Horseback riding holidays at Beaumont High Country Experience in Southland, New Zealand, offer more than just a unique sheep mustering experience on the 20,000-acre sheep and cattle station. Head to the 160-year-old New Zealand ranch and you’ll discover Flecks Hut, a small, unassuming building with a big history.

Guests ride out to Flecks Hut

Back when the hut was inhabited by the Fleck family more than 130 years ago, horseback riding holidays were non-existent at Beaumont. Before the Flecks even came to the live at the ranch in the 1870s, Beaumont was farmed as early as 1850, making it one of the first runs to be taken up in Southland. At that time it was managed by Captain William Stevens, an ex-whaling man who officially took over Beaumont Station in 1857 after it was purchased by the government following growing concern over ‘squatter’ farming on Southland. Stevens purchased two properties, Beaumont and Fairlight, in partnership with his half brother, Captain Howell. When the partnership dissolved after a couple of year, Stevens took full ownership of Beaumont, leaving Fairlight to his half brother. Captain Stevens is synonymous with much of the early history of nearby township Riverton, the first settlement in Southland, his sisters being the first white women to land in that part of New Zealand.

And so it was several decades later in the late 1870s when the Fleck family came to live at Beaumont. John and Mary Fleck had emigrated from Ireland in 1862, and for many years John worked as a shepherd on the adjacent Dunrobin Station. It was only when he was offered work at Beaumont as a boundary rider, riding the outskirts of the property to collect wandering stock on unfenced land, that John and his family came to live at Beaumont, in a small hut that took the Fleck name.

Flecks hut itself is a small, single-room abode still boasting most of its original features, including the door and table which have been inscribed with many signatures over time – some dating back as far as 100 years. Still clad with the original corrugated iron, the hut was imported all the way from England – a very long ocean journey in those days.

During their time at Flecks Hut, Mary gave birth to two daughters who sadly died in infantry, and a cairn still today marks their grave where they were buried on a rocky outcrop a short distance from the hut. On leaving Beaumont, John purchased 150 acres close to nearby township Riverton, where his family still own land today.

Offering horseback riding holidays at Beaumont today is the Minty family, whose farming history in Southland dates back three generations. The Mintys purchased the homestead block of Beaumont in 1982 before acquiring the Ardross lease in 1993, bringing the station to its present size of 20,000 acres. On its horse riding holidays, the Minty family enlightens guests about much of the ranch’s history, and takes trails rides out to Flecks Hut itself where guests can see the historical property in much of its original state.

The Minty family has not only opened its doors to guests for horseback riding holidays, but continue to operate a working cattle and sheep station, making Beaumont High Country Experience exactly that – a working ranch experience, not just a horseback riding holiday. Travel to the New Zealand ranch and you’ll discover on horseback the amazing, natural landscape on a true high country farming adventure. Whether it’s joining the mustering team to help with the gathering of sheep and cattle in the high country, or enjoying off-road backcountry horseback riding over diverse, hilly terrain, your horseback riding holiday at Beaumont will be part of the ranch’s new history.

For more information on horseback riding holidays at Beaumont High Country Experience, visit Top50Ranches.com

Colorado guest ranch Majestic Dude Ranch is no ordinary ranching operation. When LA movie theater owner Robert Bucksbaum recently aquired what was previously Mancos Lake Ranch and renamed it Majestic Dude Ranch, he knew it would be a challenge. So how has Robert fared in the dude ranch vacation industry? We spoke to the Colorado dude ranch owner on his journey from city slicker to guest rancher...

Robert - from Majestic Crest Theater to Majestic Dude Ranch!

So Robert, what made you decide to buy the ranch in the first place?

I plead temporary insanity, your honor… You have to be a little crazy to even consider buying a dude ranch these days! I’m actually working my way up from the bottom of the toughest industries - single screen movie theatres to dude ranches. My next business venture will probably involve a popsicle stand in Antarctica! Seriously, I was looking for an excuse to have the most fun one can possibly have and still call it work…

So far, what has been the biggest challenge of running a dude ranch?

I never had a clue about how difficult it would be to run a dude ranch. My first plan was to buy as many fun toys as possible - kayaks, high-end mountain bikes, fly-fishing rods, trucks, horses, a baseball field, etc - and just plan on having a blast with all the guests. Only I didn’t consider the amount of behind-the-scenes work it takes to enjoy all the things Majestic Dude Ranch has to offer. I remember going to my first dude ranch convention (more fun than you can imagine!), surrounded by second- and third-generation ranchers with tons of experience. They were having a Q&A and I was the first to raise my hand and asked the group, “How do you operate a dude ranch?” After about 10 minutes of laughter, I said I was serious but no one really believed me. I thought there would be a “How to Operate a Dude Ranch for Dummies” guidebook, but all I could find was this old '50s book called “Westward Ho”. It was based on a true story of a New York couple who left high society to operate a dude ranch in New Mexico. It was a terrific book but it scared me to death, describing all the problems that would occur in your first year of operation. Funny enough, just about everything in that book came to fruition in my first year – I guess nothing much has changed since the '50s!

How does life at Majestic Dude Ranch differ to life in LA, and what have been the biggest lifestyle adaptations you've had to make?

