A Stay at the
Tennessee Dude and Guest Ranch....Upon check in at 5 P.M. C.S.T.
on your arrival day, each Guest receives their very own Working
Ranch Horse who will become your faithful partner while at the ranch! After check-in you'll meet and greet your
amazing new ‘horsey companion’ with carrots and apples and then get your family settled into your horsy themed
guest room! Whether you are staying
a few days or a week, you will experience what life was like as a Cowboy or Cowgirl in the 1800's!
After dinner, there’s
time for a little outdoor star gazing while listening for the call of the coyotes in the valley before 'hitting the hay'...or
take a night time swim in the outdoor pool under the moonlight...or enjoy roasting marshmallows over the camp fire.
On your first day at the ranch: Rise
& Shine!…before you know it, it’s breakfast time! Oh no, not for you! The horses eat
first at the Guest Ranch, so keep your boots by the bed! After the horses are fed, and you've milked
the cows, collected the chicken eggs and handled any other morning ranch chores...it's time to enjoy your cowboy breakfast
on the back deck or in the Biblical themed dining room.
Following
breakfast you'll begin your first day of horsemanship training at the ranch! For beginners and novice cowboys and cowgirls
we'll start with horse safety, grooming, and basic horse care. Hey! Don't forget to clean those hooves! That's
right, you'll be doing everything the cowboys did while taking care of their horses in the old days! Next it's time to saddle
up and put on the bridle and finally the whole family is ready to mount up for their first 'cowboy training session'
in the ring. You'll enjoy some great family fun on horseback to develop (or improve) the skills your family will need
while on the trail! Beginners who have never been on a horse before, through riders of all levels,
will enjoy this unique horsemanship skills training session! After
a couple of hours of cowboy fun in the saddle at the ranch, it's finally time for a break! Water the horses, get
them some hay for lunch and head to the guest ranch house for some ice-cold southern sweet tea...and lunch. But don't
get to relaxed because you'll soon be back in the saddle again! (Advanced
riders wishing to hit the trail the first day may request a riding test in the arena, after getting acquainted with their
horse during a short mounted session.)
After lunch on your first day as a beginner, novice or intermediate rider
it's time for cowboy training session number two at the ranch! Don't worry this time it's just another hour or so in the saddle!
Yep...just a little more cowpoke training and you'll be the best horse handler in the south! There's mounted games
with your family to see who's the best at their new found or improved horsemanship skills! Soon it's time to take care
of your wonderful steed for the evening! Unsaddle your horse, groom him down, feed him and bed him down for the night.
Next it's time for a hot shower...not to mention dinner!
How about an old fashioned game of checkers or dominos with the whole family. Relax on the back deck enjoying the beautiful
stars and listen for the coyote calls! Time to hit the hay!
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Day
2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 at the ranch: Cock-a-doodle-do! There goes that rooster again! "Well mount up cowboys
(& cowgirls) & move 'em out! …it’s time to hit the trail! That's right...after your farm/ranch chores
are done it's time to put your newfound horsemanship skills to work in the wide open spaces! Don't
forget to pack your saddle bags and water bottles for a day on the trail! Each day's destination is a new adventure
through the beautiful Sequatchie Valley. God's magisty will be seen everywhere you turn throughout your daily
time in the saddle on the trail. Enjoy an authentic chuck wagon breakfast and dinner during your stay at the ranch, just
like the Cowboys did on the trail during the cattle drives! Trail riding, trail riding, trail riding using all your newly aquired cowboy skills in the wide open spaces! Hungry
again?! Well it's not time yet to head back to the ranch yet so lunch is always on the trail....riverside! While
the horses take a break in the shade don't forget to unpack your Cowboy Bible from your saddlebags so you can join in on our
unique Bible Study - ‘What the Bible Has to Say About Horses’! Did you know there are over 217 scriptures about horses in the Bible?!
Each day is a different trail
to another part of the beautiful Sequatchie Valley. Breathtaking views are in every direction you look from your saddle! And
depending on the length of your stay, and your arrival and check out date, you can even enjoy our favorite restaurant
ride during the week or our old fashioned country 'church ride' on Sunday!
After a beautiful
ride and a relaxing afternoon with your beloved guest ranch horse, it's time to head back to the ranch. No, you’re
not quite done yet cowboys & cowgirls…you’ve still got to unsaddle your horse, hose him down, feed him and
bed him down for the night! Finally, another day of ranch life and great family fun will soon come to a close.
Stay for a minimum of two
days or up to a week! The best arrival dates are Monday, Tuesday, Wed or Thursday at 5PM.
Stay at least four
days or more and learn how to 'rope' and ride...aboard your horse! Don't worry it's a fake cow not a real one so
it's all cowboy fun and no danger!
Stay five days and you've earned the right to join in on our restaurant ride
located at a 100 year old dairy farm!
Arrive during the week on a standard check-in day and stay on through
Sunday and you'll be riding to church the old fashioned way...by horseback! That's right...you'll love our
'Ride to Church' Sundays! Enjoy an old historic country church whose original members all came by horseback!
They even welcome us in our boots and jeans!
Helmets are provided or you can use your own. Helmets are required for all riders unless
approved otherwise by the ranch owners on an individual guest basis |
