Cattle Drive Holidays

Introduction

Cattle drive holidays are perfect for the more experienced horse rider who wants to be an active part of the ranch team. Available in the USA and Canada, cattle drive holidays end with you feeling as though you've truly been part of the authentic day-to-day work.

If you level of horse riding ability is not strong, then you may prefer a ranch holiday experience, but otherwise, the thrill of finding the herd and keeping them under control is second to none and will leave you talking about it for a long time to come.

At Medway Travel, we specialise in clients coming back to us over and over again, purely because we have provided the type of holiday that perfectly matches what they were looking for. Cattle Drive holidays are certainly challenging, and although the details on the following page provide an illustration of what you could expect, please do contact us without obligation to discuss what you'd like to gain out of a cattle drive holiday and we will provide you with the options to consider. 

Become an active part of the ranch team helping to move the herd between the valley ranch and the high mountain pastures for summer grazing. This involves riding independently, and perhaps spending a day or two cutting out a herd, branding the calves and getting started. The pace may be relatively slow as you skirt the herd, moving them along. Two or sometimes three days are needed to get to the spring range. Herds vary in size from two hundred cows with baby calves or as many as seven hundred. You will be an active part of the team, following the instructions given to you by the trail boss. Young heifers are unpredictable - if they run out of the main herd, your task will be to bring them back into line. You will camp at night wherever you are trailing the cattle, nights and days can be cold (the weather is unpredictable in the spring and autumn), but be well prepared and you will have the experience of a lifetime.

The following illustrations of cattle drive and round-up experiences are simply examples of the many exciting and diverse holidays we are able to arrange for you.  It is not intended to provide the details for a specific booking, since our aim is to create a holiday tailored to your particular wishes after discussing these with you in detail.

As a guide, a 7 night fully inclusive cattle drive holiday experience with international flights can cost from £1,700 per person

Overview

Our tailor-made service allows you to fly from many locations in the UK to the airport nearest your chosen ranch before commencing your cattle drive. Due to their remote locations, it is rare that a ranch is located near to an airport, so we can arrange the overnight hotels and car hire that you may require. Whether you are looking for a week on a ranch, or a multi-centre holiday in the USA or Canada to include an authentic cowboy experience, Medway Travel can help to find the very best holiday solution for you.

There are several cattle drives and round-ups that are scheduled to run from select working ranches each year, and these drives provide the perfect opportunity for you to experience the genuine Western cowboy life.

Every day is different during a round-up week; it depends on the condition of the cattle and the time of the year. You will spend 6 to 8 hours a day in the saddle. A typical day begins with a great cowboy style breakfast then they pack a lunch and head out onto the range for a day of rounding up and moving cattle, roping and doctoring the sick calves and looking for strays. After a great day of riding, you head back to the ranch for a big cowboy dinner and gather around the campfire to exchange stories of your experiences.

Cattle drives during Spring involve long days in the saddle, from which you will be driving cow and calf pairs from the ranch to summer pastures or leased land where the cattle will graze until Fall. The cattle drives that take place in the Autumn require wranglers to gather and round up the grazing herd and bring them back to the ranch.

Often, this distance will not be covered in just one day, so overnight camp-outs may be involved during some drives.

Below are descriptions of a few of the ranches we feature that offer cattle drives and round-ups.

Dryhead Ranch, Wyoming

Their season starts in May with cattle drives from Wyoming to Montana.  The ranch trail cows over the Old Sioux Trail stretching 50 miles through the wild horse range and into Montana's beautiful "Big Sky Country".  In the spring they trail 100-150 cows, each with their calf, each week.  During their spring drives you will stay in an authentic cow camp, if the weather permits.  Their fall drives begin in mid October.  They do not camp during these drives.  Since the calves have been weaned earlier, they only trail cows on these fall drives.  Don't let this scare you away, these drives are as easily accomplished by beginners as well as experienced riders.

Burnt Well Ranch, New Mexico

A typical cattle drive week during Fall at the Burnt Well Ranch would follow an itinerary similar to that detailed below...

Day 1-Arrive in the afternoon/ fit riders to saddles & horses/ get acquainted

Day 2-Gather and drive cattle to the first camp site

Day 3 -Drive cattle the rest of the way to the Kerr ranch.

