Family dude ranch vacations could provide the solution to the problem faced by almost every parent: getting the kids away from the X-Box! Whether your child is glued to their games console, computer, television screen or cell phone, family dude ranch vacations can tear even the most gadget-savvy child out of the digital age and enlighten them to the simpler ways to enjoy life.

Top50 Ranches has come up with 10 wonderful ways to de-gadget your kids on a family dude ranch vacation – try these simple strategies for size…

1. Get ‘em in the saddle at Red Horse Mountain Ranch and you’ll have a hard time trying to get them back off the horse! The Idaho family dude ranch’s children’s program includes horseback riding for children as young as three years, allowing kids to go horseback riding on the trail with the rest of the family.

2. Let them jump in at the deep end – literally! – at Averill’s Flathead Lake Lodge, whose all-inclusive Montana family vacations include lake water sports among a whole host of other ranch activities. In fact, at Flathead Lake Lodge the kids can enjoy the most diverse range of all-inclusive activities offered by any USA ranch – think horseback riding, sailing, personalized fly-fishing, water sports, horseback riding, rodeo, tepee campouts, family barn dances and so much more.

3. Send them mountain biking at Majestic Dude Ranch, which boasts an impressive fleet of brand new, state-of-the-art bikes for every age and size. With pro-cyclist Nick as their guide, the kids will be awestruck at the exciting cycle trails to tackle in Colorado’s beautiful Mesa Verde National Forest, some of which have been named in the top 10 mountain biking trails in the USA.

4. Make ‘em cowboys! At Averill’s Flathead Lake Lodge, kids get to try out real rodeo games in the arena during the week, then put their new cowboy skills to the test in the weekly take-part family rodeo. The only thing they’ll want to watch on TV after this is ‘Eight Seconds’!

5. Set your teens loose in Yellowstone on Lone Mountain Guest Ranch’s “Teens Only” tour of the national park, on a backpacking trip into the Spanish Peaks. Not only will they not be able to get cell phone service in the mountains, they’ll probably forget why they ever bothered with texting in the first place.

6. Get bonding with your daughter at the Sugar and Spice Ranch in Texas, USA. The moms-and-daughters dude ranch encourages bonding through fun horseback games, rodeo and horse care activities. If your little girl loves horses, she’ll love this Texas family vacation – and so will you!

7. Forget heading to town for 10-pin bowling – Montana's The Ranch at Rock Creek’s Silver Dollar Saloon entertainment area comes fully equipped with a four-lane bowling alley, complete with computerized scoring, a selection of balls and bowling shoes in assorted sizes. Strike!

8. Swimming with dolphins? So last year. This year’s family ranch vacation is all about swimming with horses. That’s right, head to Sweet Grass Ranch for a Montana family vacation where the kids – and you! – can enjoy swimming your horse bareback in the creek.

9. Roll them down a hill. Yes, really! It’s all about “zorbing” these days, so take a Montana family vacation at The Resort at Paws Up, which offers exactly that. What could be a better way to get your thrill-seeker kids outdoors than to ask them to strap themselves inside a giant bouncy ball and launch themselves down a hill? (See above.) Don’t worry, it’s all fully supervised and totally safe!

10. Get ‘em chasing cows on cattle drives at Bonanza Creek Ranch. Your Montana family vacation will see them doing the job of wranglers, with guests of all ages, if able to control their horse independently, encouraged to play an active role in the working ranch’s style cattle drives. Prepare to unleash their inner Billy the Kid!

For more information on family dude ranch vacations, visit Top50Ranches.com

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

The Hideout Ranch in Wyoming, USA, inspired one of its guests for fictional novel "West of Sheridan". The ranch's good friend and guest, Mr Dean Ross, penned and published the fictional novel about two men traveling through northern Wyoming after a solar event destroys the nation’s population and access to modern technology. The men subsequently find themselves in the modern day/future version of the “Old Wild West”.

"West of Sheridan" is described as "fast-paced, adventurous and captivating, while embodying humor, romance and inspiration. Above all, it is a literary illustration of character and moral fiber; a compelling look inside the heads of two very distinctive, contradictory men and what drives them.”

The Hideout Ranch is particularly excited that the story takes place in their neck of the woods, with familiar landscapes, towns and geography. Ross reveals that gained much of his inspiration for the setting of "West of Sheridan" from his time spent on dude ranch vacations at The Hideout Ranch as a repeat guest.