I can’t possibly imagine a bigger extreme going from LA to Colorado. LA is super fast-paced, crowded and everyone seems to be on a mission to go somewhere all the time. CO is laid back, wide open and people are so genuinely nice. I can honestly say there is no better place to live than southwest Colorado in the summertime – pristine air, crystal clean water, no traffic, terrific people, breathtaking scenery… LA has its good points as well, with so much to do and terrific weather in the winter, so I feel very lucky and fortunate to experience both worlds. When I first got to the ranch last year in January, there was about five feet of snow on the ground. It doesn’t snow much in LA, so my kids were running around the ranch in super-thin white socks - after about an hour they were reeling in pain from near frostbite! We had a few pipes freeze and burst because the water wasn’t properly shut down. So I had to think of some creative ways for my kids to be able to shower, use the bathroom and thaw out their feet and hands. If you ever need to melt snow in a hurry – I’m the guy to ask.

How has your experience of being a movie theater owner helped you in taking on a dude ranch?

I think my experience serving in the Army as a paratrooper helped the most, since I gained a tremendous amount of confidence and experience from training and "roughing it" in several different environments. Operating single-screen movie theatres involves putting out small fires and dealing with hundreds of customers at a time – so pretty similar to operating a ranch. I learned that it’s basically impossible to please everyone in a movie theatre business – you’re always going to encounter someone who had a bad day and will take it out on the staff. I remember one time I had a sold-out show with 450 customers. One of the rollers on our platter holding the film broke so I basically had to hold the film in place by hand for a 3-hour movie. Every hour or so, my arms would get tired and the film would skip a beat. Even though 99% of the audience had no idea what went on behind the scenes, I ended up giving everyone free popcorn and a free pass to come back another time. But I still had several customers that vehemently complained and acted as if I’d ruined their entire lives. Dealing with customers at the ranch is a pleasure, since most Majestic guests are so grateful and are even willing to give you a hand just to gain the experience of ranch life. It’s really an amazing transformation that take place each week when the guests arrive. At first, they are all amped up and stressed out from their daily life and workload. As soon as they see the ranch and experience some of the unique activities we offer, they quickly shed their anxieties, relax and have the time of their life.

Are there any similarities between the two lifestyles - how have they merged?

Well, I had no problem setting up an outdoor movie theatre at the ranch with fresh popcorn! It’s really special for guests to be able to experience an outdoor movie under more stars than they’ve probably seen in a lifetime and not have to worry about cold weather or mosquitoes. It’s quickly become one of our most popular nighttime activities and has really helped bring my two worlds together.

What do your family think of ranch life?

I'm recently divorced and the ranch has helped in my relationship with my ex-wife – specifically in the way we raise and interact with our children. I have three kids - identical 13-year-old twin boys and a seven-year-old girl. I can’t think of a better atmosphere to raise kids and it’s a terrific balance they share between life in LA and life on the ranch. My boys love baseball - so of course I had to be the only dude ranch in the world with its own baseball field and batting cage! My daughter loves horses and dancing, so line dancing is a big part of our nightly activities. I’ve met many adults and kids that grew up on ranches and they seem to be the most well-adjusted people on earth, so I think this experience can only bring my kids and I closer together.

What are hopes for Majestic Dude Ranch - where do you see it in five years' time?

Just about every dude ranch owner I spoke to gave me the same advice: “You’re probably going to want to spend a ton of money on the ranch first year – don’t! I guess I’m not very good at taking advice – I spent almost as much in upgrades in the first year than I did on the original purchase of the ranch. Every year I plan on making significant improvements so I can keep guests returning and hopefully get the word out that the Majestic is one place that creates special memories that last a lifetime. I’d love to be one of those ranches that don’t worry about marketing and just welcome back the same guests year after year.

Happy guests at Majestic

What's the best thing about life as a dude ranch owner?

By far, the best thing about dude ranch life is the guests you meet and the fact you’re establishing lifelong friends. Despite all the hard work, the lifestyle is extremely worthwhile – especially after seeing the true joy on guests’ faces after experiencing some of the unique activities we offer at the ranch. And that makes it pretty tough to say goodbye each week. But thanks to social media, we’re all able to remain pretty close during the off season.

And how are your cowboy skills coming along?!

I’ve become an expert at mucking stalls – it’s all in the wrist! Most of my experience is trial by error. I remember being awoken by a guest at 3:00 in the morning one night: “Excuse me Robert, but are the horses supposed to be outside?” Someone had left one of our gates open so I was walking around in complete darkness catching horses on the baseball field, playing volleyball, destroying our archery course, eating hundreds of bales of hay… It took me and my boys and their friends three days to pick up all the poop – we found some in the most interesting places. I’ve also developed a special bond with our horses, so I can help calm people's nerves when they are too timid to ride. It’s so important to match the horse with the right guest and vice versa – most of the time we get it right. Some guests even referred to me as a horse whisperer, which makes me really happy! Not bad for a one-time city slicker…

And finally...Describe a typical day on the ranch

I love spending time with the guests so in guest season I’m usually serving as an assistant mountain bike guide, riding horseback or taking guests to a special fly-fishing spot. Since activities start at breakfast and last until well past sunset, I spend the early morning hours preparing for the day, and the nighttime hours on marketing. Basically, I’m looking at 18-hour days during season. In the off season, I spend around ten hours a day marketing. And I wouldn’t have it any other way – it’s what I love to do.

