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Pryor Mountains Horse Drive


Itinerary for Pryor Mountains Horse Drive



This is an authentic working cattle and horse ranch. Four generations of cowboys have taken care of this ranch since 1889 and you will ride with our family who owns and takes care of this working ranch since 1998. 

There are four specifically designated weeks where we work with nothing but horses: 
- Our first week of the guest season, in mid-April (our most popular week) - a 45 mile Horse Drive from our Wyoming ranch to our Montana ranch.  Horses spend the winter in Wyoming and when it is time to begin our guest season the horses need to be returned to the ranches grassland pastures for our guests to ride them.
- Our second horse week of the season is the first week of June.  We gather in all of our mares that spend the winter at the ranch and make the mare bands that we want for that year.  We add a stallion and then take the group out to a corner of the ranch for the summer.  Our mares are pasture bred and the stallions are removed in late August.  All of our colts are born in the open mountain country and raised by their mothers where they learn how to travel canyon trails and drink from open creeks and ponds. 
- Our third horse week is gathering in these mare bands mid to late October, when we are ready to make the registration papers and wean the colts. This is as great week to ride all the corners of the ranch and gather mares and colts and trail them back to the ranch headquarters. Work them down an alleyway to take pictures for registration papers, do their markings and at the end of the week wean the colts away from their mothers. We immediately take the colts to Wyoming for the winter where we can watch them and halter break them and sell a few of them.
- Our fourth horse week is our final week of the guest season, our memorable Horse Drive.  At this time, we trail 80-100 horses out of the Montana ranch for the winter on a late October Horse drive to Wyoming.


Our horse drives are intended for more experienced riders. Being able to canter for a long period of time is necessary at the start of the day and various times during the day to maintain control of the horse cavvy. A fast pace for a time followed by walking for a time gives horses as well as riders a chance to catch their breath. This is an exciting adventure for our guests and a unique opportunity for horse loving people.
Handling a large herd of horses is a different matter entirely than handling cattle. Loose horses are flighty and fast-moving, and have more stamina to cover longer distances over rough terrain than a horse with a saddle and a rider.
We will show you how to control a herd of horses and move them in a way where we can control them and take them where we want them without hurting the colts or running horses out of control. Western movies make it look like horses can run forever and that everyone runs everywhere but responsible horse people know that a walk or a canter are much more healthy and realistic.

We furnish a pommel bag to keep your camera and gloves and hand warmers in along with other important items you might need as you are riding out all day, like snacks. Most riding days we will take our lunch as most of the time we are riding in terrain that does not allow our lunch suburban to come. We will stop several times each day so you can take pictures or remove a jacket or get things out of your pommel bag or just let everyone get off their horse and rest.

Working with horses is a wonderful thrill. We share this unique love with all of the guests that come to the ranch. All of us and all those guests who come to spend a week at our ranch in one way or another share the common bond of loving horses. The ranch offers some unique opportunities to see horses in their natural environment and work with them in a special way.



Sample Itinerary: Spring Horse Drive - subject to changes 

The description below gives a general idea of the itinerary followed during our Spring horse drive (mid April). The Fall horse drive (mid/late October), follows the same route, but reverse.

Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival 
We are available to provide pick up for any guest at the airport or the Dude Ranch Lodge or Clocktower Inn in Billlings, Montana, as near to 4:00 P.M. as possible. 
We will drive to the ranch, meeting other guests in Lovell, Wyoming, who have elected to drive and we will all drive into the Pryor Mountains to the ranch for supper and room arrangements.  We will have a orientation meeting at that time for schedule instructions for the week.

Day 2 (Monday): Introduction
Breakfast on ranch schedule, travel to Wyoming for saddling and trailing horses to inspection corrals for first day. Guests are encouraged to participate in all things needing to be done with the cowboys. Lunch is brought to wherever the herd might be at lunch time. In the evening, horses need to be fed and watered and saddles need to be stored for the night. Supper will be served at the ranch at night.

Day 3 (Tuesday)Horse drive to Hough creek corral
Breakfast on ranch schedule, travel to Wyoming for saddling and trailing horses to inspection corrals for first day. Guests are encouraged to participate in all things needing to be done with the cowboys. Lunch is brought to wherever the herd might be at lunch time. In the evening, horses need to be fed and watered and saddles need to be stored for the night. We have corrals at Hough Creek for the horses to be cared for there. Supper will be served at the ranch at night.

