bitterroot ranch

Our stay at the ranch was in August 2013. I have lamented for over a year as I contemplated writing a review at all of Bitterroot ranch. Mainly because by the time we left the ranch I felt abused, used and subsequently disregarded as a paying guest.I'll start at the beginning of the vacation. We arrive at the ranch, the hospitality was good, the owners greeted us graciously and overall a warm welcome.The first morning is evaluation time, after waiting for everyone to mount up, as I step off with the horse I have been paired up with it is obvious that the mare was almost 3-legged lame. I informed one of the guides that didn't believe me at first or so it seemed, but then saw what I had been feeling for 12 strides and told me to turn around and go back to the barn to be set up with a different horse. This I blew off because 'it happens' in the horse world, I have owned horses for the last 30+ years and have been riding since I was 7 years old both English styles and western, and sometimes a horse steps on a rock on the way down from the pasture. After I was mounted again on a new horse and off to the arena to catch up with my fellow guests I arrive to find out my friend's horse has also come up lame and they are going back to get her a different horse too. So the first day, both my friend and I are initially mounted on lame horses. The riding evaluation was a joke, they can call it an evaluation in 30 seconds or less and I don't care how good of an eye you have you can't access a person's ability after one or two rounds around an arena watching 10 riders on strange horses that they have never ridden before. The most you can find out is how good their seat is and if they might contain the most basic of skills to ride. Which to me as a horse trainer, owner, and previous lesson giver, is a disservice to those that can ride well vs those that can look as though they can ride well for a short distance. Needless to say that we were put with what I would have referred to as beginners, people that did not have the skills or the stamina to keep up with an advanced group for any length of time. Prior to booking our stay at the ranch we were assured by Hadley that this kind of thing was not what their ranch experience was all about, stating that we would be grouped with like skilled riders even if that meant that we would be in a very small group. This was proven to be untrue our entire stay, as we were put with riders that we would never consider to go on long rides with us if we were riding on trails on our own horses back in WI. It would not be fair to experienced riders that wish to gallop, canter and the like when it is possible nor the inexperienced rider that may have a lot of fear but wants to keep up and not hold others back. Because we are savvy trail riders we understand the need to ride to the weakest rider in the group, that is the only safe thing to do. But to pay the amount of money we did for the experiences we had is borderline robbery. Bitterroot advertises that we could get lessons complimentary while we were there. But when we asked about it to see if they would give us a lesson on jumping we were given the impression that jumping lessons were for folks that were regular jumpers and cross country participants only. That they didn't do beginners at all, so I have to ask. What is the point of advertising it on your website if the service really isn’t available? I would have been more than happy to demonstrate that I had all the necessary skills in place to do so, but was basically I was met with a resounding NO. I suggest they remove that amenity from their website and brochures as it is misleading and when you get there, disappointing, especially after the money spent and expectations dashed.The second full day on the ranch was full of riding and some moving of cows from one place to another because they were grazing on land that they shouldn't have been. This was easy for all as it was all walking and those that didn't ride well stayed in the back with one guide while my friend and I kept the sides of the herd going in the right direction. We were getting used to the idea that we were not with skilled riders and were doing the very thing that we were assured wasn't going to happen, following nose to tail with horses that only moderately listened to their riders but were more apt to follow another unless you, as the rider, insisted to the horse that they follow your aids. I personally never had trouble with bucking or being run away with but I did see Hadley get run off with and bucked off a couple of times on the picnic ride from hell we took the last day of our stay. By the end of the second day we were able to ride with Mel, who seemed to recognize that we had been placed in a group that was severely under skilled to ride with us. She did say something at that point but unfortunately since we were only there for a partial week, our last riding day was the following day, the picnic all day ride. All I can say is that because of that picnic ride I may never trust a ranch owner again at their word.The Picnic ride. The day started as any other, we waited for them to tack up our horses and assist us in mounting from mounting blocks. We left a little earlier because it was supposed to be an all-day ride but should have us back at the ranch by 3pm roughly. Setting out for the ride we were told that we would also be looking for some cattle that were spotted not in the right grazing area and we could be moving 30-40 head for a period of time that day. Having done exactly that the day before, we say 'no problem' to the challenge as we trek on in the direction the cattle were last seen. We arrive in the valley to not 30-40 head but to 200+head of cows, calves and at least 3 bulls. There was 6 of us, including the guides. One guide was on a green horse and kept asking my friend or I to wait for her and her horse cause he was getting 'nervous'. This is the GUIDE asking a GUEST for help! I don’t mind giving help, but when it had been made so clear that we are supposed to follow the guides, when they ask for help I have to say I lost complete confidence in the guide’s ability to keep us safe. So we slowly start to try to gather these cattle in to a bunch to begin