skip to Main Content

RANCH WEEK VACATIONS

Everyone loves horses, that is what brings all of us together.  Cattle Drives hit the top of the bucket list for every western movie watcher but, Dryhead Ranch is the perfect place and Ranch weeks are the perfect blend of both cattle drives and horse riding adventures. Ranch weeks are the best.  We ride out daily from the ranch heading west up the canyon to gather cows and calves.  You get to experience the thrill of watching the cowboys work out pairs from the herd.  Then you get to see what it is like to work your horse into the herd to work out your own pair from the herd.  Nothing better can excite you more than the feel of being a partner with your horse, wide open beautiful landscapes and feeling your cowboy vacation unfold. Here are some helpful tips on “What to Bring”.

It’s hard to say that a ranch week at Dryhead is the best family vacation idea with total certainty, but we will say this: we sure do like to work hard and we also like to play hard. Come out to the house and stay a while. We’d love to have you!

The variety in each Ranch weeks is what we like best.  When you see the horses canter into the corral early in the morning with dust flying and hooves thundering you know it is going to be an amazing great day.  After breakfast everyone saddles up to heads out the north gate to the branding pasture, it is a completely different day than the day before.  You are headed to brand calves today.  The sunrise ride to get the cows is the realization and the awe of it all, you are on a horse, your favorite place to be. Soon the noise of cows and calves moving to the corner of the pasture brings the reality of the work that needs to be done.  Cowboys begin by roping calves and drag them to the branding stove and the work begins when Jake asks if YOU would like to take a job and share in the fun of branding calves.  Branding is required to prove ownership of our cattle.

Gals and guys alike take a job and become part of the team to get this job done.  It is required that each cowboy ropes each calf by both hind feet and drags each calf to the branding stove. The ground crew doctors and gives vaccination shots and ear notches according to each calf’s brand before they let the calf up.  Soon it is lunch time, the cows take their calves and go back to grazing and the cowboys and cowgirls find a place to sit down and lunch is enjoyed out in big sky country.

Ranch weeks begin in May and change with the seasons until October.  Branding weeks halt for our most popular horse week.  Making mare bands.  We spend the week gathering mares and colts from mountain pastures and bringing in the stallions from Wyoming to sort certain mares into bands so we can add the stallion and turn the band out into a secluded corner of the ranch for the summer breeding season.  This is the earliest booked up week of the year.  Summer seems to come in slowly as we move cows to high mountain pastures and fit in colt and horse training weeks.  Fall colors remind us that time to wean the calves at the end of September and haul them to Wyoming for the winter is leaving that feeling in the air. Each month has ranch work to share in.

MAY & JUNE

After cattle drives that bring cows to the ranch in May we brand several weeks until we get all our calves gathered up and branded.  Each week of cows and calves are turned out into summer pastures and kept separate from the cows and calves that are still needing to be branded.  Each week we ride through these branded calves checking for sickness.  Cowboys will rope and doctor any calves that are sick all season long.

June starts with the gathering of our 30+ head of mares who bring with them newly born colts.  The wild flowers and chokecherry blossoms are amazing and spring is at its best. One of our most popular weeks happens when we divide mares into mare bands and add stallions.  It’s great to see the stallion command and move his mare band out the gate and make them go to their corner of the ranch where they will spend the summer months.

Ranch weeks for the rest of June rush into getting cows and calves settled in summer pastures far away from the headquarters of the ranch.  Our riding circles get big during the summer and go in every direction from the ranch headquarters as we make sure our cows and horses stay in the pasture they are left to graze in.

JULY & AUGUST

Those wonderful days of summer slowly change our schedule to early morning rides and hot days.  The young horses come into the corral each evening to begin the training sessions that fill each evening until dark. Cattle are looked for and returned to our grazing pastures and neighboring strays are taken home.  All day rides are needed as we check for cattle to be doctored and fences that need a little attention and salt blocks put out for mineral deficient cows. Days in summer are unpredictable and could be spent looking for colts that are needed at the ranch or heifers that are up the mountain in the wrong pasture or checking on mare bands tucked away in the canyon.  We live at the foot of the Pryor Mountains and headquarters sits in the middle of Dryhead Canyon.  All rides are up or down in rocky, sage brush infested terrain that always offers riding challenges. The sure footedness of your horse will win your trust and admiration on the first day.  Your skill in riding will be challenged and tested each day and your level of skill will remarkably improve by the end of the week.  Beginners become skilled riders and skilled riders love the challenges that show up on each ride.

SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER

Ever wondered how we keep track of all our cows and calves? Ride, Ride, Ride.  That is why we have horses, we raise horses, we train horses, we offer you a new look at what horses can and will do.  You ride with us to find heifers out in the neighboring pastures. You ride to bring in horses for training.  We ride to fix the fence, so cows stay on the right grass.  You ride to bring in all the cows so we can wean the calves.  Dryhead Ranch is real, authentic, all about family. We look forward to having you come ride with us. We ride to bring in the mare bands so we can wean the colts.  We ride to take the bulls out of the cows, so our calves are born during March and April. We ride to put the cows in grassy places tucked away from the easy places to graze. We ride to find wandering horse colts 8 miles away from the ranch who had escaped into the neighbors. No 4×4’s here. 33,000 owned and leased acres takes a lot of riding and management.  That is what makes a real ranch and ranch work and good horses for you.  We love good horses.