For more information on dude ranch vacations at Majestic Dude Ranch, view their ranch profile at Top50Ranches.com

Running a guest ranch is about much more than playing host and offering excellent hospitality. Providing dude ranch vacations brings with it a whole set of challenges as well as constant change, to which luxury dude ranch resorts and working ranches alike much adapt to in order to keep their ranching businesses – and their livelihoods – alive.

Ranching and the recession
One of the biggest challenges even the best guest ranches have had to adapt to, just like the rest of the western world, is the recent economic downturn. Tracey O’Connell, owner of Canada guest ranch Tod Mountain, found herself in a particularly unfavorable position just as the recession hit. Having purchased the ranch just a few months prior, Tracey was forced to quickly adapt her plans to allow for the sudden economic instability. “Construction started on Tod Mountain Ranch just a few months before the recession hit – not a great time to start a business!” she recalls. “So from day one the business plan had to be redeveloped.” Along with financial implications, the recession has also significantly changed the demographic of Tod Mountain’s guests.

Tracey was forced to adapt Tod Mountain's marketing strategy when the recession hit

“In our first year of operation, the majority of our guests came from Europe, but over the past few years we’ve welcomed far more guests from within Canada – a significant proportion of them from our own province of British Columbia,” explains Tracey, who was forced to adapt Tod Mountain Ranch’s marketing strategy and budget accordingly. “Only for the 2012 season does the number of European travellers seem to be increasing – we are certainly looking forward to welcoming them back.”

Another Canada guest ranch which had to totally re-think its marketing strategy is Three Bars Ranch. Says the BC guest ranch’s owner Tyler Beckley: “Up until recently, we never considered the local market as a significant part of our business, but in the last few years people are traveling much closer to home, something which has made us totally re-think our marketing strategy.” Another challenge Tyler and the Three Bars team faced was a shift in the booking cycle, with guests who would normally book dude ranch vacations six or seven month in advance, instead signing on the dotted line as close to two or three weeks prior to their ranch vacation. “This has made planning and staffing very difficult,” admits Tyler.

Dean and Karen May of North Fork Ranch in Colorado, USA, also had to adapt their staffing principles in the face of the recession. “We have had to hire fewer staff, but rotate their schedules to keep them under 40 hours per week – while still ensuring guests get a full staff interaction,” explains Dean. And instead of discounting their ranch vacations, Dean and Karen have instead chosen to give guests more their money, adding value with extra activities included in the price. “We have added zip line, a jeep tour and mountain biking – all contracted through local companies, which helps all of us.”

North Fork Ranch offers guests more for their dollar

Further north in Wyoming at the Lazy L&B Ranch, Lee Naylon has faced similar challenges. “Over the last few years, those guests finding the money for a dude ranch vacation have tended to choose the same three weeks in summer. This focused demand means that we have to turn some guests away for those three weeks, while finding ourselves unable to fill other weeks in the season.” Lee has found the personal touch helpful in securing bookings, and regularly visits with potential guests to learn what could persuade them to take a dude ranch vacation at Lazy L&B. “It is wonderful to speak to potential guests and find out what it is they want,” says Lee. “One thing appears to be shorter ranch vacations, often just for a few days.” This has meant having to adjust staffing, meals, and horseback riding schedules, something Lee and her family are still brainstorming on how best to manage. “We have definitely had to change our mind set as to how to accommodate shorter stays, but we understand the way things are for guests, too, so we do as much as we can to accommodate their needs.”

Robert Bucksbaum agrees. “It’s tough out there these days,” admits the LA movie theater owner, who is relatively new to the ranching world, having acquired Majestic Dude Ranch in Colorado just one year ago. “It can be hard to convince someone to spend a significant chunk of change on a vacation. We appreciate that guests are spending their hard-earned money, especially in today’s tough economy, so we strive to make sure they get their money’s worth in return. I find that offering all-inclusive packages allows guests to forget about being 'nickel and dimed' with added costs for food, activities or tours for the week – they can just relax and have the time of their life.”

Remote access
While the remote location of some guest ranches is a big attraction for many travelers looking to escape from the city or the hustle and bustle of everyday life, for the ranches themselves such a secluded environment can bring with it a real set of challenges. Says Lee: “We understand it can be hard for guests, especially families, to travel a long way to reach our ranch. To help fund the expense of travel we offer lower-priced ranch vacations – this not only makes getting to Lazy L&B that bit more affordable, but our ranch vacation packages just as attractive as more conveniently located ranches.”

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort's remote location poses logistical challenges

For Canada guest ranch Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, its remote location on the west coast of Vancouver island poses very real logistical challenges. “The remoteness of the lodge always brings a good twist to the conversation,” says Kathy MacRae, social media and marketing manager at the tented safari camp, whose guest’s kick-start their wilderness adventure with a jaw-dropping float plane ride from Vancouver straight to the ranch’s dock. What might be a novelty for guests is a real logistical challenge for Clayoquot, however, which had to find a practical yet cost-effective way of shipping supplies. “We boat all supplies in and out all year long, from food orders to construction equipment,” explains Kathy. “Out of season, the small crew that stays behind to maintain the resort and feed the 30-plus horses relies on boats to get them in and out of the lodge.” That means a 40-minute boat ride from Tofino, which can sometimes take much longer “– or at least it can feel much longer, what with our wild west coast weather that we get from October to March!” laughs Kathy. While daily items like food are brought in by the nine boats used for the guest ranch’s water activities, shipping in heavy materials requires a much larger boat – an 80-foot landing craft tank carrier, to be exact. Says Kathy: “It’s a real ‘Saving Private Ryan’-style US navy boat!”

