthy dislike of guns, so this was an interesting experience, and one I’d suggest trying but it didn’t change my views on the folly of gun ownership.
I was only at White Stallion for two nights and this really wasn’t enough. With so many options on offer, a five-night stay would make more sense. But however long you manage to allow yourself, it’s a great way to feel like a cowboy for a few days, and speaking to the guests it’s a popular American vacation with many people booking in year after year.
For more information and to book with Frontier America: frontier-america.co.uk/ranch/white-stallion-ranch-arizona
Read about Rancho de la Osa here: Rancho-de-la-Osa
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chantal Cooke is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster and co-founder of PASSION for the PLANET. Chantal is passionate about tourism being used as a force for good
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Website: frontier-america.co.uk/ranch/white-stallion-ranch-arizona
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