Schedule:
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We pick up at the Billings Montana airport at 4:00. Those who arrive earlier and would like to stay in Billings overnight we have made arrangements with the Rimrock Inn and the Come On In for our guests to stay at a discounted rate. Our welcome letter will give more information when you have chosen your week and made your reservations.
On the Sunday of your arrival you can arrange pick up at "the Rimrock" Inn or at the airport. It is a three hour drive to the ranch where we will eat supper and settle into our bunkhouse rooms.
You will ride with us from Monday till Friday.
Saturday is a "getting ready to go home" morning. We eat breakfast as always at 7:00 and have time to pick up some things in our small ranch store as well as exchange goodbyes with the cowboys and other guests. We leave the ranch around 10:00 and have some time to visit several historic sites and get back into Billings by early afternoon.
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Type of riding:
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Adults only. All levels of riding will be experienced during each ride. Some riding experience is suggested. Trailing horses gives everyone a fast pace as well as time to walk. Maximum guest numbers - twelve (12). The days can be long and the weather will be variable. We will be riding in all types of terrain. Barren badlands, sage brush and rocks, mountains and canyons, grassland meadows and wide open spaces. All types of horses will be part of the herd we move: mares and colts, young stock, studs and fillies, guest cavvy horses and studs and mares. Each will have its own challenges and adventures.
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Accommodations:
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On those nights that we camp we will stay in our authentic cow camp. We will have campfire meals and teepees to sleep in out under the stars. We furnish sleeping bags that have a pillow and blanket inside, we offer a camp cot.
Things to bring: a flashlight, walking shoes for around camp, some great campfire stories, your own personal items you will need. Some days will be at the ranch where we will settle the horses and ride those meadows. Then you will stay on our warm and cozy bunkhouse.
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Activities:
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Gathering & trailing over 100 head of brood mares and young horses. This drive will cover many miles a day and you’ll be riding between the Pryor Mountains and the Big Horn Mountains, along the Big Horn River.
Along with moving whatever herd of horses we need to move that week we always stop and share the historic sites with our guests. There will be time to watch our cowboys work some of our young colts or sharpen their roping skills while we enjoy our evenings around the campfire. You are always welcome to participate and learn. Getting to know each other around a campfire is always a special treat.
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Departure Day:
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Saturdays are a non-riding day. We leave that time to finish up those last minute purchases in our ranch store. It gives everyone time to say goodbye to our staff and cowboys and pack their bags.
We leave the ranch around 10:00 and take time to stop at any point of interest we haven't seen on the way back to Billings. We get our guests back in Billings between 1:00 and 3:00 PM.
Most guests spend the night in Billings and catch early morning flights on Sunday. The "Rimrock Inn" and the "Come On In" both offer discounts to Dryhead guests who would like to stay overnight in Billings. Those numbers are listed on the Rate Page.
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Sometimes we trail baby colts, sometimes we trail pregnant mares. Often we trail young colts in training and a loose horse can outrun a saddled horse anytime. It is all about control and knowing how to handle horses in a remuda and that is what we are all here to learn. We love the movies but they make it look like a horse can run forever and real horse people know that a walk or a canter are much more healthy and realistic.
Spring Horse Drive Schedule
The Dryhead Ranch Spring Horse Drive begin on Sunday, April 6, 2008. We will be trailing young horses mixed with some cavvy horses for stability and experience. The second Horse drive will begin April 13, 2008 and we will be trailing yearling and two year old fillies to the ranch for the summer training season.
We will be camping three nights as we trail these horses to the ranch. We will be crossing the Old Sioux Trail and coming up through Horse Thief Canyon. The three remaining nights will be spent at the ranch. We have a suggested list of things to bring on our Rates Page.
Fall Horse Drive Schedule
The Dryhead Fall Horse Drives are on Sunday, November 9-15, 2008 and November 16-22, 2008.
We will be trailing the young stock out to Lovell pastures for the winter. Our mares and guest horse cavvy will be staying at the ranch for the winter. We will be posting the specific details at a later time.
Lodging during the Horse Drive
We will camp three nights. Some of the camping items you might want to bring along are: flashlight, small bag for taking things to camp so you can leave your suitcase at the ranch. We furnish towels, sleeping bags, extra blankets, pillows, foam pads, cots, tents, a great campfire atmosphere and great stories. Our ranch store has leather gloves, slickers to rent and hand warmers, silk scarves, sweatshirts and vests to help with the minor details.
We give you pommel bags to keep your camera and gloves and hand warmers in along with other important items you might need as you are riding out all day, like snacks. On occasion (Tuesday) you will have to take lunch with you but most of the time (Wednesday and Thursday and Friday) Jennifer will be near with the suburban or lunch wagon. We are never moving so fast that you can’t stop for pictures or taking off a jacket or putting one on. We will have cowboys along to watch out and take care of personal needs and we don’t leave you behind.
We will return everyone back to Billings on Saturday between 1:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon. We will eat breakfast at the ranch on Saturday morning and exchange addresses and pictures and head for Billings by early afternoon. You can find the hotel information on the rates page. There we also have a list of things to bring.
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