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New Arrivals and Sad-Joyful Departing’s
Hello Nameless Filly!
 Welcome! One day old!
 Jazzy is now pretty thanks to Justin Last summer, Justin rescued a very skinny and remarkably ugly little gray mare named Jazzy.
Under his skillful watch, Jazzy blossomed into a fat and loving all-around children’s horse - a favorite!
 Filly, age 10 days In March, Jazzy started looking “funny.” You know, this big bulgy
 Mom & Baby taking a walk while their shed is getting housekeeping tummy started sticking out. Not worms, not
melanoma, not too much beer. The obstetrical experts (Justin and Ellen) examined her to find…. a kick! ANOTHER kick! A BABY!
Little nameless filly was born April 12th. Then it snowed, and snowed and its still snowing! So the tractor shed was renovated into the mom and baby nursery, where they are both doing quite nicely, thank you!
Baby is now old enough that she will approach us and allow us to hold her head and pet and generally love on her.
Justin: Best Wishes on your New Dude Ranch Adventure!
 Due Ranch Barn Manager Justin Sad for us, a
Great and Joyful Adventure for You!
Although he told us: “I have a dream that when I grow up I will be the CEO of Wal-Mart or NASCAR,” it came as no surprise when Justin told us that he is buying his own dude ranch.
He’s a cowboy through and through, and it will be heart warming to watch his dreams grow and unfold.
On the secret staff Page, Justin introduced himself to his staff with these words:
Hello there my future minions… So Justin Ripley here (Believe It Or Not) I am your Barn Manager but I do anything and everything needed on the ranch. I have a dream that when I grow up I will be the CEO of Wal-Mart or NASCAR until then I am just playing..
I am from Indiana, a Vet Tech, horse trainer, and former Military. I needed a break from the real world so I moved to Colorado a few years ago to follow my childhood dream of working on a dude ranch for a summer. Ends up I refused to leave so I took over managing the ranch for awhile. Then I was off to AZ to play with the rattle snakes and cactus at another ranch. I would not recommend taking up Rattle Snake Charming anytime soon.
 Boss! Dan and Ellen decided to rescue me from a horrible death from snake bite.. I have been at Sundance since Nov 2010 and have fallen under its spell.
And now the spell of his own place! Yee-haw! Here are his websites:
http://www.1880sguestranch.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RbarSminiatures?fref=ts
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-cowboys-dream-the-1880-s-guest-ranch
 Justin & Cyril dancing  Dude Ranch Justin Square Dance Graduation Justin is now working on fleshing out his Business Plan, Balance Sheets, PPM Offer and all that other fun stuff.
Not sure if Ellen’s “town job” gives us enough income to invest, but we sure do plan on being customers. We can’t wait for the opportunity to visit. Yes, dude ranchers tend to vacation at dude ranches! And summer in Montana is beautiful; both weeks!
Happy trails, Justin. We welcome you into the neighborhood of dude ranchers and wish you all the happiness in the world.
Happy Trails
Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It’s the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here’s a happy one for you.
Happy trails to you,
Until we meet again.
Happy trails to you,
Keep smilin’ until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we’ere together?
Just sing a song, and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you,
Til we meet again.
Colorado Dude Ranch Vacation
Single Person Challenge Course
 Starting simple So many of our guest ranch guests have been here numerous times, so every year or two we try to
add something new to our “standard” adventures
all designed to make you VERY dirty,
very tired &
maybe a little bit sore
 Looks easy, eh? Wrangler Nick is back (yee-haw!) & he is drawing and building not one challenge course, but three!
A Single Person Challenge Course
A Team Challenge Course
A Kid and Horse Obstacle Course
 Mudder Nick! Nick is a “graduate” of the “2012 Colorado Tough Mudder,” An obstacle course phenomenon with lots of, yes… you guessed it, mud! Twelve miles with 22 obstacles and an unbelievable amount of mud.Completely insane.
How many obstacles? Ohmygosh! Who knows?
He will start with as many as he can get set up this spring if it ever stops snowing!
 The Crawl (Who-hoo! We have water this year!) And then he will continue to add as he is inspired by this June’s Tough Mudder,
and then next year’s
and then the year after,
and...
 Bridge can be easy and fun! First, Nick is building a “Single Person Challenge” (death waiver required).
What’s going to be in it?
- Pipe crawl
- Walls to climb
- Balance beam
- Hand over hand (rope version)
- The tire swing (Sounds easy? Ha! You aren’t paying attention!)
I’m requesting he add:
 Climb and Dance
- An under/over Log Jam Crawl/Climb
- Single log climb overs
- Pull-up bars
So if you want to try a new dude ranch adventure,
it will be waiting for you right here at the Sundance Trail !
Are you getting excited?