Says Jessy McLavey from The Hideout: "Mr Ross was kind enough to send us a few boxes with signed copies of the novel to stock in our gift shop. The handwritten inscription in each title page reads: 'The Hideout is where this adventure started for me. Hope your adventure is the same.' We’re so glad we could help his creative flow from our little corner of Shell, Wyoming!"

There is even a special 'thank you' from Mr Ross to The Hideout in the afterword of "West of Sheridan":

'I’d like to say a special word of thanks to David and Paula Flitner, owners of the Flitner Ranch and The Hideout, and Peter and Marijn De Cabooter, managers and hosts of The Hideout Ranch in Shell, Wyoming. I have stayed there several times, and it is never easy to leave. It was on an impromptu trip to The Hideout many years ago when I was introduced to the culture and people of Wyoming, and have found myself drawn back ever since. The accommodations are luxurious and comfortable, the food is incredible, but it is the people – their honesty, integrity, and spirit – that make this resort such a wonderful place to stay. You will arrive as a guest, but you will leave as a friend. The Hideout location is used in this story with permission.'

Adds Jessy: "The Hideout crew is so thrilled to be mentioned with such high regard, and we’re all excited to crack open a copy of West of Sheridan and dive into the story!"

Want to read the novel? You can buy it from Amazon here.

For more information on dude ranch vacations at The Hideout Ranch, visit 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

Best ranches for families? You’ll find the best family ranch vacations at ranches that offer a diverse range of activities for all ages. Check out Top50’s great range of family dude ranches that provide multi-generational groups with great family ranch vacations worldwide. Families traveling with children will love those Top50 ranches with children’s programs, but whether your family is comprised of old or young, riders or non-riders, you’ll find the best family dude ranch vacations at Top50Ranches.com – check out our pick of the best dude ranches for families…

Riding for all ages at Red Horse Mountain

One ranch ticking all the boxes when it comes to catering for kids is Red Horse Mountain Ranch in Idaho, USA, whose comprehensive children’s program caters for 3-11 year olds. The family dude ranch encourages kids to ride, with horseback riding programs for children aged 3- 6 years allowing kids to go horseback riding on the trail led by a wrangler, along with the rest of the family. The non-riding part of the children’s program is designed to engage your child through adventure-driven activities. There’s a discount offered for nannies and grandparents, or alternatively pay for Red Horse Mountain’s babysitting service for 0-3 year olds. While the kids are having fun, mums, dads, aunts, uncles and grandparents can enjoy horseback riding catered to all levels, yoga, massages and spa treatments, an outdoor pool, mountain biking, nature trails, water sports and more.

For a luxury family ranch vacation head to The Resort at Paws Up, a 37,000-acre working Montana ranch where the grown-ups of the family can enjoy cattle drives and whole host of wilderness adventures – including fly-fishing on the legendary Blackfoot River, hot-air ballooning, white-water rafting and zorbing! While you’re having a blast, so will your kids with supervised activities including everything from horseback riding and mountain biking to nature education. Not forgetting the Paws Up "Kids Corps of Discovery” – full and half-day programs for ages 5-12 that include trips to a ghost town, authentic ranch experiences and more.

Nestled in Santa Barbara County wine country is The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, a California dude ranch with something for the whole family. Children’s and youth programs are available from ages 3 upwards, allowing the younger family members to get stuck into animal activities, grooming and steer-head roping. Alisal’s family ranch vacations are ideal for slightly older families, as children under six must be accompanied by an adult for ranch activities. Older families can reconnect while mountain biking, hiking, enjoying the outdoor pool and hot tub, or over a game of tennis. With an 18-hole golf course and fishing available, dads and granddads won’t get bored either.

Averill's - best for multi-generational families

The best ranch for multi-generational families has to be Averill’s Flathead Lake Lodge, a family-operated Montana guest ranch on the shores of Flathead Lake, just 35 miles south of Glacier National Park. This is a great dude ranch for families interested in riding and water sports, thanks to unlimited horse and water activities included in Averill’s all-inclusive ranch vacations. Relax and reconnect in a rustic ranch atmosphere and enjoy the most diverse range of all-inclusive activities offered by any American ranch – think horseback riding, sailing, personalized fly-fishing, water sports, hiking, cookouts, and family barn dances to name just a few. Averill’s unique children’s program encourages family interaction, meaning kids are free to roam the ranch and participate in the scheduled kids’ activities as much or as little as they like – from horseback riding and rodeo, to water activities and tepee campouts.

