Riding tips for dudes

Learning to ride a horse can be a transformative event for a both kids and adults. When you're finally astride, comfortable in the saddle and at one with your horse, your confidence soars. But it is smart to remember that horseback riding is a real sport with a real animal, and when your instructor/wrangler speaks, its important to listen up. Before you climb onto Old Paint, or before you even arrive at the ranch, you can prepare yourself or the kids by brushing up on some riding dos and don'ts.

Do wait for your wrangler to bring your horse to you—don't approach a group of tied-up horses (you haven't felt real pain until you've had a horse step on your foot). And after the ride, stay in the saddle until the wrangler helps you dismount; let him tie up Old Paint with a lead rope (the reins are never used to tie up the horses).

When riding, remember your trail manners: don't pass another horse at high speed (it can be dangerous), don't make any loud noises (ditto), don't throw things that might spook your horse or another's mount. And don't let your horse graze--the wranglers make sure he gets plenty of the right food back at the barn.

In short, don't act like a tenderfoot. Act like a real cowboy/cowgirl. After all, isn't that the point?

Helping kids learn more about ranch life

We love any place that understands and celebrates the real stories and real people of ranching and farming. Which is why we’re giving a nod to the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum. Tucked into a barnlike structure and 47 acres in the small town of Las Cruces, the museum aims to tell the 3,000-year history of farming and ranching in the state of New Mexico.

But what you'll learn here goes beyond the tales from New Mexico farms to the stories and lessons learned by farmers and ranchers everywhere. And much of it is told in an interactive way. You can watch a cow being milked, wander past corrals filled with livestock, stroll several gardens or watch any of a number of demonstrations. For some visitors—especially children—it’s the first time they have any concept of the kind of work done by those who toil with crops or livestock. For others, it’s a walk down memory lane to farming practices of days gone by. If you’re near Las Cruces, it’s worth a detour.

And do you have a favorite museum that spotlights the world of ranching, horses, or cowboys? If so, drop us a note (click on the envelope, at left) or post a comment.

Tips for Moms: answering your kids' ranch questions

One question every kid will ask his parents about the ranch they choose to visit is: "Will there be any kids my age there?" At Lost Valley Ranch, just southwest of Denver, owner Bob Foster hears that question a lot. His answer?

"With 90 guests/ 24 families, we get a lot of kids across age groups, so there's always "somebody their age" here," notes Foster. The ranch takes babies and offers babysitting and cares for 3-5 year-olds (in a group setting), so the parents get some free time. They divide rides and many activities by age groups, so kids and teens are with their peers. And there are lots of options. "You can't push a kid into a program," claims Foster. "They want choices."

More importantly, the supervisors (or 'supes') of the children and teens at Lost Valley Ranch are hand-picked. "I personally visit with all our potential staffers," says Foster, "I like to look 'em in the eye." His goal: to hire young people who have a passion for working with children and teenagers. "Finding people who really enjoy working with kids—that's our number one job," Foster says.

 It must be working—this will be their 49th year in the dude and guest ranching business. 

Dude and guest ranches geared to families

Last week's post (Tips for Moms: Selecting a ranch for kids) just touched on a subject blog readers always want to know more about: how to find the perfect ranch suited to your children and the family's needs. 

Our partner site, Ranchweb.com, breaks out their list of North American ranches into helpful categories, from those with children's trail riding (including Arizona's Rancho de los Caballeros) to guest ranches and resorts with teen programs (as at Colorado's Wilderness Trails Ranch); to ranches that let kids eat together with other children (as at New York's Rocking Horse Dude Ranch Resort).

And some ranches have fine-tuned their children's programs over decades. Take California's Rankin Ranch, for example. Founded in 1863 (click to see the ranch in pictures), the ranch history runs deep and the Rankin family delights in sharing this history with guests. Their supervised children's program for ages 4-11 provides activities throughout the day: treasure hunts to nature walks, arts and crafts fun, talent shows, toy boat building and racing. Each evening, everyone enjoys visiting Sarah's Farm to feed and pet the calves, chickens, pigs, and sheep. Plan ahead: the ranch is open March-September.

Tips for Moms: choosing a ranch for kids

Figuring out which ranch is best for your kids is a concern for both parents, but Moms are often the ones who end up doing the necessary detective work. One tip: start your selection process on the Internet (on sites that narrow the search, like Ranchweb), then work the phones. When you've selected your top choice ranches, ask each for a list of past guests that wouldn't mind a call from you (that is, guests who came with kids).

Then call and ask if they have time for a few questions about their ranch stay: how child-oriented they felt the ranch was; what kinds of kid-programs they participated in and what ages the programs worked best for; what their kids really loved (or not) about the ranch.

See if there's anything out-of-the-ordinary the parents suggest you should bring for the kids when they visit a ranch. You might get some surprising answers. And if your "little dudes" have any special considerations, mention them; if their children share those considerations, you'll find out how the ranch accommodated them. You're sure to get some great ideas from the vast—and helpful—network of parents out there. And you might even make a new phone friend.

Your kid's first time on the ranch?

What happens when a city kid makes his or her first visit to a dude ranch? One thing is for sure: they never forget it. I vividly remember my first time on a ranch: I spent so much time in the saddle that I wound up "wearing" a pillow for the next few days. But I formed a love affair with horses that lasts to this day.

Tell us about your child's first visit and how it affected him/her. Did they bond eternally with their pony? Did your child try his hand at a little fly fishing with a ranch guide (and now wants his own waders)? 

Perhaps your child may have learned something about nature and formed a love for the outdoors after spending time on the ranch. Or maybe their visit provided a chance to put down the Gameboy and have some quality time with Mom and Pop.

If there's a funny or warm story about your child's first time on the ranch, please tell us! Post your comments below, or send us an email; we'll share the stories with our readers.