driving them back to where they need to go, this was no easy task as they wanted to go a completely different direction. I have never seen a herd of cattle be this hard to drive, scatter so easily and ultimately refuse to go in the directions we wanted. Then we come to find out after the fact that we were basically trying to drive them in a direction that they believed was filled with wolves, even though that wasn’t the pasture we were ultimately going to be in. So imagine 200+ cattle refusing to move forward or go in the direction you are trying to get them to move, they have a tendency to just scatter, not bunch up, and literally refuse to move. Anyone that has dealt with ANY herd type animal knows that getting a prey animal to go in the direction of a predator is going to be next to impossible. Before trying to push them more in a direction that the cows didn't want to go, we stopped for lunch. Well if you want to call it that, what was supposed to be a leisurely lunch was more of a gobble down your food as fast as you can and get back on your horse so we can get moving. So what we were basically told to do was dismount, hang on to our horses and eat quickly. There was weather moving in, as usual the temperature dropped and my friend put on her jacket. But as most Wyoming storms go, it soon passed and became hot out again, by this time we were underway trying to round up cattle that didn’t want to be rounded up. When my friend asked if she could take her jacket off again, she was abruptly answered by Hadley that she should have thought about that before she put it on and to just suffer the consequences. Now that is hospitality!Hadley who was leading this particular day was determined to get those cows moved using 3 inexperienced riders (I am lumping the one guide, into that group because she was unhelpful and could barely control her own horse) and 3 experienced riders (Hadley, myself and my friend.) Anyone that has driven cattle before knows that 3 people for a well moving bunched up group of cows is a lot, but when they are trying to scatter in all directions with only three people trying to re-gather and re-bunch them up it is like trying to herd cats. My horse who had been giving me his all and I don't say that lightly, Dutch gave me EVERYTHING he had that day, even when he didn't have it anymore, he still gave. I can't say enough about Dutch, he was a good boy, a really good boy, with a heart the size of Texas. I told Hadley that Dutch was spent a couple of hours before Hadley finally decided to call it quits. My friend told her that Dancer was spent and beginning to rear out of refusal, I was looking at Hadley's horse and knew that it had given everything it had too. But she refused to give up or make the decision that she should have made hours earlier and kept pushing us all to try to get these cows that were not going to do what she wanted with the number of people she had to work with. Don't forget that if you have ever been to Bitterroot that it is hilly and mountainous and the grades are very steep in some areas. We were trying drive these cattle through areas where it was just not safe to go with an exhausted horse and rider. Even to an untrained eye this was obvious. Hadley actually told my friend to break off a branch to use as a switch when Dancer was starting to refuse to go anymore and begin to rear on my friend. By the time Hadley called it quits and said it was time to go back to the ranch she was leading him around while trying to drive cattle. The two inexperienced riders stopped helping earlier and were just following the other guide as she trailed behind the herd. I am the owner of a farm myself, I am no stranger to work. I used to spend time at a friend’s working cattle ranch in South Dakota when I was young, I know how drives go, how cows work, how herds bunch up and move. This was not the case that day. Hadley pushed her paying guests to the brink of exhaustion and she pushed what they say are their valued horses to the same exhaustion, and essentially treated us with less consideration than ranch help that day rather than guests that paid over $1300 for 3 days of riding and 4 nights of lodging and meals (of which they didn't fulfill either, as our last meal with would have been our breakfast on Thursday). It was a safety issue completely and Hadley should have made the call far earlier that we needed more people to help move those cows, as we had to give up eventually anyway due to lack of man power and horse stamina. I consider what happened that day was a HUGE safety issue and abuse of the good nature of the guests and the horses we rode that day. Upon our return that afternoon, two hours later than was planned we barely had time to take off our boots and head to our last dinner there and to talk to the kitchen or Hadley about a to-go breakfast the following morning as we were leaving before anyone would be awake to make anything. We asked for something simple, PB&J and some fruit. Hadley assured us that she would talk to the kitchen and arrange it for us. The next morning around 3 am we are looking in the kitchen and in the dining room and there is nothing made all I found was some fruit that was left over from the previous day. I even looked for some bread and PB&J to just do it myself and was unable to find anything. It was as if Hadley never talked to the kitchen staff at all. Disappointing was not even a good word to describe it, hungry and pissed off is probably a better description.I will not in good conscience recommend this to anyone, beginner or experienced riders. I came to ride and I ended up feeling used, abused and then forgotten as was evident from our lack of breakfast items waiting for us when we got up the following morning to leave by 3 am for the next part of our vacation. I even left a note for Hadley on her desk, never did get a response, reply or anything from them. Not even a “sorry, there must have been a misunderstanding.” I have to say that because the owners of Bitterroot Ranch are also the same owners of Equitours I won't be trusting anything that is said on the Equitours website either, as I feel as though I was taken for a ride, not a pleasant one, by Bitterroot and would expect no less from anyone on their site.

