Transfer Option:

Riding at the Ranch:
Tough, seasoned ranch horses will take you trail riding or rounding up cattle. Learn the cowboy 'fun'damentals of riding, try some barrel racing, team penning or practice your roping and reining. Tighten up yer cinch for a riding challenge you won't forget -- a Wild Cow Hunt!
Have you ever watched an old Western movie and marveled as the hero galloped his horse across the screen with reins in one hand and firing off shots left and right? Ever wished you could try it? If the romance and excitement of the Old West are calling you, then Cowboy Mounted Shooting might be just the sport for you! Available upon request during your stay ... ~$50 per person.
The better you ride, the more challenging and exciting your riding adventure can be, through the same country traveled by Geronimo and Cochise!
What would a Ranch Vacation be like without a Cattle Roundup?? Because the climate here in southwestern New Mexico is so mild during any season, we calve year ‘round. This means most of our guests have an opportunity to help us with every phase of cattle work, and can include roundups, branding, sorting, weaning, vaccinating, castrating, moving to new pastures. We raise Texas Longhorn and cross-bred Brangus cattle and believe it's important to preserve as much of the traditional "old West" as possible...there sure ain't much of it left! 

Sample of a
Week at the ranch

Every Day:  All of our days may vary, depending on the level of riders, jobs we need to do, or weather conditions. We begin feeding livestock and bringing saddle horses to the barn for grooming, feeding and saddling at 7 a.m. The quality of your experience is only limited by your own expectations and your desire to be involved. By 8:30, you're invited to join the rest of the crew for a hearty family style breakfast around the table at Headquarters, meeting back at the barn by 9:30 a.m. preparing to ride.
No riding on Sunday or Saturday.  You can  hike, pan for gold in the creek, bird watch, enjoy the scenery.

Sunday: You can arrive any time after 3 PM.  If we provide a pick up from Silver City for you, we will pick you up at 5:30 PM either from the airport or the bus (shuttle bus from El Paso). If you drive in, you have an opportunity go foe a hike, pan for gold, watch birds or just "take it easy"! 
Monday Options: Join a ride which compliments your riding skill level and interests. Two 1/2 day rides (with lunch at Headquarters) or a full days riding to explore the thousands of scenic acres with lunch on the trail! Faster paced riding will be based on your individual riding skill level. Your safety is our primary concern! Every day you'll have the opportunity to experience abundant wildlife, amazing geological phenomena, incredible vistas, nearly perfect weather!
Tuesday Options: Break up into teams for some Team Penning or Sorting or two 1/2 day rides. Team Penning has become one of the fastest new equestrian sports in the nation. It's fun, improving individual horsemanship skills. Lunch at Headquarters. Either trail riding after lunch or more Team Penning.
Wednesday Options: Spend the entire day exploring the Ruins and Caves of the Mimbres Indians. This will be a relaxing, pack your lunch ride. These ruins are between 700 and 1300 years old!
Thursday Options: Half day ride and Barrel Racing (for fun!) in the afternoon. Lunch at Headquarters.
Friday Options: Explore the canyons at Hells Half Acre! This will be a full days ride suitable for faster or slower riders.
Saturday : Early morning departure, so you can catch the morning flight or shuttle bus. If you are driving, take you time and depart mid-morning.

In 2010 the itinerary will conclude in the afternoon of Friday - it will be a 6 night package - still the same amount of riding for the week.

