COWBOY FOR A DAY
Source: Speak Up
Alone cowboy on a horse silhouetted against the big Sky: it’s a classic image of the American West. But what is the reality of life for modern-day cowboys? How much skill does it take to ride a horse and to herd castle? “Dude ranches” are a popular form of agritourism. Riding in an important part of ranch life –but you don’t need to be an expert to enjoy your stay. You can ride an easy trail, watch ranchers and wranglers at work, hike, fish, or just sit back and enjoy this views!
Historically, dude ranches date back to the 1800s, when Westerners opened their homes to tired and hungry visitors. Money from guests and tourists soon became an important source of income to ranchers struggling to earn a living room livestock alone. Today there are several hundred dude ranches across the USA –many of them members of the Dude Ranches’ Association, which was formed back in 1926.
INTELLIGENT ANIMALS
Todd and Cindy Larsen run Crow Cree Guest ranch, a ranch of around 1.600 hectares near Belle Fourche in the west of South Dakota. The Larsens moved here in 1983 and have been operating as a guest ranch for past four years.
The relationship between cowboys and horses lies at the heart of Western culture. Horses and cattle are intelligent animals, says Larsen, and have their own personalities, too. Riding a horse for the first time isn’t easy –climbing into the saddle is one thing. But making the horse go where you want to is another thing altogether!