Book Your Guest Ranch Vacation Today!
(307)-548-6688

SEE WHAT OUR GUEST HAD TO SAY!

One of my favorite images from MT last summer at the Dryhead Ranch was chosen as the Opening Shot in this month’s February 2020 issue of Western Horseman magazine!  Watching James ride Yeller and rope his calf was truly one of the highlights of my trip.  The determination and seriousness on his face is priceless! Lol  Good thing two grown cowboys were nearby to help out. -Pam Gabriel Photography

The future belongs to the few that are still willing to get their hands dirty.  Thanks to all the farmers and ranchers for keeping us well fed. -PhyllisBurchettPhoto

So excited to open the May edition of Western Horseman magazine April 2020.  It be honest, during all of the craziness that is currently happening, it’s been very hard for me to stay positive about my small business.  The opening shot couldn’t have come at a better time for me!  Stay healthy and happy, my friends!  I hope to photograph you all in the coming months. -Hilary Bishop

Well, its back to reality and back to work for me today!  I’m still dreaming of the aroma of sage in the pastures in Montana and the thundering hooves. -Roam Photos

I got to photograph some colt starting while out in Montana.  It was amazing to watch the way they communicated with their young horses and Jake and Matthew were kind enough to share stories and technique with us while calmly working with each horse!  I’m sharing a couple of the most exciting moments here,  but all in all it was a pretty calm affair. -Fast Horse Photography

14 years ago and still thinking about my experience everyday. Unforgettable. -Camille Brit

 A place to meet old and new friends.  Every year I learn a little more about the work of the cowboys, a little more about how to handle horses.  It’s a place that decelerates.  All work is done in cow time.  After the holiday is before the holiday.  So I look forward to next year -Andreas Will, Germany

Such incredible memories of my week on the ranch.  A long time dream of mine and I just don’t have words for the “wow” moments I had on that trip.  Hearing the cowboys bring in the horses that first morning, galloping to catch up to and turn the strays, the stars at night, to name a few! Thank you for the memories I will forever cherish -Maureen Knibloe

Solitude. Peace. Adventure. Friendship. Great food. As close to the real West as could be.  Treat that childhood cowboy wanna-be to something special. -Jimmy Addis

I had a great time at the Dryhead Ranch.  I loved my time in the saddle experiencing Montana and getting to know the family.  It left me the best kind of tired, ready for a good nights sleep after a delicious dinner.  I’d like to think that stay gave me the clarity of mind to make the best decision of my life…to move out to Montana and enjoy riding my horse surrounded by it’s beauty…Read More

There is no place better to see beautiful scenery and enjoy the cowboy lifestyle.  Every time I go, I learn and grow thanks to the outstanding team at Dryhead.  Thank you all so very much! -Ken Fisher

For me it was the most beautiful travel I’ve never done!!!  It was a dream since I am 10 years, and I really hope I could come and see all of us one more time… -Isabelle Isa

Still my favorite place on earth!  I dream about it every night..  My feet itch to get back only I will probably never leave again..  From the feeling of family epic horses and a once in a lifetime experience..  Nothing could ever top the Dryhead.  It healed my soul in so many ways I couldn’t begin to explain..All I can say is thank you and hopefully see you all real soon. -Caty Greve

I can honestly say that this was one of the best vacations I’ve ever been on. Great food, great staff and some of the best scenery you could ask for. I’ll be back, and it won’t be fast enough. Jen was great in getting us started and getting us anything we needed during my stay. Jake was great with me while working with the cattle and horses as a novice rider, and the food was…Read More

Sore muscles and a dirty face has never felt so magnificent!  Having the privilege of joining the ranch family, building relationships, working hard, and experiencing the majesty all around, was truly an unforgettable experience. -Monique Gilbert

Friendly welcoming and had a fabulous time on this true cowboy hands on experience with fabulous horses.  Good homemade food set to your dietary requirements.  Clean and homey accommodations.  We felt like family and have returned for a second time. Hopefully we get to go again. -Michelle Robinson

This is a great place with great people—and the real deal, nothing fancy, which greatly contributes to why I keep coming back.  It doesn’t matter whether you are with a big group of people, or the only guest, which, by some strange coincidence, I have practically been the only guest most of the times I have been to Dryhead.  The scenery is amazing.  And you can be sure of a lot of riding on good…Read More

Once in a lifetime experience never to be forgotten.  You really do become a part of the family. -Pat Hofmann

I just came home from a week at the Dryhead Ranch and wanted to thank Iris, Jennifer, Jackie, and Jake for the greatest vacation I have ever had! I have always wanted to see Montana and this experience was more than I ever hoped for. The bunkhouse, food, horses, scenery and hospitality shown by this wonderful family is something I will always fondly remember. I came home with answers and this really did change my life in a…Read More

Third time and keeps getting better! A big thanks to Jake, Sky, Jennifer, Jackie, Cannon, Suzie, and everyone else at the Dryhead for making my third trip to the ranch so much fun. We really got to experience a little bit of everything last week! The other guests and I really got along and seemed like had I had known them for years instead of just a few days. The warm family atmosphere at the…Read More

    Your Name (required)

    Your Phone Number (required)

    Your Country (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Subject

    Your Message

      Your Name (required)

      Your Phone Number (required)

      Your Country (required)

      Your Email (required)

      Subject

      Your Message

      Back To Top