Horses are a quintessential and classic aspect of a dude ranch, and often one of the major factors that draw in visitors. Dude ranches typically offer a variety of options of horseback riding, from lessons to trail rides to simple trotting around a corral. The riding trails, guided or independent, offer a unique perspective for the participants to experience the "Wild West" scenery and landscape, all from atop a horse's back.
Many dude ranch visitors would be surprised to find that many dude ranches also offer spa services and packages to the guests. This is especially ideal and appealing to those family members or significant others who are not overly enthusiastic about spending hours "roughing it" outdoors. While some guests head off to explore the ranch and the landscape, the rest can stay indoors and receive a massage. A massage is also well suited as a pleasant end of the day for a guest who has spent his day riding.
Although indoor accommodations are typically available at a dude ranch, camping out can add an entire level of enjoyment and memories to those visiting. Camping enables the guests to cook a meal outdoors over an open fire, roast marshmallows, tell ghost stories and spend quality time together without the technological distractions you are usually bombarded with. Spending a night underneath the clear and twinkling stars can also add romance to a couple's vacation or bonding to a family one.
In the spirit of a classic dude ranch experience, many visitors opt to engage in animal wrangling activities and games. This could include a variety of games and animals, from catching a hog to chasing down a chicken. It could also involve the wrangling of a fake animal, such as a metal calf. Another fake-animal-related activity often seen at dude ranches is the riding of a mechanical bull where the participant struggles to stay on top of a bucking bull.