Want to see your kids transform and grow on your dude ranch vacation? Then take them on a family ranch vacation to Lone Mountain Guest Ranch near Yellowstone National Park. The Montana dude ranch’s Outdoor Youth Adventures Program encourages kids to have fun while developing more self-confidence, through supervised activities and recreation. Open to 4-18 year-olds, the daily program is geared to suit the abilities and interests of each age level – see your kids enjoy canoeing, camping, riding, hiking, pizza parties, animal tracking and many other fun activities with other children their age. This is a great dude ranch vacation for families with teenagers, with the family dude ranch’s “Teens Only” tours of Yellowstone Park and a backpacking trip into the Spanish Peaks. Meanwhile, the older family members can enjoy mountain biking, yoga, an 18-hole round of golf, campouts, white-water rafting and more. Despite a guest capacity of 70, this Montana dude ranch maintains a real family atmosphere where everyone gets along together.

Elk Mountain Ranch in Colorado, USA, is the ultimate place for families to spend time together. Elk Mountain is very family-oriented ranch and whether you’re horseback riding through unspoiled wilderness, white-water rafting or mountain biking together, you’re sure to reconnect on your dude ranch vacation. Kids aged 3-7 are no exception, with the children’s program supervisors offering fun-filled activities complete with "theme days". Each day includes riding in the arena and activities that revolve around the theme of the day – Cowboy day, Indian Day, even a day at the Mount Princeton Hot Springs pools. Come evening the family fun doesn’t stop, with hayrides, square-dances and musical entertainment bringing you closer together.

North Fork Ranch is another Colorado dude ranch geared towards families, welcoming children aged 6 upwards. Its location just an hour from Denver is ideal for restless young travelers, and the ranch offers a multitude of activities to satisfy everyone's interests – old and young, horsey or non-horsey. From horseback riding, hiking and white-water rafting, to hayrides, campfire sing-a-longs and square dancing, families are encouraged to take part in ranch activities together. As an Orvis-endorsed fishing lodge, North Fork Ranch guarantees a world-class fishing experience for keen anglers, and will also appeal to families looking for a lean toward luxury in accommodations and dining.

Also encouraging families to enjoy the ranch experience together is Latigo Ranch. The Colorado dude ranch involves children aged 6 upward in its full riding program, where kids ride twice a day as the adults do. An impressive range of kids’ activities means non-riding youngsters never get bored, and there’s plenty to occupy older family members too – from mountain biking and bird watching, to golf and instructed fishing.

Exclusively for moms and daughters is the Sugar and Spice Ranch in Texas, where the two generations can enjoy a learning and bonding vacation through fun arena games on horseback.

Wilderness adventures for every generation at Clayoquot

Appealing to groups with both older and younger family members is Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in British Columbia, Canada. The tented safari camp runs a special Multi-Generational Elders Package in May, where grandparents stay free when you book a family of eight adults or more. And for the kids, the Canada guest ranch offers a discounted rate to families traveling with children 12 years and under, provided you all share accommodation.

Majestic Dude Ranch in the beautiful Mesa Verde National Forest is a wonderful family ranch retreat, where everyone from babies to grandparents are welcome and invited to join in the multitude of activities – from adrenaline-fuelled mountain biking and white-water rafting, to more relaxing outdoor movies, wagon rides and gentle horseback trail rides. Kids and adults alike will love s’mores round the campfire under the stars, complete with cowboy poetry and music. A comprehensive children’s program for both kids and teens gives you the choice of being with your kids all day or just seeing them in passing; should you wish, the Colorado dude ranch’s highly trained counsellors will not only keep your kids busy, but also educate them from sunrise to sunset.

The C Lazy U Ranch is another Colorado dude ranch with a great balance between family time and alone time. Spend breakfast and after dinner together as a family, then let the kids out on the ranch for the remainder of the day. Your children will have the vacation of a lifetime and will be kept busy all day with a children’s program centered around horseback riding, and building their independence and confidence – leaving you to enjoy horseback rides, golf, tennis, yoga, mountain biking and more.

Head to Montana for a family ranch vacation at The Ranch at Rock Creek and you’ll be treated to limitless outdoor recreational opportunities, outstanding accommodation and cuisine, and a full-service spa. Activities programs are designed with your individual tastes, preferences and needs in mind, and you can rest assured everything is included – from horseback riding, fly-fishing in the Blue Ribbon Rock Creek and wildlife watching, to archery, paint ball and games in The Granite Lodge. Children aged 4 upwards will have the ranch vacation of a lifetime on the Kids Program, featuring both indoor and outdoor activities – including horseback riding. The whole family can also enjoy trips to local Philipsburg, as well as free tours to the Granite ghost town.