Relax! There's no rush-hour traffic to fight, no appointments to keep! This is about as hectic as it gets! The days' activities are discussed the night before at supper. Your voice counts! So let us hear what you think! Our goal is to help you realize as many of your riding dreams as possible It is strongly recommended that you are at least a confident, strong beginner. (A "confident beginner" is someone who is comfortable controlling the horse at a walk or trot).
While there may be times it's necessary, we discourage 'nose to tail' trail riding at the ranch! It's horseback riding the way it was intended to be, in country that can only be experienced from the back of a good horse. We do ask that you listen to and respect your Trail Boss, following his/her directions at all times. At 5000' elevation, and with daytime temperatures ranging from 48 degrees in the winter months to 98+ degrees in warmest summer months, four mild New Mexico seasons make outdoor horseback adventures possible year 'round. The Southwest is a magical part of our great country. Owners Alan and Debbie Eggleston feel they have the very best that southwestern New Mexico has to offer and they are excited to be able to share it with you!
You'll get as much "hands-on" time as you want! As part of the crew we invite you to get yer hands dirty. This isn't a "foo-foo" dude ranch. This is ranch life pretty much the way is has always been in New Mexico for over 100 years. It's a lifestyle that is fast disappearing, and we work hard to preserve it. The smells, the sounds, the dust in the air, the animals are all part of the experience. Wake to the melody of birds in the trees, horses anxiously waiting to be fed and the sight of a spectacular sun splashing over Turtle Rock. Dude Ranch?? We don't think so!
Enjoy a quiet moment on your porch with a fresh cup of coffee brewed in your cabin before helping with morning ranch chores, which can include feeding livestock, pulling saddle horses from pastures, grooming and tacking. While not mandatory, we encourage your help. We are able to keep our rates reasonable because we maintain a small staff - and they appreciate the extra hands!

At 5000' elevation, and with daytime temperatures ranging from 48 degrees in the winter months to 98 degrees in warmest summer months, four mild New Mexico seasons make outdoor horseback adventures possible year 'round. New Mexico truly is the "Land of Enchantment"

Sunshine, clear blue skies during the day and stunning evening skies are the norm!

• Personal Items: tooth paste and tooth brush, face soap, shaving items, skin lotion, and shampoo/conditioner - alarm clock, if you need one. We provide hair dryers, towels and other bedding. There are no TV's or radios in the bunk houses, but books and board games.

You will stay in comfortable, rustic cabins and guest houses. Each guest house is equipped with comfortable queen sized beds, thick down comforters, full baths, and plush towels.

 The Ranch prides itself on home-style meals using home grown, free-range, chemical-free beef and buffalo dishes. Organically grown fruits and vegetables are offered on our menu when in season and available. Sorry, but we can cater to Vegetarian but not to Vegan diets.

 RIO LOBO GUESTHOUSE 
Rio Lobo is a cozy little 2-bedroom house built in the 1940's. It was used as the original bunk house here at Headquarters. We've spruced it up plenty, the hard wood floors shine and barn wood walls provide the warmth of real western atmosphere. Living space includes a sitting/living room, small kitchen, full bath and screened porch. At approximately 900 square feet, this little house will comfortably sleep one single, 2 familiar couples or 3 singles very comfortably. Amenities include refrigerator, micro, thick towels, two full sized and one queen sized bed with down comforters. Air conditioning in warmer months. 

NEW MEXICO RANCH HOUSE 
Cozy and comfortable, this renovated ranch house is nearly 100 years old! Nestled in the trees near Bear Creek, this house is either a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house with a giant veranda overlooking the horse pasture; or, it can be opened up to a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house for families or larger groups. Amenities include rocking chairs, refrigerator, coffee maker, coffee, tea, milk, fresh bed linens, comforters. The bathroom has an antique claw-foot bathtub, shower and plush, thick towels. Air conditioning during warmer summer months.

LONGHORN CABIN
Comfortable 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom. Full kitchen, living room, covered porch with rocking chairs.

HIDEOUT CABINS

Four cozy little cabins have all the rustic comforts. After a full day of riding, good grub and great company, hunker down in your own ‘hideout’.

At sun-up, treat yourself to coffee on your private deck, experiencing the incredible quiet, magical colors, waiting for the early morning stir of young colts nickering to be fed. Perfect for a single -- or a familiar two. Amenities include queen sized bed, twin bed, shower and/or deep bath tub, thick towels, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker. Air conditioning during warmer months.

CLOUD SPITTER

The view from here is a spectacular 360 degrees! This southwestern pueblo-style, tri-story adobe sits high above Headquarters. It will comfortably accommodate as many as 2 singles or 2 couples, with a queen and full bed. Amenities include small dining area with microwave and refrigerator, 2 full bathrooms, thick towels and plush comforters, washer/dryer. Staying in The Cloudsplitter requires that you arrive with your own transportation.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).
Passport Note
(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel.
ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov. The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.

New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.
Visa Note
(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.
Validity
Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.
Applications to:
Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).
Working Days Required
Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.