Day 4 (Wednesday)Horse drive from Hough creek corral to Ranch
Breakfast on ranch schedule, travel to Hough creek corral to ride for the day. If all goes with plans, we should reach the ranch by late afternoon.  Horses need to be fed and watered and saddles need to be store in the barn for night. Guests are encouraged to participate in all things needing to be done at that time. Lunch will again be brought to wherever the herd might be at lunch time. Supper will be served at the ranch at night.

Day 5 (Thursday): Sorting
Breakfast on ranch schedule, and horses will be worked and trailed to new pastures. There are also horses on the ranch and they will need to be worked and arranged.  Guests are encouraged to participate in all things needing to be done at that time.  Lunch will be wherever our guests are riding at that time.  Supper will be served at the ranch at right.

Day 6 (Friday): Last day on the Ranch
Breakfast on ranch schedule, the ranch comprises about 33,000 acres and horses need to be gathered and arranged to complete the schedule that needs to be done. Lunch will be either at the ranch or wherever the guests will be riding on the ranch. We will hold a farewell meeting and make settlement with store purchases.

Day 7 (Saturday): Transfer to Billings
A light breakfast will be served and loading for the return to Billings. We usually arrive in Billings about noon.  We will take pictures and exchange goodbyes with cowboys and other guests before leaving the ranch.  Any of the guests that have driven their own vehicles will be ready to leave with our vehicle at the same time.
Drop-off in Billings.

* Subject to changes. Weather, an open gate or missing horses can change the schedule immediately.  We encourage our guests to take changes with us whenever they happen. Thank you for understanding.



2024 HORSE ROUNDUPS AND DRIVES
April 14th - 20th - Horse Drive from Wyoming winter pastures to Montana Ranch.
May 26th - June 1st - Gathering mares and adding stallions for the breeding season.
Oct. 13th -19th - Registration of weanling colts, putting mares out for the winter.
Oct. 20th - 26th - Horse drive to Wyoming.

Roundups (first week of June & mid-October)
These weeks will concentrate on working the horses at the ranch, making mare bands, and checking mare bands.



Non Riders

Non riding companion can join this adventure and follow the riding group by car. Inquire for more information.
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Pryor Mountains Horse Drive
Tour Code: HDMT01
7 days / 6 nights
Dates : April-May & Oct

Trip Rating :
Difficulty : Riding Level
Riding Level Explained
ABeginner
Beginner A rider who has limited experience, is unable to post the trot and does not canter.
BNovice
Novice A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting unassisted, capable of applying basic aids, comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length posting trots, and short canters.
CIntermediate
Intermediate A rider who has a firm seat, is confident and in control at all paces (including posting trots, two point canters and gallops), but does not ride regularly.
D Strong Intermediate
Strong Intermediate An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least 6 hours per day.
EAdvanced
All of the above, plus an independent seat, soft hands, and capable of handlinga spirited horse in open country.
Lodging: Standard
Lodging Level Explained
   
= Facilities in lodges, estancias, haciendas, resorts, etc.
   
Basic lodging - some with shared bathroom facilities, usually no AC or room service.
Regular standard room - usually with private bath.
 Accommodations with superior comforts.
   
 = Trips with nights in tent camps. Sometimes the first and last night are in hotels.
   
Basic tent camping - everyone helps out with camp chores.
Regular standard with some camp amenities and camp cook.
Camping facilities with superior comforts like camp shower, bathroom facility..
   
 = Trips that combine nights in hotels and camping.
   
Basic accommodation and basic camping facilities can be expected.
Regular standard with some nicer amenities.
Only assigned to hotel and camping facilities with superior comforts.

Online Reservation

Check here for details and availability
Season Tour Dates  Min / MaxReserve
A 2024 04/14 - 04/20 7d / 6n 7 day horse drive 6 /12 Sold Out
B 2024 05/26 - 06/01 7d / 6n 7 day horse roundup 6 /12 Sold Out
B 2024 10/13 - 10/19 7d / 6n 7 day horse roundup 6 /12 Sold Out
A 2024 10/20 - 10/26 7d / 6n 7 day horse drive 6 /12 Sold Out
Introduction
Day to Day Itinerary
Rates | Dates
Accommodation
Tack: Western
Horses: Quarter horses
Pace: All paces, some long days in the saddl...

Airport: Billings MT
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