For Tyler, the rural location of Three Bars Ranch poses a very different challenge: the divide between the urban and rural population. “Some people just don’t know anything about nature or agriculture,” he explains. “They might have every new gadget and are constantly connected via social media, but they don’t know how to have our kind of fun.” With this type of market proving notoriously difficult for guest ranches to reach, Tyler took the controversial decision to provide satellite TV, Wi-Fi and cell phone reception on-site. “But if I and my staff do our job right,” insists Tyler, “the TV stays off; the cell phones come out less and less, and, maybe by the end of the week, actually stay in the room. We have a goal here at the ranch – if half of our guests are not crying on checkout because they are sad to leave, we have not done our job.”

It is the physical geography and climate that poses a very real threat to Tod Mountain’s existence – something Tracey knows through bitter experience. “Our ranch is in prime forest fire territory and, every year since opening, we have experienced fires within 50 kilometers of the ranch,” she explains. Although a constant worry for Tracey to have not only her home, but her whole source of income under threat, she still manages to find positives in the face of danger. “Although we have lost the use of a number of our trails to the west of our property, the construction of a new fireguard has opened up a whole new trail for us.”

Personality tests
With people of all backgrounds and personalities taking dude ranch vacations, another challenge faced by every ranch is the many different ages, tastes and expectations of their guests. How do ranches adapt to providing each guest with what is their idea of the perfect ranch vacation? “Our team is as diverse as the guests we welcome,” explains Tracey. “Tod Mountain Ranch employees are truly international with a broad age range – from 20 to, well, much older! And all with diverse backgrounds and lifestyles.”

“We hand-pick each and every one of North Fork Ranch’s staff,” adds Dean, whose small, family-owned and operated ranch focuses on attention to detail when it comes to guest hospitality. “Personalities are what makes people special, so we meet our guests needs with a ‘can do, will do’ attitude.”

Lee, also, believes enthusiasm is the key. “I hire staff with a mutual enthusiasm, and a desire to work hard and enjoy where they are. Our guests are always impressed not only with our staff’s attentiveness, but by how well they all get along together.”

Needless to say it takes a special team of staff to offer the uncompromising hospitality required on guest ranches, which is why Robert goes to great lengths to ensure Majestic’s employees are the best of the best. “We typically evaluate between 5,000 and 10,000 resumes every year,” he explains. “We conduct intense interviews and extensive background checks to make sure our staff are qualified and prepared for the challenges of helping run the ranch.”

Tyler wholly embraces so-called ‘difficult’ guests “– the kind of people who go through life getting what they need by complaining,” he says. “What we do is treat these guests like normal people. It might take a day or two, but most actually change while they are here. Time and time again, it is the most demanding guests who come to us at the end of the week, thank us for the time of their lives, and re-book for next year.”

Tyler's dedicated staff at Three Bars Ranch make every guest's ranch vacation special

“But you just never know what type of stressful job or situation someone goes through before arriving at the ranch,” adds Robert. “And it pays to give people the benefit of the doubt.” This was never truer than the time one of his guests complained about everything as soon as she stepped foot on Majestic soil, with nothing Robert or his staff could do seeming to please her. “But, as we do with all our ‘tough’ guests, we tried to personalize her vacation, finding out her interests doing everything we could to make sure she had a terrific time,” he explains. “At the end of the trip she cried, gave me a long hug and said she didn’t want to leave. She later explained that she had recently lost a family member, and was so grateful to us for ‘putting up’ with her that she wrote individual notes to all the staff, personally thanking them for their hospitality.”

And it is this uncompromising spirit of perseverance that keeps the guest ranching world alive. Whether the challenge comes from one guest, a shift in the economy or a force of nature, guest ranch owners are constantly adapting and changing to keep their livelihoods - well, alive. And that’s something a lot of businesses could learn from.

Faced with the challenge of finding the perfect ranch vacation? Find the one for you at Top50Ranches.com

Rancho Los Banos in Sonora, Mexico, recently received a visit from a UK national newspaper's roving reporter. Amy Willis, LA-based digital editor of British daily newspaper The Telegraph, paid a visit to the Mexico working ranch earlier this year for the Feburary roundup and, inspired by her incredible trip, wrote this article for the news title.

Today Los Banos serves as an adventure guest ranch

In her piece entitled 'The last Mexican vaquero', Willis pens the life of Diego Madrid, a 70-year-old vaquero who "has spent his life working in the foothills of the Sierra Madres and know the 30,000 acres of desert savanna as if it was palm of his own hand".

Rancho Los Banos's longest-serving vaquero recounts some of his most memorable times on the ranch - from roping bulls on his saddle horn as a brave 18-year-old cowboy, to riding under the stars on 24-hour cattle round-ups. "Nowadays they wait for the sun to come up," says Diego in the article.

Learn more about the life of working vaqueros in Mexico and read the full story here.

