What's in a Week
Participants and Spectators
What to Expect in a Typical Week
Wondering is you’ll be in over your head as a Participant, or if being a Spectator will be boring? Good questions.
If you’re totally into training, trying to understand how a horse thinks, being inquisitive when things don’t go as planned, and exhilarated by successes, then whether you come as a Participant or as a Spectator, you will probably get bored.
It’s one thing to demonstrate with the “average horse” that if a trainer does this, the horse does that. It's all very interesting, then we move on to something else. But it's another thing if the horse has a different idea. Horses are not computers where one can push this button and get that response. Some horses are fast learners and get bored if you go too slow; others are slow learners and get scared if you go too fast. Some are super intelligent and so alert that the usual steps must be broken into smaller increments to build their confidence and hold their attention on the fine points.
Training is an art, not a science. It is intuitive and requires patience, persistence, constantly reassessing and modifying expectations. If that's outside your comfort zone, no problem, as long as you understand what you're getting into.
What to Expect as a Participant
What to Expect as a Spectator
"ComfortablyWild: The Best Glamping Destinations in North America!" It’s the first book on the topic, stunning, inspiring & everything you want to know about glamping. HorseWorks Wyoming is honored to be among such a collection of outdoor getaways!
Consider it a Guest Ranch Vacation or Gap Year Holiday but not a “dude ranch vacation”. We focus on Western riding, equine safety, and horsemanship rather than fancy amenities! Whether here for a week, three weeks or touring the Western US for three months using HorseWorks as your base, you'll have a chance to participate in trail rides, overnight camping, observe Western horsemanship and training of the colts raised on the ranch, and enjoy many on- and off-ranch activities in our Wyoming paradise.
Off-Ranch Opportunities
Opportunities abound to experience the local flavor of our area of Wyoming before, during and after your vacation at HorseWorks. Arrive in Cody early or stay after for a trip to Yellowstone National Park. Between on-ranch activities, we'll help you plan downtime to enjoy the Cody Nite Rodeo, shop for souvenirs, soak those saddle-sore muscles in the Hot Springs in Thermopolis, go white water rafter, float the river and other local activities that are close by the ranch!
Prices All-inclusive of On-ranch Activities
Included in your price are cozy cabin accommodations, 24/7 access to the Lodge, hearty meals to suit your dietary preferences, equipment, horses to match your comfort level, unlimited riding on long & short trail rides through beautiful Wyoming scenery, rides through the cattle to check the pregnant cows and watch for newborns, and horsemanship clinics demonstrating Western training techniques. Enjoy an optional overnight stay at cow camp under star-filled Wyoming skies! Airport transfer from Cody on Sunday and back to Cody at the end of your stay is also included. Off-ranch activities are not included, so bring pocket money for the rodeo & Yellowstone.
I could not imagine how relaxed and beautiful this vacation would be
Vacation Highlights
During the week, your horseback rides cover scenic terrain that varies from sagebrush flats to grassy slopes with canyon views. There's no need for nose-to-tail riding! Enjoy plenty of opportunities to ride side-by-side, visiting with new friends, or in calm solitude, quietly taking it all in! The variety of daily rides includes treks to the cow camp where homesteader cabins were built at the turn of the century, tracking the elusive herds of elk, spotting other wildlife, and rounding up a few cattle to try your hand at cutting and team penning!
Emphasis on Safety
Our emphasis is on safety (see helmet policy) and matching rides to appropriate horses. Some rides may be divided into smaller groups to ensure that all riders can go at a pace and distance within their comfort level. We invite riders to bond with the same horse or try out horses of various breeds and personalities. Our guest ranch vacations and gap year holidays are a great opportunity to enjoy at it finest!
Find Your Perfect Horse
You might even find the perfect horse partner to take home. Our horses have found homes from Florida to Maine on the East Coast, along the West Coast, as well as in England and Scotland. International riders may purchase horses and board with us year-round to ride upon returning to Wyoming for subsequent vacations. Read about our Buy & Board.