Day 4-Gather summer cattle and drive them from Kerr ranch to mid way camp site.

Day 5-Drive cattle on into Burnt Well. HOT TUB!!

Day 6-Wean the calves that were just brought home.

Day 7-Leisurely breakfast & morning farewells

You will be provided with a cowboy bedroll (a 3" mattress made with sheets and blankets, rolled in a canvas tarp), cots for those who may be squeamish about sleeping right on the ground, "cowboy" teepees in case of inclement weather, well broke ranch horses, top notch Dutch oven meals and lots of campfire stories to take home with you.

Silver Spur Horse Drive, Idaho

The Silver Spur horse drives are very popular weeks for those of you who want a   challenging ride, good company, don't mind missing the home comforts of phones, bathrooms and electricity and wish to sample life as a cowboy/cowgirl. For experienced riders.

If you have ever rounded up and driven horses in miles of open country, you know it's not just a ride in the park! Driving 40-50 horses 20 miles a day through all kinds of terrain is an adventure! Former guests will tell you it's the most exciting thing they have ever done on horseback.

 It can be hot and it can be cold, it can be wet or dry or dusty, it can be fast and then slow, it can be challenging yet relaxing.  It's a horse drive and anything can happen because it's the real thing' If you're looking for a fast paced great cowboy adventure, a Medicine Lodge Horse Drive is just the thing for you.

 

Essential Information

Weather

For  the summer months from late May to early September we would recommend you consider ranches in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Kentucky, Wyoming, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah or Canada whereas in the winter you should look at New Mexico, Arizona or Texas as the ranches are open October through to April. 

Passports and Visas

The US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) allows most British Citizen passport holders to visit the US for up to 90 days. The types of journeys that are permissible under the VWP include general travel/tourism, certain types of business and when transiting to another country.

The US requires all those travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme to provide details online at least 72 hours prior to travel. This is known as an Electronic Travel System Authorisation or ESTA. This is mandatory.  If you do not have an ESTA you will be refused travel to the USA.  For more information, and to apply online, please visit the ESTA website at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. ESTA is valid for a period of two years, or the validity of the traveller's passport (whichever is shorter)

To visit the USA, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA.

Health

For up-to-date health advice for the USA, please consult your GP.

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions from the policy, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake whilst on holiday. Medway Travel can provide you with a quote for this - please contact a member of the Leisure team or use our Online Insurance Quotation System

Testimonials

"Hi Mel,

Well I still can't really believe that I did it!

Everything went very smoothly, the ranch was absolutely wonderful. A very family orientated ranch with lots of support for the less well ridden and magnificent rides for those already experienced, which I was able to join in with after just a couple of days of expert tuition. The horses were all well feed and looked after and very well behaved. The accommodation was very good, plenty of room.

The food was all home cooked, fresh and delicious. The meals were taken with the family and rest of the guests so I didn't feel like a single traveller, in fact there were two other ladies travelling alone too. 
All the connections worked well, I managed to get to an earlier flight from Chicago to Denver as I was ready with my bag.

I would certainly like to go back to the ranch, just need to save up! 

Regards
Sue"

Rocking Z Ranch - September 2009

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"Mel,

I am now home and settled after an amazing 4 week journey across the US.

The ranch was everything I expected and more, they made me feel so welcome and definately part of the family. I learned new skills and got to ride plenty considering the bad weather.

Because we had such bad weather, there was times when riding was not possible, but instead Tony (ranch owner) took us out to see the other local sites which offered spectacular beauty and far exceeded my expectations...

Neil"

Double Spear Ranch -May 2009

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"Hi Mel,

Had a FANTASTIC time.

The ranch was a delight. Had a superb time in Yellowstone, Vegas was a triumph, the Canyon was just too much for words, and piccies don't do it justice. And we wanted more time in ‘Frisco. So, all in all it was pretty successful....

One sour note, the wife eloped with the chopper pilot (Just kidding)

Might be looking to do something like this again next year. Will let you know after new year if there's anything to be planned.

Thanks for all your patient help

Simon"

Ranger Creek Ranch - August 2009

 

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