Can you feel the burn?
Come see us!
Do you have any favorite obstacles that you would like to see included in this course?
Let Nick know (970-224-1222 or ride@sundancetrail.com)! But Dan says: “No ice water baths, no electric shocks, no mud (well… maybe a little mud…)!
 Climb Over, Crawl Under Next week I’ll tell you more about his Team Challenge Course and his Challenge Course for the kids to work their horses in.
Note: none of the pictures here are from our property. Nick can’t build in the snow! But these photos give a pretty good idea of what some of the challenges might look like.[A huge special thanks to Tough Mudder for letting me use some of their photos! And for inspiring us...]
Request our Dude Ranch brochure, or Download pdf now, or Email the ranch.
Introducing Flat Stanley to Our Dude Ranch Life:
Flat Stanley is a pal of our friend Julian Byrnes from New York. He loves to travel and Julian suggested that he might enjoy experiencing a Colorado Dude Ranch vacation. Flat Stanley arrived and immediately threw himself into the excitement of winter in the Rocky Mountains.
He had to be a little careful on his first few days because it was very windy and blustery up here and he doesn’t have a whole lot of body mass. He was afraid he might blow away!
He braved the wind in the afternoon though to help me feed the horses.
Flat Stanley also helped me feed the chickens.
Finally the wind died down enough for Stanley to go riding with me. He was very excited when he learned that we had a horse named Stanley on the ranch. So here is Flat Stanley riding Little Stanley. We went up into the woods so that Flat Stanley could look out at the Mummy Range of the Rocky Mountains and check out some Aspens and Ponderosa Pine trees.
After a long day on horseback, kicking back in the hot tub is the perfect way to relax.
 And even better if it’s followed by an evening in front of a roaring wood fire.
Just before he had to leave, Stanley was lucky enough to meet another ranch friend. Madam Moose stopped by to check on us.
Unfortunately, Flat Stanley had to be on his way. We’ll miss him but we’re sure he’s having a great time in South Carolina with Ellen and Dan. I’m sure there will be more stories of his adventures upon their return. From the staff at Sundance Trail, we hope you had a fabulous winter and have exciting plans for the coming summer. Maybe we’ll see ya up on the mountain!
 www.SundanceTrail.com
800-357-4930
970-224-1222
A very BIG special thanks to Ms. Marian, who was Stanley’s wrangler!
Family Christmas Dude Ranch Vacation: 10% Discount
December, 2012
Come join us and relax over a long Holiday weekend. Let us cook and clean! A Christmas Eve Seven Course Dinner, a Family Style Christmas Dinner of Turkey carved at the table; a Champagne Breakfast on Boxing Day: family fun, including for mom!.
Some typical Morning Activities:
Trail Riding, maybe in the snow! With lessons available.
 - Your hostess, Ellen, on the front steps!
And available Afternoon Activities:
Trap and rifle shooting
Trail Riding, maybe in the snow!
Horse back riding lessons & coaching available
Make and decorate Holiday/Christmas cookies
Decorate the tree (help us find and bring home just the right tree)
Hiking
Pool Table & Foosball Table
Disc Golf?
Sledding?
 - Trap and rifle shooting every afternoon
Evening Activities we are planning:
Square Dance (if we have sufficient number of guests)
Cowboy Christmas Music with Lars & Amy
Star-gazing with our family telescope
Evening soak in hot tub
Parlor fireplace
Pool Table & Foosball Table
Hot chocolate & cookies
(Murder Mystery Possible!)
Wine, spirits and beer available at our liquor store.
Details and rates here.
Looking for a week-end get-away between the madness of Thanksgiving and Christmas?
How about December 1st & 2nd or 8th & 9th? Two week-ends, two opportunities for fun!
 Ride a horse, maybe in the snow!
- Morning horseback riding?
- Maybe a chance to cut your own Christmas Tree? (We will have a few bow saws you can borrow.)
- Or a few relaxed hours at an old-time Christmas Market and Craft Fair to pick up gifts?
- Come back to the lodge for hot chocolate and cookies?
To book your reservation, call us at 970-224-1222 or 800-357-4930
The Greening of Red Feather Lakes Dec 1st & 2nd!!!
This HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE will highlight craft booths offering
 Get silly! Paintings,
Carvings,
Pottery
Photography,
Jewelry,
Soaps,
Hand-crafted Christmas items,
Cutlery
Seasonal Gifts
and home-baked goodies
SATURDAY 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
SUNDAY 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Also, You can cut your own WILD Christmas Tree
 Truly knarley disc golf! December 1st & 2nd or December 8th & 9th in the Roosevelt National Forest.
Christmas Tree cutting in our Red Feather Lakes Ranger District has been a holiday tradition for nearly 40 years!