For a more exclusive, intimate family ranch vacation, The Ranch at Siwash Lake in BC, Canada, offers action-packed adventure for all ages and interests. Childcare is available by prior arrangement leaving you free to ride the range or just catching up on some much needed rest and relaxation. Children aged 4-12 can enjoy the same freedom in a safe, supervised environment with the “Free-Range Kids” program, where free play and educational content is used to build their self-esteem – through the likes of horse care, animal tracking, orienteering, scavenger hunts, horse care lessons, pony rides in the meadow and more. More experienced young riders can join the older family members on horseback trail rides, and together you can all go mountain biking, bird watching, hiking, lake water sports and much more besides.

Let the kids go wild at Sweet Grass

Secluded in the remote Rocky Mountains of Montana is Sweet Grass Ranch, a haven for family ranch vacations. It’s all about freedom at this Montana working cattle and guest ranch, thanks to no set children’s program, an unstructured riding schedule tailored to your family’s interests and endless riding options – from cattle drives to relaxing trail rides. With beautiful hiking trails and diverse fishing opportunities, the whole family can appreciate the beauty of the ranch together, as well as have fun on the ranch’s natural water slide, inner tubing the creek, campfires, weekly horsemanship clinics and a host of indoor and outdoor games. Evenings are family time and made for visiting with new-found friends, feasting on s'mores at the campfire, or relaxing with a book in the hot tub. Kids – and adults! – with any energy left can play soccer, volleyball, softball, pasture golf or horseshoes before bedtime. With Yellowstone National Park, Bighorn, local rodeos and golf nearby, venture of the ranch for family days out – taking advantage of Sweet Grass’s free-of-charge travel within a 50-mile radius.

For a flexible, customized family ranch vacation, take a trip to Three Bars Ranch in the Canadian Rockies, which lies close to Banff and Glacier National Park. For kids aged 6 upwards there’s a supervised children's program where Three Bars will make them feel right at home on the ranch, with access to wide open spaces to just be kids. Three Bars is ideal for both parents looking for some independence from their children, or to spend as much time with them as possible; the children’s program will keep them busy all day long and well into the night should you wish, but is also designed so that you can go on family rides, hike and river-raft together. Specializing in families, beginner riding and multi-sport activities, the working cattle ranch and luxury dude ranch’s diverse activities program includes a complete range of horseback riding programs, hiking, river rafting, mountain biking, fly fishing, tennis, indoor heated pool, hot tub and fitness facility. This is also one of the best family ranches for golf enthusiasts, with five of Canada’s top 25 golf courses in close proximity.

Also offering flexibility and personalization in family dude ranch vacations is Vista Verde Ranch. Don’t be fooled by its wide array of summer activities – the Colorado dude ranch maintains a personal, intimate feel unlike any resort, thanks to down-to-earth people who treat you like family. You know your kids will be in good hands on the 6-years-and-up children’s program designed to engage and educate, offering activities including animal care, horse care, arena riding, trail riding, gymkhana and rodeo. The family dude ranch’s teen program gives older kids the freedom to split off and be a little more independent and adventurous with activities, which include special teen horseback rides and overnight campouts. While your children are having the ranch vacation of a lifetime, you and the rest of the adults can too, with climbing, mountain biking, yoga, outdoor pool, hot tub, rafting, cooking classes, wine tasting, fishing and so much more.

For more information on family dude ranch vacations, visit Top50Ranches.com

The best ranches for advanced riders tend to be working ranches that offer skilled cattle work that guests can participate in. That said, there are many guest ranch vacations and luxury dude ranch vacations that offer similarly great opportunities for advanced riders, some even holding special advanced rider weeks for more experienced horseback riders who may be looking for longer, faster and more adventurous riding and horse treks on their ranch vacation.

Chico Basin cattle work

Here's Top50 Ranches' pick of the best ranches for advanced riders...

Any ranch that encompasses the Ranching First ethos guranatees authentic cattle drives with riding as the real cowboys do it. That includes Badger Creek ranch in Colorado, USA, an authentic working ranch specializing in cattle drives, where rides are grouped by ability meaning advanced riders won't be held back by those less experienced in the saddle. For something a little different, head down under to Beaumont High Country Experience in New Zealand, for days filled with sheep mustering - something of an art form that advanced riders will enjoy mastering.