Inspired to take a ranch vacation to Rancho Los Banos? For more information and to book, visit Top50Ranches.com

Tracey O’Connell, owner of Tod Mountain Ranch in BC, Canada, explains the challenges faced with running a guest ranch located in prime forest fire territory...

“Every year since opening we have experienced fires within 50km of the ranch,” explains Tracey. “The most noteworthy – and scary – came in 2009, when lightening started a fire on the mountain just opposite the ranch.”

Terrifyingly, the fire raged for several weeks and travelled down the mountain to within 1km of Tod Mountain ranch. Staff and guests were ready to evacuate the Canada guest ranch at a moment’s notice, and evacuation plans were even put in place for the horses. “With the assistance of the RCMP, we planned to run our herd of horses 5km down a gravel road to a neighbour’s property,” Tracey explains. “Our neighbour had kindly offered to allow us to put our horses in a section of his hayfield – which had yet to be harvested!"

For Tracey and her family, the experience was more than just a threat to their lives – it was a threat to their whole livelihood and everything they had worked on since taking on the guest ranch operation in 2008, just one year earlier. For the guests staying at Tod Mountain at the time, however, the fire provided an element of drama and excitement to their dude ranch vacations. “We had several guests here during the period the fire burned,” recalls Tracey. “They particularly appreciated the sound and light show provided by the planes and helicopters flying overhead all day – and were very excited when one of the helicopters landed in our pasture, right in front of the lodge, to try to take water from the creek. But perhaps the best part for our female guests was the constant parade of firecrew that visited us during that period to check on us and keep us updated…!”

Raging from 19 August to 9 September, the fire spread to more than 250 hectares. Tod Mountain ranch was used as a staging area for the ground crews and medical crews, until the fire was finally stamped out by a fire crew comprising more than 170 fire fighters.

“During the period of the fire and for several weeks after, we lost the use of a number of our trails to the west of our property,” Tracey adds. “However, once the fire was out and the ground crews finished the clean-up, not only were we able to get back on our existing trails, but the construction of a new fireguard opened up a whole new trail for us.”

Fire is just one of the many environmental threats faced by guest ranches throughout the world, but in true ranching style they work through it together - and always find a positive in the situation!

For more information on Tod Mountain Ranch, view their ranch profile at Top50Ranches.com

Valentine's Day can be less than fun when you're single, what with couples going all gooey-eyed over each other, your loved-up friends rambling on about their Valentine's Day plans and people asking what you're doing for the big day. You could bury your face in the sand for a few days until it's all over - or you could celebrate being single and jet off for a last-minute vacation to escape the fuss! There's still time to book yourself a Top50 dude ranch vacation for the Valentine's week - after all, there's no better place for lone travelers to take vacation than a western ranch.

You'll never feel alone on a dude ranch vacation

Dude ranch vacations are a wonderful way to meet new people and whether you visit a luxury dude ranch, authentic guest ranch or real working ranch, you will never feel lonely. The unique welcoming and inclusive environment that only dude ranch vacations can provide means you will feel like part of the family and make life-long friends - horses included! The welcoming atmosphere is extended through all ranch activities, from camp-outs and cattle drives to mealtimes, where, on many of the smaller and more intimate ranches, everyone dines together family-style around the dining table.

Women in particular are often worried about the safety of traveling alone, but dude ranch vacations offer a totally safe environment for single travelers, and with all the freedom to access remote wilderness that non-ranch resorts can't offer. Explore remote landscapes and untamed wilderness on horseback, on foot, by boat or mountain bike, whether it's with other guests, by yourself or with an experienced guide.

Or maybe you're looking for a bit of holiday romance on your dude ranch vacation? With many other ranch guests often fellow singles travelling alone, you could just find love in time for Valentine's Day!

Top50 Ranches' Top 10 Dude Ranch Vacations for Singles

1 Echo Valley Ranch and Spa, British Columbia, Canada - With top-notch spa facilities, this is THE ranch to visit if you want some pampering and 'you' time

2 C Lazy U Ranch, Colorado, USA

Julie Goodnight women's clinic at C Lazy U

OK, so it might not quite coincide with Valentine's Day but that doesn't mean you can't treat yourself to a ranch vaca later on in the year - visit May, September or October 2012 and book the Julie Goodnight riding and yoga retreat for women, a true escape from the stresses of everyday life. Learn how to be your horse’s leader and master your equestrian skills through understanding horse behavior from top trainer Julie Goodnight, plus enjoy Anusara yoga from instructor Ellen Mesaros and indulge at the “Lazy U” spa for world-class massages, facials and more.
Not wanting to exclude the singles guys out there, C Lazy U's new Stargazing & Science Learning Getaway is perfect for both male and female singletons, with nature hikes led by a resident biologist and geologist and nightly lectures from the resident astronomer, where guests can view the wonders of the cosmos.

3 Rowse's 1+1 Ranch, Nebraska, USA - Authentic western hospitality and the chance to ride alongside real cowboys on real cattle drives at this detail-oriented working ranch

4 Badger Creek Ranch - Taking just 6 guests at any one time, this working ranch welcomes you to share in their lifestyle: you'll feel like part of the family

5 Burnt Well Guest Ranch - A real working cattle operation where you can get to play cowboy alongside the wranglers - you'll be so busy horseback riding and getting involved in real ranch work, you won't have time to feel lonely

6 Estancia Ranquilco, Neuquen, Argentina - Take a 7-day pack trip into the mountains with a small group of guests and expeirenced guide T.A - an adventure worth traveling alone for!

