When you go horseback riding, you will be pared up with one of our friendly cowponies and will be able to learn as much as you would like about western horses and driving cattle while you are here.

Some of our guests are beginner horseback riders; you will get basic information about your individual horse and instruction on how to safely ride together as a group with a wrangler. We will show you by example how to communicate with your horse and then help you figure it out for yourself. When you feel confident and comfortable doing all the basic maneuvers, you will be off for the day adventures.

While Grandpa Ted Schaffer was the local Sheriff of this area of the rocky mountains, he started the Equine Riding Program at Colorado State University. Using his Calvary horses he bought from the Calvary when it was being dismantled and dispersed, he started what is now a nationally recognized riding program. While heading the riding program, Ted had managed a famous Quarter Horse stallion called Plotted, which many of our western riding horses go back to. CSU also has what is now one of the best Equine Veterinary Schools, where some of the breeders of cattle ranch Quarter Horses have donated stallions to their equine vet program. We were able to breed to these stallions, and get some of the world's best bloodlines into our horse herd. Our western riding horses now go back 6 generations to Quarter Horses that are gentle, strong athletes and who have a true affection for people. Whether trail riding, cattle drives or rounding up cows, these horse's love their work and come by it naturally.