The Silver Spur horse drives are very popular weeks for those of you who want a challenging ride, good company, don't mind missing the home comforts of phones, bathrooms and electricity and wish to sample life as a comboy/cowgirl. See dates below - for experienced riders.
If you have ever rounded up and driven horses in miles of open country, you know it's not just a ride in the park! Driving 40-50 horses 20 miles a day through all kinds of terrain is an adventure! Former guests will tell you it's the most exciting thing they have ever done on horseback.
It can be hot and it can be cold, it can be wet or dry or dusty, it can be fast and then slow, it can be challenging yet relaxing. It's a horse drive and anything can happen because it's the real thing' If you’re looking for a fast paced great cowboy adventure, a Medicine Lodge Horse Drive is just the thing for you.
Your Horse Drive week will begin with us rounding-up you and our other guest (12 average) at either the Idaho Falls or Jackson Wyoming airport and driving you to the isolated ranch located 45 miles from Dubois Idaho at the head of Medicine Lodge Canyon. The Warm Creek Cow Camp will be where your trip begins and ends.
You will arrive at the ranch Sunday evening for a welcome dinner and introduction to the Silver Spur Ranch family, crew and other guests. Your accommodation is simple yet very nice. There is no electricity at the ranch, all rooms and cabins have propane lighting The hot outdoor shower is a favourite for all guests.
After a ranch style dinner, your room and bed will be a welcome site! You will want to get a good nights sleep, because morning will come fast! You will awake to the smell of cowboy coffee and a great cowboy breakfast. After breakfast, be prepared to meet your mount. You will receive riding instructions and then off you will go on a full days ride in the mountains.
Monday is a very important day. Theywant everyone to feel comfortable with their horse before we leave on the horse drive. You will take a sack lunch with you everyday and eat on the trail. This usually becomes a favourite time of day, stopping to enjoy lunch on a beautiful day, giving your horse a little rest and taking in a little sunshine in the great outdoors. Making sure every one feels comfortable going up and down the mountain's on their horse and confident riding at a walk, trot and lope. We want you to trust your horse completely before we leave on the horse drive. After a great day of confidence building we will return for a Dutch Oven Dinner , a nice hot shower and relaxation around the campfire.
Tuesday: After a nice country breakfast, we will pack our bedrolls in the chuck wagon, round up and saddle the horses, load them in the horse trailer and head for Deep Creek. Let the round-up begin! We will round-up to 40 horses 20 plus miles, through desert canyon country. At the end of the day we will end up at Warm Springs. There is not a more welcome site than riding over the ridge with a herd of horses and spotting the chuck wagon and the camp. A hot cup of coffee or an ice cold coke is always appreciated. You’re going to be tired and dirty after a long day of riding.
There is a natural warm spring here and it's the perfect spot to take a nice relaxing bath. It is up on the hill from camp, so while soaking after a long day, you can see the horses you have gathered in the meadow below you, it's an awesome site' . You can end your day with a hot delicious meal and lots of stories of the day’s adventure You will be ready to retire for the evening to a nice tent or: sleep under the stars if you wish.
Wednesday: You will awake to the smell of coffee brewing over the fire and hot cakes on the griddle. After breakfast, if you like, another quick dip in the Spring, then we will help break camp, catch our horses and be on our way. We will drive the horses further into the mountain today and the scenery is breathtaking. You just never know how the day will go, it all depends on the horse's. One thing is for sure, every day is different and every day is an adventure. Once again the chuck wagon is a great sight to behold after a long days ride. Dinner and more stories and songs around the campfire make an end to a perfect day.
Thursday: Awake to the sounds of the horses near by, coffee brewing over the fire and the smell of bacon sizzling! The young colt's are usually tired and need a days rest. We have travelled over 40 miles and are now in some beautiful back country. You have got to see this. ' We will leave the colts and camp behind today and go do a little exploring. There is a beautiful mountain lake just 6 miles from camp and with abundant wildlife around, we might just get a close look at a moose, elk or even a bear.
Friday: After a whole day off with nothing to do the colts are ready and anxious to get going, so after another great breakfast we will help break camp, gather and saddle our horses, round up the colts, and get them headed to their final destination. This is another great day of riding and moving horses through some of the most beautiful country you can imagine. By now you definitely know what you are doing and feel confident doing it You are a cowboy! I You will arrive back to the ranch in late afternoon ready for a hot shower a cold drink and a Warm cookie, reward for a job well done. After a little relaxation time we will sort out one of the colts and work with him for a short time before dinner,
Saturday: By now you have ridden over 60 miles and are ready for a day off yourself. At the Silver Spur we will do all we can to make your vacation one to remember, so if there is something that you want to do that you think we may have missed, be sure and let us know and if it's possible we'll do it! You will have memories for a lifetime.
IDAHO HORSE DRIVES 2012 - £890 plus £84 ranch gratuity - includes 3 meals a day and up to six hours a day riding .Airport transfer $175 per person from Jackson Hole or Idaho Falls $100. We recommend if more than 2 you consider renting a car rather than pay the transfer fee from Jackson Hole. If you are flexible on time fly direct to Denver and enjoy a scenic drive 2 day up through Wyoming to Idaho. For more info on how to get there call : 01798 865946. Horse drives booking up fast book early to avoid disappointment
Dates for the 2012 horse drives are : May 20th-26 , May 27-June 2, June 3-9 , June 17-23, 24-30 June, July 8-14, July 15-21 , 29 July-4 Aug, August 5-11, Aug 19-25, Aug 26-Sept 1, 9-15 Sept, 16-22 Sept, 23-29 Sept 2012
NB For those who don't mind cold weather and looking for an adventure - This ranch added an extra Horse Drive at the beginning and end of the year, because in the spring they have herds of horses that need to be trailed to their spring pasture, and in the fall we have herds of horses that need to be trailed to their winter pasture. The drives in the middle we are driving the horses to their summer and fall pastures. They drive between 40-50 head of horses on the regular Horse Drives.
Very popular with experienced single and couples looking for an adventure. Book early to avoid disappointment with American Round-Up Tel : 01798 865946
American Round-Up Tel : 01798 865946 is now part of Frontier Travel and is fully bonded under their ATOL 5405 ABTA W3207. Reg No 3403694 6 Sydenham Avenue London SE26 6UH VAT 744 407 633