Three years ago a friend of mine spent a week at Bitterroot Ranch which so enthused her that she could talk of nothing else for months and I made her promise that next time she went, she would take me, too. So in September 2014, I accompanied her on her return visit.As soon as we arrived, it was clear that for my friend there was a sense of coming home. And she was not alone: of the guests that week, several were repeat visitors. Indeed, one gentleman was there for a sixth time! What better recommendation could there be?Bitterroot is a family owned and run establishment. The Fox family themselves farm the cattle; they breed, raise and train many of the horses; they lead the rides. And they socialise with their guests, dining with them and sharing a glass of wine at cocktail hour, generous with their time, affable, entertaining. The cordial atmosphere generated by this approach is second to none and makes every visitor feel like a valued guest rather than yet another client. Their staff are friendly and ready to help. The wranglers, in particular, succeed in remaining enthusiastic, even at the end of the season, happy to chat, be informative and take endless photos.Of course, the Bitterroot experience is mainly about the riding. It is true that this is trail riding and one must expect to be following a track in a line behind a guide. But what trails! The countryside is absolutely spectacular and the scenery very varied, with each ride having a different character. The horses are incredibly sure-footed, reliable and fit, capable of negotiating the rocky, undulating terrain for two or three hours at a time without faltering. Each guest will ride several horses in the course of his/her stay, which ensures that the horses remain fresh and willing, and the riders have a variety of experiences. I rode 6 different horses and enjoyed them all, feeling completely confident at every pace. On the other hand, I hated the first saddle I was given and was immediately offered another. Every effort is made to ensure that guests are well matched with their mount and their gear.There are 150 working horses on the ranch. The sight of them all leaving their daytime corral and heading for their night grazing is spectacular. There is plenty to enjoy while strolling around the homestead and stable areas - ponies 'mowing' the lawn at lunchtime, beautiful Arabian stallions, young foals, llamas and all manner of farm animals.The accommodation at the ranch is comfortable and picturesque. The main lodge has a homely feel and a welcoming atmosphere when the guests gather after a nice hot shower to share the day's experiences over a glass of wine and a plentiful, well balanced meal. Our particular group had such a good time together that we found it hard to leave the table and return to our respective cabins!All up, it was a week that generated amazing memories and, hopefully, lasting friendships.

I cannot speak highly enough about the experience my family and I had at Bitterroot Ranch. The Fox family and the ranch staff are fun, interesting, knowledgeable and compassionate people. The accommodations are rustic, cozy and comfortable. The food is delicious and plentiful. The scenery is astonishingly spectacular. And the horses…the amazing, happy horses…made this vacation a dream come true for our family.Mel, Bayard, Richard and Hadley are consummate horsemen, and they hire wranglers who seamlessly fit into their program. The Bitterroot horses not only receive exceptional physical care, but also emotional care. From the first day when we watched the amazing sight, of which we never tired, of the horses coming down from a high plateau pasture and quietly finding their spot in the corral with their buddies, the contentment of Bitterroot horses was apparent. Over and over, my husband and I have heard our two girls describe how the horses go out to eat grass each night and don't have to be ridden more than three or four times a week and that they are so friendly you can wander among the herd in the pasture. The girls describe the amazing rides too, but it was the quality of care that each of the horses receive that stands out in all of our minds; I think because without that sense of well-being none of us would have been able to enjoy the riding. And enjoy the riding we did!!! Every trail seems to afford one with a vista of the Wind Rivers or Absarokas, each more spectacular than the last. The horses on the ranch, many of whom were bred and raised by the Fox family, have a gentle toughness and quiet sensibility as they navigate trails through sagebrush and aspen groves, up and down steep hills and through streams. They seem as content under saddle as they do in the corral. The wranglers have a constant and careful attention to safety that immediately put my mind at ease, and in addition to the clear safety protocol that they follow, they seem to have a knack for matching horses to riders. I noticed that all the guests, myself included, consistently seemed to feel comfortable, but also appropriately challenged with their horses, and in such a short time felt a special bond with many of the horses we were fortunate enough to ride. Speaking of bonds, my only complaint would be that each guest does not get to leave with their favorite horse!!!! The Fox family and wonderful staff have created something special at Bitterroot Ranch, and we can’t thank them enough for giving us an experience that we will treasure always and memories that will last a lifetime; this trip truly was a dream come true for our family.

A friend and i (we are both equestrian trail riders) decided to take a trip out west to do some real mountain riding. We ended up having one of the most memorable trips ever. The horses at the Bitterroot are so well cared for and very good at their job of being confident and sure footed over the sometimes steep and rocky mountain wild game trails that we rode on. The Bitterroot Ranches herd is quite large and there are several suitable horses for every single rider which are carefully selected to match the riders skill level. Ok we went for the riding, which was fantastic, but we were also so pleased with the entire experience. The food, served buffet style in the beautiful main lodge always had plenty of choices (i am vegetarian, my friend is not), we never left a meal hungry with the delicious homestyle cooking.We also thoroughly enjoyed getting to know other ranch guests and listening to wonderful stories from Mel, Bayard, Hadley and Richard. Anyone looking for a great riding adventure should give the Bitterroot Ranch a try, i doubt anyone leaves disappointed.