Another ranch running sheep, as well cow-calf pairs, is Burnt Well Guest Ranch in New Mexico, USA. Here you might ride from before sunrise until after sundown if it means getting the job doen, and their 'old west style' cattle drives require "a spirit of adventure and determination"!

Check out Bonanza Creek Ranch if you're after a guaranteed advanced riding program, as this Montana working ranch has a strict intermediate and advanced rider-only policy.

Head to Colorado to sister ranches Zapata (pictured above) and Chico Basin, both working cattle ranches offering fabulous horseback riding for advanced riders. Not least at Zapata, which runs a herd of bison - herding these fast, dangerous beasts calls for quick wits, skilled riding and absolutely no fear! At Chico Basin, a large-scale working cattle ranch, riding is dictated by the ranch's work that day - often meaning gathering cattle across the prairie on specially trained cow horses. Education is at the fore here, so if you're a keen rider looking to further your horsemanship skills, this is the place for you.

Another Ranching First operation is Nebraska cattle ranch Rowse's 1+1. Working ranch vacations here mean riding with the cowboys - working cattle, riding the range and experiencing life as a real cowboy on a real working cattle ranch. By the end of your ranch vacation here, you'll be roping, sorting, rounding up cattle and team penning like a pro!

Advanced riders looking for an abundance of cattle work on their ranch vacation will not be disappointed at Lazy El Ranch. The Montana working ranch specializes in cattle drives. This is no fantasy cowboy experience - daily cattle work with the ranch's 3,000 head of cattle mean you'll bget more than your fill of authentic cattle roundups. Twice a year they hold Advanced Rider weeks involving the extreme side of cattle work - from shipping and receiving, to sorting and doctoring, you're a part of the team with a big job to do, dawn to dusk.

Estancia Ranquilco, Argentina - photo courtesy of Eddie Thornton

For a ranch experience like no other, head to the southern Americas for an Argentina horse riding experience. Estancia Huechahue offers great opportunities for advanced riders to immerse themselves in the gaucho lifestyle, riding all day on long cattle drives at this real working cattle ranch. Estancia Ranquilco offers remote pack trips into the mountains - swim with your horse in remote mountain lakes, and negotiate demanding terrain as you trek on horseback through the Patagonian wilderness.

Journey to Mexico for a backcountry horse riding vacation at Rancho Los Banos, which runs special adventure vacations perfectly suited to advanced riders. With 30,000 acres as your playground, enjoy unlimited hours of challenging, thrilling, yet fun-filled adventure riding in remote, rugged and secluded isolation, surrounded by an inspiring vastness of mountains, hills and canyons.

Want to learn the art of natural horsemanship and progress your riding skills even further? Then you'll love McGinnis Meadows ranch, a Montana working ranch with a focus on horsemanship and cattle work. Instruction here is second to none, with wranglers trained in Buck Brannaman-style horsemanship imparting their knowledge both in the arena and out on cattle drives. They even run special clinics throughout the year, where you can bring your own horse or ride one of the ranch's well-trained ranch horses.

Advanced riders also looking for luxury in their ranch vacation will love Brush Creek Ranch and Spa, a luxury Wyoming dude ranch and working ranch. A stay here means all the pleasures that a luxury dude ranch brings, but with the options to get stuck into weekly cattle work and pasture gathers, as well as annual brandings and horsemanship clinics.

Other working ranches with a hint of luxury and family-friendly include The Hideout in Wyoming and Sweet Grass Ranch in Montana (oictured above)  - both offering excellent opportunities for advanced riders, but without the pressure to do riding and nothing else. Great if you're the rider of the family but your partner and/or kids would rather keep both feet on the ground! Three Bars Ranch in BC, Canada, may not offer cattle work, but it does schedule fast rides for advanced riders looking for more exciting horseback riding on their guest ranch vacation. Like the look of Bar W Guest Ranch? Advanced riders should head here in the spring or fall, for the spring roundup and spring branding, and the fall roundup later in the year.

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

Working ranch vacations don't get more authentic or action-packed than at McGinnis Meadows Ranch, and that's why the Montana guest ranch and working ranch has been chosen as Top50's March 2012 Ranch of the Month.

Each month we scour our selection of dude ranch vacations and pick out one that we feel surpasses our standards of excellence - and, most importantly, offers something unique. That could be anything from ultra-luxurious facilities, to those personal touches that really make a ranch vacation, to fast-and-furious cattle drives that'll be etched in your memory forever. In the case of McGinnis Meadows, it's the latter!

