Horseback riding on Rocking Z trails near Helena, Montana. Photo © Nancy D. Brown Located in the hamlet of Wolf Creek, Montana, Rocking Z Guest Ranch is like a visit to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Only this house is way more cool, as it offers horse riding vacations on a Montana dude [...]
Bar W Guest Ranch photo © Nancy D. Brown Looking for a dude ranch vacation in Whitefish, Montana offering authentic western hospitality? The Bar W Guest Ranch is a small, family-friendly guest ranch, located near Glacier National Park in western Montana. I've been fortunate to review numerous dude ranches in Montana. However, my [...]
Equestrians practice social distancing while horseback riding in Napa. Photo © Nancy D. Brown Bandanas and masks have always been associated with cowboys and spaghetti Western movies. Now, due to COVID-19, the western bandana, mask and social distancing practices will be a way of life for horseback riding vacations. Most of us [...]
Horseback riding in Yellowstone Park with Covered Wagon dude ranch, Montana. Photo © Nancy D. Brown On a cool Sunday afternoon in late September, I arrived at Covered Wagon Ranch in the Gallatin Valley. Big Sky country was beginning to experience the fall color change in western Montana. Nelly, the teacup pig, [...]
Buying gifts for the horse crazy person in your life is easy, but when you want to go the extra mile and really make that special someone smile, you'll want to check out these equestrian gift ideas. From horse-themed gift cards to waterproof boots, horsey t-shirts and yoga on horseback, my list of 7 equestrian [...]
Stacy Westfall during a horse body language seminar in Montana. Photo © Nancy D. Brown Have you ever watched a horse and rider performance that brought you to tears? I confess that my eyes have welled up from watching some of the Budweiser Clydesdale commercials that air during the Super Bowl game, so [...]
Hall of Fame honorees from the National Cowgirl Museum. Photo © Nancy D. Brown "Cowgirls have a can do attitude," says Barbara Van Cleve. The Montana photographer and National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honoree was the first cowgirl that I encountered when I walked into the huge dining room at [...]
Some of the riders at the Cowgirl Spring Roundup There's girlfriend getaways and then there's cowgirl girlfriend getaways. What's the difference you ask? A girlfriend getaway typically involves cocktails, good food, time with friends, climbing a mountain or walking on the beach, followed by a soak in a hot tub, late night talks [...]
Wrangler Cindy moving cattle at The Resort at Paws Up. Photo © Nancy D. Brown Layered up like an onion, we were dressed for the unpredictable spring weather that presents itself in Montana. The itinerary said we would ride out rain or shine and fortunately, today, Mother Nature cooperated and the sun [...]