This is so that YOU have the best possible experience possible.  Our ranch is set apart from many in our strong emphasis to Buck Brannaman horsemanship in every aspect of riding, be in in the arena, on the trail, with cattle, etc.  We are looking for riders who are dedicated to a learning mindset, who have the tenacity to work their minds as much as their bodies.  And physical fitness is indeed something to consider when coming out here, we put a lot of hours in the saddle and the way we ride (i.e., advanced horsemanship maneuvers, covering rugged terrain, W/T/C) requires that a person have enough stamina to hang in there over 5 full riding days.  Many of our guests walk a mile to and from the arena each morning and sometimes they do 4 miles a day because they go back and forth at lunchtime too! (We do have a shuttle option as well, if you prefer to save your energy for riding!).

This is not to say that you need to be in peak condition when you come out here, but being prepared for what’s to come both mentally and physically is a big plus.  You are certainly welcome to take a ½ day or an off day.  But our program can be progressive, so we do encourage riders to hang in there to get the most bang for their buck in order to leave with the most tools to become all around hands.

The pre-booking interview process is simple. Just give us a call, and we will get a feel for what you are looking for, let you know what we offer, and we’ll see if it is a good fit for both of us. We definitely want you to be satisfied with your experience here, so this will give you an inside look at what you can expect from a ranch visit.

Yes! Guests can expect to ride 5-6 hours each day in the saddle. Riding regularly before joining us is highly recommended!

Unfortunately, this is not an option. We’ll try to make sure you get everything you need with the time you have with us though!

We offer hearty, healthy, ranch cooking, and we can accommodate most special diets/allergies too! There is always something for everyone, including a huge salad bar, variety of healthy snacks & drinks. You will not go hungry with Chef Holly at the helm!

Not an issue.  Beginners have less bad habits to break and that can be an advantage!

We do require that folks come out here with a little bit of time in the saddle, and we strongly suggest that everyone watches Buck’s In the Snaffle Bit DVD to get acquainted with the movements and the lingo. That will help you get ahead of the game.  5 days of riding, at 5+ hours a day can be a lot of time for a beginner rider, so it’s best to know that this is something you really want to do!

We have several student teachers who are LOVED amongst our guests who will spend more one-on-one time with you in the classes to make sure you feel comfortable and right in time with the rest of the class. 

Yes, we do. We will only take riders under 200 lbs. Riding horses is an athletic sport. Our horses cover some very tough miles and perform some extremely refined horsemanship maneuvers that require lightness and balance. This requires that they have riders who can operate within this weight limit.  *You can discuss exceptions with us*

During Peak season we only book double occupancy for the smaller cabins. For the larger cabins, we reserve these for groups of 3 or 4 people. We do have lodge rooms that accommodate a single guest, it you prefer to travel alone.

All payments made to the ranch are non-refundable. Travel insurance is highly recommended for your trip in case changes do come up.  Travelguard.com is a popular travel insurance carrier with our guests, and there are several others offering plans as well.  Some require obtaining insurance within 24- 48 hours of booking your reservation so be sure to check with the individual carriers, as well as what their individual plans cover.

We welcome you to bring your personal horses as long as they are a mare or a gelding (no stallions please!) There is no additional fee to bring your own horse. We can provide hay at $100 for the week if you choose. Horses stay in 12x24 outdoor pens while at the ranch. Guests are resposible for the care of their horse. Any horses coming on to the ranch are required to have a current Coggins (within the last 12 months), and proof of Rhino and Influenza shots within the last 6 months and no sooner than two weeks prior to arrival.

Shayne and Des's teaching style reflects their passion and excitement for sharing this horsemanship with others. They are firm but fair. Shayne and Des know that we are not always willing to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone where we learn and grow the most. Therefore, they are always there to help us find the place where we can “be something different” so we have more to offer the horses and people around us.

Watch the In The Snaffle Bit DVD that is available for purchase on Buck's website (https://www.brannaman.com/). This will start to plant some of the seeds regarding all the progressions you will learn while you are here. Even if there is not the practice behind it, it will help you become more familiar with the foundation. If you wanted to take it a step further, you can subscribe to Buck's digital library of videos, the Buck Channel. This is a fantastic resource to have when working with your personal horse. 

Practice riding in a set of mecate reins. This allows us to jump right into the horsemanship and not have to spend so much time discussing orientation items. It will be important to know how to build a coil, get long and then short on the reins, and be adjustable altogether. 

Keep getting time in the saddle. Riding six hours each day can be an adjustment if you are not fit and in saddle shape.

Every ranch horse can do every ranch job as well as do the most refined movements in the arena. Each horse is ridden in a plain snaffle bit and is considered a 'finished' snaffle bit horse. Some of our guest horses are finished bridle horses which Shayne & Des have personally produced through the highest level of education. The snaffle equivalent in another discipline would be 3rd level dressage in their flatwork, plus all of the movements to work cattle successfully.

We keep our ratios small so that you can learn at a maximum! We generally group 3-4 guests with each wrangler in and out of the arena.