Top50 has chosen Montana guest ranch McGinnis Meadows as March 2012 Ranch of the Month 

Head to McGinnis Meadows Ranch in Montana and be transported to the true west. Immerse yourself in authentic western cowboy culture on this working cattle operation and ride with real cowboys as you saddle up for all-day cattle drives, take park in branding, work cattle in the arena and learn the art of natural horsemanship with Buck Brannaman inspired groundwork and horseback riding lessons.

Take a working ranch vacation at this Montana guest ranch and expect a real hands-on experience - from catching up your horse in the morning, to graining and letting him out again at night. Beginner and experienced riders alike will leave the ranch with more knowledge about horses, horsemanship, and cattle than they'll experienced anywhere else. McGinnis Meadows' wranglers will work with you individually and tailor each day to you to help you progress throughout the week.

While you're welcome to take relaxing trail rides throughout the ranch, cattle work is the specialty here: learn to cut and pen steers in the arena, prepare for cattle drives by moving small herds of mother cows in the meadows, then venture out on cattle drives across 75,000 acres of spectacular country. During the day enjoy the freedom to ride and participate in ranch work as much or as little as you wish, and rest assured that each evening you'll come home to the heartiest of meals, first-class lodging and sincere, authentic hospitality.

For more information on McGinnis Meadows Ranch, visit Top50Ranches.com

Is there a ranch that stands out for you? Tell us why and we'll consider for upcoming Ranches of the Month!

Horsemanship clinics at dude ranches are just one way to improve your horseback riding and horse handling skills on your dude ranch vacation. While working ranches are the most likely to host regular horsemanship clinics, guest ranches and luxury dude ranches may also offer similar clinics and demonstrations for guests to watch and often participate in.

Horsemanship clinics at McGinnis Meadows, a Montana working cattle ranch and guest ranch

The Hideout Guest Ranch in Wyoming, USA, is this year holding 'Authentic Horsemanship Clinics' in April and October 2012 - week-long training clinics led by the guest ranch's full-time horseman Ramon Castro and assisted by Marijn Werquin. Sign up for the clinic and you'll get hands-on lessons in colt-starting techniques, natural horsemanship training, clinics in desensitizing, leadership and horses training, working horses with cattle, equine massage and team penning. Best of all, you'll get the chance to put your new learnings into practice as you saddle up and ride out on the ranch.

If you want to learn about horse safety, sign up for Three Bars Ranch's 'Introduction to Horsemanship and Horse Safety' program in May 2012. The Canada guest ranch has teamed up with the College of the Rockies to offer a week-long horsemanship and horse safety program.

Colorado guest ranch Zapata Ranch is hosting a whole range of themed weeks and horsemanship clinics - from the 'Women's Week and Horsemanship Clinic', to the 'Horsemanship Clinic' week held in conjunction with its sister ranch, Chico Basin Ranch. The latter includes one-on-one horsemanship instruction, educational demonstrations, rides through the surrounding meadows and dunes and working cattle and bison on horseback. Leave the week feeling a deeper connection to horses and will understand how to better communicate with them. You can even bring your own horse.

Working ranch McGinnis Meadows Ranch in Montana, USA, is this April-May 2012 hosting another Horsemanship Program embracing Buck Brannaman-style horsemanship. Work from the ground up using the ranch's horses, or you can bring your own - all levels of riders are welcome. The program features daily instruction and offers guests a great way to fine-tune their riding skills with McGinnis Meadows' team of experienced horsemen and women.

For more information on horsemanship clinics, visit Top50Ranches.com

Cattle drive vacations don't come much better than the Lazy E-L Ranch in Montana, USA - Top50's newest addition to its family of guest ranch vacations. For the ultimate cattle drive experience, Lazy E-L Ranch offers riders of all levels the chance to experience genuine and authentic western cowboy culture, with cattle work and horseback riding at the fore of its working ranch vacations.

Just outside of Yellowstone National Park near the old cowboy town of Red Lodge, sits the 12,000-acre Lazy E-L Ranch. The 5th-generation working ranch opens its doors to guests wishing to immerse themselves in western cowboy culture, offering working ranch vacations perfectly suited to advanced riders and keen beginners alike. Taking no more than 16 guests at any one time, the working ranch offers intimate horseback riding vacations with a real personal touch. No wonder, then, that the ranch was chosen by Condé Nast Traveler as one of their Top 5 Guest Ranches in the USA.