7 Tod Mountain Ranch, British Columbia, Canada - Tod Mountain is one of the few Canada guest ranches not to charge single supplements for its cabin accommodations, so you can enjoy the whole cabin to yourself at no extra cost.

8 Snowy River Horseback Adventure, Australia - Australia is a lone traveler's haven and this down-under ranch fits right in, offering adult-focused horse treks across breathtaking Snowy River countryside

9 Sugar and Spice Ranch, Texas, USA - Single moms can bring their daughters with them on vaca, for a bonding experience alongside other moms and daughters

10 Rancho Las Cascadas, Mexico - A small, luxury ranch offering guided and unguided horseback rides, cultural tours and European-style pampering

For more information on all of Top50's ranches perfect for singles, visit Top50Ranches.com

Colorado dude ranches offer some of the world's best guest ranch vacations, and Badger Creek Ranch, located high in the spectacular Colorado Rocky Mountains, is no exception. As a traditional working cattle ranch, Badger Creek Ranch offers authentic working ranch vacations perfectly suited to keen riders and wannabe cowboys.

Cattle work at Badger Creek

Step through the gates of Badger Creek Ranch owners Susan and Eric Hotaling promise you the guest ranch vacation adventure of a lifetime. Join their crew of wranglers and ride fences, round up, doctor and sort their cattle as you immerse yourself in western cowboy culture. Life at this Colorado guest ranch is traditional and authentic, and with a guest capacity of just six, Badger Creek creates a small, homely atmosphere where first-rate hospitality and service come first.

Saddle up one of the ranch’s sturdy cow horses to cover mile upon mile of mesas, and ride the open range. After a long day in the saddle, enjoy hearty home-cooked meals, served family style in the dining room with the family. After an evening spent sitting out under the starry Colorado sky recounting the day’s adventures and planning the next one, retire to traditional and comfortable accommodations in the ranch bunkhouse and prepare for another day of western adventure.

With no set schedule, each day at Badger Creek runs to guests’ requests and needs – be it improving horsemanship skills in the arena under the quiet, calm tutelage of Eric; taking relaxing horseback rides through beautiful open country vistas or to ancient ruins on the ranch; or tackling everyday ranch work with Badger Creek’s cowboy crew. Whatever it is you want from your guest ranch vacation, Badger Creek will provide.

Not a rider? Not a problem - although ideal for keen and competent riders, the adult-oriented ranch welcomes guests without any prior horseback riding experience. Beginners are coached on the basics in the arena until confident and able to head out on the open range, and Eric is always on hand to impart his extensive horsemanship knowledge and ensure your comfort. Feeling a little saddle sore? Then take advantage of Badger Creek’s many off-ranch activities, which include rafting, fishing, trips to ghost towns and festivals, and much more.

If you're looking for an authentic taste of western ranch and rural life in a peaceful, tranquil environment, you'd be mad not to take a guest ranch vacation at Badger Creek Ranch!

For more information and to book, visit Badger Creek’s ranch profile at Top50Ranches.com or Email us.

Brett Haas (below) - aka "The Kansas Cowboy" - is a regular blogger for Working Ranch Blog and a stockman on a working ranch in Kansas. Brett is no stranger to the less-than-glamorous side of ranch life, as the first in his series of blogs on Top50 proves…

"At this time of year, with most of the cattle out in winter pasture, the only events that happen are chores. Especially with the mild winter we are having (not that I am complaining), life is a tad boring on this Kansas cattle ranch. As I have said before, when you deal with critters, boring is good. It usually means all is well, and, to a good stockman, nothing is more exciting.

"However, one has to be careful not to let the winter lull dull his senses. There is a lot of routine involved in winter chores and the challenge is to stay alert day in and day out even though nothing really changes. If you don't pay attention, life can sneak up on you. Take a few weeks back, for example…

"It was a Monday alright. Although Mondays don't mean as much when you work Sunday, this one did because the boss let the family and I sneak away for the weekend to visit the wife's side of the family in Oklahoma. It was a nice break and really made Monday morning feel like Monday morning.

"Anyhow, I had no sooner than filled up my cake box that sits on the back of my office (my chore truck) than did Kirk call and say he had a cow bogged down and needed an extra hand to get her unplugged. As I've said before, we are having a dry spell here in Kansas. We have a lot of small frog ponds here on the ranch – they aren't good for much, but do provide a small watering hole in spots. That is, until you have a dry spell and they become nothing more than a mud hole. This is critical because cattle don't reason, they just do. All they know is that they are thirsty and the water is out there, so they start wading through the muck to get to it. They get their drink, but if they get in too far they are stuck."

Kirk was sure this old gal was done for when he found her. As you can see, her head was good and buried as well as the rest of her. Fortunately though, on account of his diligence, he found her in time.

"So Kirk calls and asks for help, but by the time I get there he's got the old gal on solid ground, although, as you can tell from the picture, she took most of the muck back with her as a souvenir that we were hoping would remind the rest of the herd to stay clear. Just before lunch, I went back to check to make sure everyone else took her advice. They hadn't. No one was stuck – yet – so I played the part of a good husbandman, put dinner on hold, built an electric fence in an adjacent pasture to provide some space between bulls that are out this time of year, and moved 'em out of danger to a bigger and safer pond to drink from.

