Find your perfect riding holiday with Top50

Find your perfect riding holiday today with Top50 Ranches. Booking a holiday abroad can be a challenge – especially if you want to try something a bit different or travel somewhere off the beaten track. Horse holidays in particular can be tough to gauge at a distance. Do they offer the riding experience you are looking for? Can they cater for a family member who isn’t an experienced rider? Are they family friendly? Will you be given the opportunity to ride responsive horses, not weary ‘riding school’ types? Top50 Ranches can’t help with all your holiday bookings, but they can help you choose the right ranch holiday so you can focus on channelling your inner cowboy/cowgirl. All their ranches are regularly checked by an experienced member of the Top50 team to ensure standards remain high, so you’ll never get the sinking feeling when you arrive on your first day.

10 Ranches for UK Equestrian Enthusiasts:

Alisal Ranch, California, USA

Alisal Ranch is a working cattle ranch, which offers guests a taste of the ‘old west’. You’ll have the opportunity to ride over 10,000 acres of privately owned land with experienced, entertaining wranglers. The ranch has a family slant (there is even a petting zoo!) and provides a wide range of package holidays, from mother-daughter trips to wine-tasting weekends.

Latigo Ranch, Colorado, USA

Are you looking for a relaxing ranch holiday with a focus on improving your riding? Then Latigo Ranch is the destination for you. Offering a wide-range of equestrian experiences, from scenic overnight pack trips to ‘learn to ride’ courses, this ranch suits guests who appreciate horses and nature. In addition, they are known for their outstanding children’s programme and excellent hospitality – the number of staff almost equals the number of guests.

Lone Mountain Guest Ranch, Montana, USA

Based in the mountains near Yellowstone Park, Lone Mountain Guest Ranch excels in a wide range of activities, including fly fishing and skiing. However, it’s the excellent children’s programmes that keep the families coming back each year. With kids’ rodeos, overnight backpacking, canoeing and confidence-building roping courses, it will be a trip your children will never forget.

Estancia Ranquilco, Neuquen, Argentina

Stay in the foothills of the Andes and experience unparreled remoteness. Estancia Ranquilco offers pack trips into the mountains where you can swim in hidden lakes and sleep under the stars, and luxury stays on the ranch itself – you can even combine the two! There are also exciting volunteer programme for interested guests, where you can help make the estancia sustainable.

Bar W Guest Ranch, Montana, USA

Want to build up your ranching skills? Bar W Guest Ranch provides a relaxed mountain atmosphere where you can try roping cattle, barrels, sorting cattle or trail rides. Based only minutes from a resort town but nestled in the mountains, you have the best of both worlds. Other activities include wine tasting and local spa visits.

Tod Mountain Ranch, British Columbia, Canada

Tod Mountain Ranch puts the equestrian experience at the centre of your visit. This ranch is perfect for visitors who want to be involved in all aspects of riding and horse care. On arrival, you are matched with your perfect horse and he is yours for the duration of your stay. Expect scenic wilderness trail riding, where you might see black bear, coyote and cougar.

Rankin Ranch, California, USA

Six generations of Rankins have lived and worked on this 31,000-acre cattle ranch, so if authentic is top of your list then Rankin Ranch could be the ranch for you. Great for families, Rankin has a supervised children’s programme. Plus, don’t miss the ride out on the ‘Sunrise trail’ – the perfect way to start your day.

Free Rein, British Columbia, Canada

Free Rein is the ultimate in personalised ranch equestrian experiences in a secluded wilderness location. Riding is planned around guests, rather than on a pre-defined schedule, and caters for beginners up to advanced riders. Equestrian guests can also arrange lungeing and ground work sessions.

The Hideout Lodge and Guest Ranch, Wyoming, USA

If space is what you are looking for, The Hideout can give it to you. The ranch itself is 300,000 acres, but there is access to 650,000 acres on horseback! Elevations range from 4,200 to 13,100 feet, which gives visitors the opportunity to experience a diversity in landscape and scenery. A wide range of riding abilities are catered for and The Hideout limits riders to 25 per week to ensure everyone has a personalised experience.

Rowse's 1+1 Ranch, Nebraska, USA

With up to six hours in the saddle each day, Rowse’s 1+1 is for guests who want the full, working ranch experience. All levels of rider are catered for and there are plenty of authentic cattle working opportunities, including cattle drives, roundups, team penning and roping.

To book or to find out more about any of these equestrian ranch experiences and many more exceptional ranch vacations, visit Top50 Ranches.

– Soraya Abdel-Hadi