Steeped in history, Lazy E-L has lost none of its authenticity or its working ranch practices, allowing guests taking working ranch vacations at the ranch to experience the real cowboy lifestyle – not the fabricated kind. This means getting up as early as 6am to head down to the barn to saddle your well-trained ranch horse, before heading back to the cookhouse to plan the day’s cattle work over a hearty breakfast. Each and every morning on your working ranch vacation at Lazy E-L, ride alongside real cowboys as you venture out on thrilling, fast-paced cattle drives, gathering and moving the ranch’s 3,000 head of cattle over 12,000 acres of rolling Montana ranch country to new pastures.

Riding at Lazy E-L ends after the morning cattle drive, allowing both you and your horse to recharge your batteries and relax in the peace and tranquillity of the ranch. Satisfy your appetite back at the cookhouse with a hearty, home-cooked lunch lovingly created by Chef Jesse Montenegro and his team of professionally trained cooks, then spend your afternoons however you choose – whether it’s visiting nearby Yellowstone National Park, exploring the ranch on foot or by mountain bike, fly-fishing for trout in five miles of the West Rosebud River or helping the wranglers doctor cattle. Head to the Lazy E-L Guest Ranch during one of the three Advanced Rider weeks that run throughout the year, and be treated to longer hours in the saddle – meaning even earlier starts and later lunches!

Lazy E-L might be all about the riding and specially cater for keen, advanced riders wishing to get in lots of riding and cattle work on their guest ranch vacation, but that doesn’t exclude younger family members and beginner riders. Scenic trail rides are always available, and the ranch’s team of wranglers provide a gentle, supportive hand to beginner and novice riders, as well as helping more advanced riders improve their horsemanship skills. Children will be shown the ropes and then, if willing and able, included in the morning cattle drives. Those children less interested in cattle work can enjoy arena games, scavenger hunts, horseshoes and many more non-riding activities.

For an authentic, genuine working ranch vacations with an abundance of first-rate riding and cattle work that’s beginners and advanced riders alike - as well as for family ranch vacations - it has to be the Lazy E-L Ranch. The adventure of a lifetime really does start here!

View Lazy E-L's ranch profile on Top50Ranches.com

Cattle drives are about as real as it gets on a ranch vacation. Working ranch vacations offer the chance to get to grips with real roundups on cattle drives across the ranch, whether it’s moving sheep, cows or bison. Feel like a real cowboy as you drive cattle across the open range to find fresh pastures for them to graze, and make a real contribution to the working ranch operation as you help gather cattle for sale or branding in a spring or fall roundup. From USA working ranches to Australia cattle stations, cattle drives are a sure-fire way to embrace life as a real cowboy.

What to expect
How long you spend in the saddle with depending on the nature of the cattle drive – some can be short rides to move small herds to an adjacent pasture, while those involving driving large groups across several miles of ranch can last all day. That said, the duration of cattle drives can be unpredictable, especially on large ranches where actually finding the herd of cows can take longer than the cattle drive itself - meaning a short cattle drive can turn into an all-day ride if the herd decide to play hide-and-seek.

Depending on the ranch and the number of cattle run over the land, cattle drives can take place every day, offering unbeatable horseback riding opportunities for keen riders and those looking to get stuck into real ranch work. Other ranches may only need to roundup cattle once or twice a week – sometimes less.

The pace can vary greatly on cattle drives, so bear in mind your riding ability and level of confidence before embarking on a cattle drive at your chosen guest ranch. The ranch hosts and wranglers will be happy to advise you and will of course match you with a suitable horse for your ability. So should you want to experience a cattle drive but aren’t so keen on riding flat-out for hours on end, many ranches will ensure you go on the right cattle drive to match your needs. Some working ranches encompassing a Ranching First ethos require a certain standard of riding, so check before you go that you’ll be able to join in on a cattle drive. Either way, most ranches will allow you to follow the cattle drive on horseback but simply watch the action unfold, should you not wish or be able to actually take park in the cattle drive yourself.

Preparing for a cattle drive
For longer cattle drives, if you’re not used to spending many hours in the saddle it can be worth wearing a pair of padded pants or underwear underneath your jeans! Make sure that you’re totally comfortable in your clothing and are dressed appropriately for the weather. Even if it’s sunny, tie a light waterproof to your saddle as the weather can change without warning, and dress in layers should a cold or cloudy day suddenly take a much warmer turn. And before you set off, make sure you’re totally happy with your stirrup length, as you may not get the chance to stop and adjust the length once the cattle drive gets going.