"When I was growing up there used to be this church janitor of ours named Gale. I remember every Sunday, every pancake supper, every potluck or any other church function, Gale was the first one there to get things ready and also the last one to leave, to make sure everything was picked up and clean. In the world's eyes, this may not seem like a very exciting or important job. However, as I have grown up, I have discovered that what truly makes the world go 'round (other than the coriolis effect) are folks like Gale, who, like gears in a clock, work steady and consistent behind the scenes doing the "little things" and who, for the most part, go unnoticed. But without them, time itself would get bogged down."

Check back to Top50Ranches next month for Brett’s next blog!

Inspired by working ranch life? Check out Top50's great selection of working ranch vacations

Top50’s Mel Rutherford reveals why a visit to Majestic Dude Ranch in Colorado converted her from working ranch gal to all-out Dude!

Plug ‘Majestic Dude Ranch’ into your SatNav and you’re setting pretty high expectations already. Although actually, you won’t ever find it because SatNav still recognises the Colorado dude ranch under its former name of Mancos Lake Ranch. Only at beginning of 2011 when LA movie theatre owner Robert Bauksbaum took over did the ranch, nestled high in the Mesa Verde National Forest, take on its Majestic title – I hoped the ranch lived up to its name...

My journey to Majestic Dude Ranch was to take me on a two-night horseback riding adventure bang in the heart of the Mesa Verde National Forest. So it was with the ranch’s former name tapped into my faithful geolocation device that I drove through the quickly changing landscape of Colorado, northeast from Tuba City towards Mancos. On reaching the tiny town, I followed my trusty SatNav’s instructions to “turn left” and took a wide gravel track, promptly turning right up a steeper gravel path. "Turn right!" SatNav lady told me after a couple of miles. Turn right I did - through a narrow gate right into someone’s back yard. Not so trusty, then... Instinct took over and soon, after following signs for ‘Mesa Verde National Forest: Camping’, I finally stumbled across Majestic. You couldn’t miss it for the world - with bright red chalets clustered behind bright white picket fencing, this was every bit dude ranch as I’d expected.

Robert 'had been expecting me’ and greeted me almost as warmly as his golden Labrador, Mike, who found my face remarkably tasty. ‘Warm welcome’ is a well-worn phrase, but I honestly felt part of the Majestic family as soon as my boot hit the dirt, and meeting Robert was like greeting an old friend. The same can be said of Majestic’s staff. Dressed in their uniforms of jeans, cowboy boots, bling belts and checked shirts, they may have looked the cliché but were every bit genuine.

Setting down my oversized suitcase in the luxuriously rustic cabin accommodations, I quickly tested the king-size Tempur-Pedic mattress (thumbs up from me) and silently screamed with joy at the newly tiled shower room that wouldn’t look out of place in a five-star hotel. “Make yourself at home - you’ll hear the dinner bell ring at 6pm,” Robert told me, so I swapped my trainers for cowgirl boots and headed out to explore the ranch.

What Majestic lacks in size, it makes up for in charm. Although evidently child-friendly (denoted by a petting zoo and a friendly lone calf wandering the grounds), this ranch is certainly no mere kids’ camp and oozes tranquillity - I hadn’t felt so relaxed in weeks. So content not even the sudden clang of the dinner bell made me jump while I was saying hello to some of the horses in the dusty corrals. With a glance to the gently rippling Mancos Lake in the distance, I suddenly felt as though I’d stepped into a scene from Dirty Dancing.

I seated myself in the buzzing dining room alongside a group of guests who were exchanging stories of the day’s adventures. Over a prawn salad starter, main course of pork schnitzel and mashed potatoes, and a sumptuous apple pie dessert, I marvelled as the guests described their encounter with a brown bear on their afternoon trail ride. With cries of “it was this big!” and retorts of “don’t be silly, it wasn’t that big”, I felt like part of a very large family around the bustling dinner table.

Evening activities were by no means compulsory, but wholly tempting: a hay ride followed by campfire stories, sweet treats and music. As I seated myself around the crackling fire in the starry darkness, one of the wranglers was already in mid-recital of his ‘legendary’ cowboy poems. The sweet part involved toasting giant marshmallow on sticks over the campfire, before sandwiching together with chocolate between two sweet graham crackers to make ‘smores’ – traditional cowboy campfire treats. My proud efforts tasted every bit as naughty as they promised. The night’s entertainment carried on with banjo-playing, singing and more cowboy poetry. Anywhere else I might have thought it clichéd, but at Majestic it was perfect - the only way I could have wished to end my first Majestic day.

Day 2

The next morning a hearty breakfast, including made-to-order omelettes cooked by Robert himself, set me up for a morning in the saddle. After trailering the horses to the start point of our trail ride, I climbed on-board San Anton, my mount for the morning. Our trail guide led us on a ride I can only describe as breathtaking. With unlimited access to Mesa Verde National Forest, Majestic offers stunning riding country over diverse terrain. Anywhere else I would have been disappointed not to have moved out of a walk (with beginners on our ride there were no opportunities to trot or lope), but here I wouldn’t have wanted the scenery to move by any faster. Along winding mountain trails and narrow, tree-lined paths we rode, often wading through the wide, fast-flowing river that criss-crossed its way through the national forest. We stopped to take pictures of a bear-print on the muddy track, although didn’t see the mark’s maker on our travels. A few hours later a steep, rocky climb took us back up to the main gravel road leading back to ranch. I held on to my saddle horn as San Anton expertly negotiated his way up the mountain path - no directions from me required.