Capture those lasting memories created on cattle drives with a small camera, but make sure it’s small enough to fit in your pocket or saddle bag – when moving faster, a big clunky camera is the last thing you’ll want swinging around. Most important is a canteen of water, as cattle drives can last several hours, often in high temperatures. Check with your chosen ranch before you go whether you’ll need to bring your own or if the ranch will provide them.

Top tips for your first cattle drive

Learn to 'read' cows on your working ranch vacation cattle drive!

Your team leaders and wranglers will give you ‘cattle drive 101’ before you set off, but here are the main points to remember when working cattle…

• When ‘riding up’ on a cow to get him to move, always ride toward its hip.
• Try to treat each cow as an individual as well as part of the herd. One cow making a run for it can take the whole herd with him, so be on your guard!
• Low stress cattle handling/stockmanship is key. Yelling or shouting at the cattle is discouraged;however, there are times when a "hey" or voice encouragement can be warranted.
• Let the herd travel at its own pace – pushing too much can cause the herd to panic and run, splitting over a large area. And once they’ve gone, it’s hard to get ‘em back!
• If you’re not sure what to do – ask! A wrangler will be on hand to guide you through your ranch cattle drive experience, so don’t be afraid to check you’re doing the right thing if you’re unsure – they will be happy to advise and teach you the ropes along the way. If you don’t feel confident enough to ride on your own, just say and a wrangler will make sure to stay with you the whole time.
• Make sure your horse is responsive to your aids, as you may have to suddenly turn, stop or pick up the pace at a moment’s notice, so you need your horse to be listening to you.

Fall roundups
Want to get stuck into all-day cattle drives for the duration of your working ranch vacation? Then book your stay during the week of a ranch’s fall roundup. Fall roundups involve riding out for as long as it takes to gather every last cow in the herd and moving cattle back to the ranch where they’ll be shipped for sale. On working ranches with large herds – think up to 2,000 head of cattle – this can take a whole week and involve riding out all day, every day! One for the serious rider and those looking for true immersion into western cowboy culture.

Unique cattle drives

If you’re looking for a unique or exciting cattle drive experience, Top50 has a great selection of working ranch vacations for you to choose. Head to Zapata Ranch in Colorado, USA (pictured above), where you have the unique opportunity to ride with bison. These large, fast and unpredictable beasts make for fast-and-furious cattle drives with a real element of danger – one for experienced and confident riders.

For the unique chance to muster sheep on a cattle drive, head to Beaumont High Country Experience in New Zealand. This working cattle and sheep station runs 9,000 head of sheep on the 18,000-acre ranch, for a backcountry horseback riding experience like no other.

Although some guest ranches and dude ranches don't offer cattle drives, many do offer guests the opportunity to try cattle work in the arena, with lessons and competitions in team penning and cutting. This is ideal if you’re after a more relaxing or luxurious ranch vacation but still want to get stuck into some authentic ranching activities.

For the ultimate combination of experience, authenticity and luxury, we recommend Brush Creek Ranch in Wyoming, USA. This working ranch runs bison and is also a luxury guest ranch, meaning you can ride out all day on exciting real-life cattle drives as a real cowboy, AND indulge in some pampering in the full-service luxury spa. What more could you wish for?

Burnt Well Guest Ranch in New Mexico is another working ranch famous for its abundance of cattle work, and Lazy E-L Ranch is a Montana working ranch that specialises in cattle drive vacations. If cattle work is your priority on your working ranch vacations, this is the place to go - discover more about their cattle drives here. Or certainly check out The Hideout Guest Ranch in Wyoming, USA - which has been considered the "Gold Standard" of ranch vacations. You'll experience a working ranch stay and authentic cattle work; however also enjoy the softer side of European luxury, fine food and spa services. If you are looking for something truly intimate, give Sue and Eric a shout with Badger Creek Ranch or Duke Phillips a try with Chico Basin Ranch - where they only take YOUR group for the week! Chico Basin runs over 3000 head and focuses on a getaway for the experienced rider - you'll be doing a load of trotting and serious riding(recently featured in the acclaimed BEEF magazine for their ranching and grazing practices). With Badger Creek Ranch, although you'll have a true experience, they have the ability to take it "down a notch" to accommodate less experienced riders.

Go on a cattle drive!
Ranches with cattle drives
Ranches with sheep mustering
Ranches with cattle work in the arena
Ranches with bison

For more information on all of the ranches offering cattle drives, visit Top50Ranches.com