Back at the ranch, lunch was ready and waiting in the dining room. A stomach full of ham and cheese paninis later, I headed back out to explore the local area - this time swapping jeans and cowboy boots for pants and sneakers... You see, Robert had insisted I try out one of his brand new, state-of-the-art collection of mountain bikes. Cycling guide (and pro triathlete and cyclist) Nick kitted me out with gloves, water bottle, helmet and snack-bag, before expertly matching me to one of the $2,500 bikes. Yes, you did read that correctly. Feeling more than a little nervous heading out on such an expensive model, I made mental notes to myself not to fall off and scratch the thing (or me). So well-equipped we were, I was prepared to be gone for hours on arduous cycle routes, but Nick, very good at gauging guests’ abilities (and my lack of), took me on a wonderful lap of the gently rippling Lake Mancos. A few ups and downs along the wide gravel track were enough to put me out of breath thanks the 8,000 ft altitude of the ranch, but an hour later both the bike and I were safely home.

Invigorated by the exercise and keen to make the most of the beautiful scenery, I kept my sneakers on and decided to take a ‘quick’ run around the lake. A keen runner, I expected this to be a relaxing and pleasant experience; I could take in the still lake and surrounding forest, casually waving hello to the fishers and boaters dotted around its perimeter... Not so. Forgetting the altitude, I found myself stopping every 100 yards to catch my breath - a world away from my usual eight-mile run closer to sea level!

The dinner bell had never been so welcome. After a quick shower and change, I arrived to a BBQ in full swing outside on the veranda. Helping myself to grilled prawns, bread and salad, I seated myself alongside the other guests who were again exchanging stories of the day’s adventures. One group had been out mountain biking that morning to the famed Phil’s World - named one of the top 10 mountain biking trails in the USA. The up and down, twisting and turning trail had these hardcore mountain bikers on a high, their enthusiasm for the rollercoaster trail almost enough to make me forget my tired limbs and sign up for it. Almost...

With Robert expertly grilling and serving barbecued steaks, chicken and salmon, I felt lucky to be at such a warm, friendly guest ranch. With the perfect balance between slick dude ranch operation and family atmosphere, Majestic certainly lives up to its name. Indeed, I was surrounded by several families at the dinner table - one couple had brought along their two (grown up) kids and newborn grandchild, and other families included toddlers and teens experiencing their first dude ranch vacation. As Mike-the-dog helped himself to leftover steak, it was time to make room for “Majestic’s best dessert” - a mouth-watering toffee-pecan-meringue-chocolate offering for which everyone found room for second helpings.

As a chill took to the Colorado air, we headed inside to the warmth to watch an end-of-week performance by the kids, which they had prepared under the guide of the recs counsellor. Speech time for Robert, who took the opportunity to hand out ‘medals’ to the kids - think ‘most improved rider’, ‘best un-choreographed dismount’ and ‘champion marshmallow toaster’. Kids sorted, it was time for fond farewells, thank yous and a tongue-in-cheek presentation of bills for the adults that only Robert could have gotten away with!

Having only spent a few short days at Majestic Dude Ranch, I vowed to take up my host’s offer to return for a longer vacation: “You’re always welcome back here any time,” Robert told me, expressing to the other guests how privileged he felt to have his ranch included as one of the Top50 Ranches in the world. Yet I felt the privileged one, having been able to experience such a wonderful place as Majestic - I can honestly say it charmed the socks off me.

TOP TIPS for a Colorado Dude Ranch vacation

• Ranch food is generally frequent and plentiful, so no need to pack extra snacks or drinks. Check if your ranch includes between-meal snacks - at Majestic each room had a fully stocked fridge and snack basket, plus a ‘help yourself’ policy on the dining room’s drinks fridge. A bottomless cookie jar made for many a happy child as well!
• Try to get off the ranch for at least one day of your trip. Exploring the local towns is a really rewarding experience - whether it’s popping into a diner for a root beer float, shopping for authentic cowboy boots and Stetsons, or visiting a local museum to learn more about the area’s history and western culture.
• Check out what off-ranch activities are on offer. At Majestic, a stay at the ranch gave you a good discount on white-water rafting at nearby Durango, for which the ranch organized trips for guests on request.
• Bring sneakers! Most ranches (dude ranches especially) offer plenty of non-horseback activities. Majestic offered baseball and other sports, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, gold panning, archery and more.

Working ranch vacations provide the ultimate opportunity to get stuck into real cattle work! Moving cows is one thing on your guest ranch vacation, but when it comes to bulls it can be a whole different ball game. Here's Top50's guide to loading a particularly reluctant bull into a trailer...

Stage 1: Take one gutsy mare and a cowboy who can rope

Stage 2: Get ropin'!

Stage 3: Little bit of pullin', little bit of pushin'

Stage 4: Tie it into that trailer and don't let go!

Stage 5: Close that door before it changes its mind...

Stage 6: Give yourself a pat on the back!

Got a bull with attitude? We want to hear about it! Tell us your bull stories on Top50's official Facebook page