Permits are $10.00 and can be purchased during the week at
- Canyon Lakes Ranger District office (2150 Centre, Ave., Building E, Fort Collins),
- Pawnee National Grassland office (660 “O” Street, Greeley, Colo.),
- Boulder Ranger District office (2140 Yarmouth Avenue, Boulder, Colo.)
Or you can purchase the permit here at the cutting area on the weekends (cash only).
To book your reservation, call us at 970-224-1222 or 800-357-4930
 Hot chocolate waits inside! If you want to volunteer to work on the cutting site for one day, (and get a free tree in exchange):
- Work with Forest Service folks to greet tree cutters
- Hand out Maps of the tree cutting area
- answer questions about prices and road conditions
- check that vehicles have chains or four wheel drive
call the the Forest Service folks at 970-295-6701.
To book your reservation, call us at 970-224-1222 or 800-357-4930
Family Christmas Dude Ranch Vacation:
December 22 – 26, 2012
 4 night Package
Details and rates here.
Come join us and relax over a long Holiday weekend. Let us cook and clean! A Christmas Eve Seven Course Dinner, a Family Style Christmas Dinner of Turkey carved at the table; a Champagne Breakfast on Boxing Day: family fun, including for mom!.
Some typical Morning Activities:
Trail Riding, maybe in the snow! With lessons available.
Your hostess, Ellen, on the front steps!
And available Afternoon Activities:
Trap and rifle shooting
Trail Riding, maybe in the snow!
Horse back riding lessons & coaching available
Make and decorate Holiday/Christmas cookies
Decorate the tree (help us find and bring home just the right tree)
Hiking
Pool Table & Foosball Table
Disc Golf?
Sledding?
Trap and rifle shooting every afternoon
Evening Activities we are planning:
Square Dance (if we have sufficient number of guests)
Cowboy Christmas Music with Lars & Amy
Star-gazing with our family telescope
Evening soak in hot tub
Parlor fireplace
Pool Table & Foosball Table
Hot chocolate & cookies
(Murder Mystery Possible!)
Wine, spirits and beer available at our liquor store.
Details and rates here.
 Hot where you are? Dani & Alex & Montee cooling off in the Sundance Trail pond. We are actively booking the 2013 season,
but there are still some rooms available the weeks of
7/15/12
7/22/12
8/5/12
8/26/12 and
9/2/12 (Adult Only week)
and we are offering deep discounts!
If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to call us at 970-224-1222 or 800-357-4930.
Goodbye, Daphne Duck! Rest in Peace, High Park Fire. You are now just an Adventure Vacation chapter in our Colorado Dude Ranch History!
 We still have Smoke (a very old horse), but no fire!
Joy and Gratitude!
- So many folks have called or emailed – we are deeply moved by your friendship and concern. Thank You! Feel free to reply below.
- The High Park fire is no longer news. More than half of the fire fighters (and TV vans) have all moved on to other parts of the state, with our prayers and gratitude.
- The fire met the containment perimeter cut by fire fighters and stopped dead in its tracks, miles from here.
- It stopped growing about three days ago.
- And then a bit of rain cooled it off. Remaining fire fighters are mopping up.
- Yesterday almost all of the evacuees went home.
 In the beginning.... Pyro-cumulus clouds, about 27 miles from here, June 10th, 7:30pm
- Our ranch family is now smaller by five humans, five dogs, four cats, two horses, and a very awesome DUCK.
- Gary, Carol, Jeanie, Penny & Ron, we are so glad to have gotten to know you better! You are no longer good neighbors, now you are dear dear friends.
For the dude ranch, very little changed.
Sundance Trail continued on with our guest ranch life, always watching closely and fully prepared with fuels mitigation, sprinkler and foam throwing systems (& a few miles of
 Daphne the Dude Ranch Duck! hoses!), strengthening defensible space, staff training, evacuation plans, back-up vacations with neighbor ranches for guests, safe pasture for horses…. and, of course, groceries!
We have been preparing for this for more than 5 years, since long before the beetle kill adventure began.
Thanks Dave, for getting us started with those Colorado Forestry Service fuels mitigation grants so many years ago! And thanks to our friends and neighbors who were there for us; Dickie & Christine, Luann, Jim Beck, LeAndra, Patti & Dennis.
A HUGE big thanks to our Glacier View Fire Department and Greg and Andrea. You folks left your homes, livestock and businesses to lead the crews to protect our homes. We are grateful to you and will not soon forget your generosity and dedication.
We’d love to hear from you! Send us a reply here.
Create Your Own Family Dude Ranch Vacation Rates for July 8, July 15 & July 22!
- Time is running out &
- we are getting downright enthusiastic to
- book all rooms for July! (The week of 8/1 and 8/29 are fully booked – Sorry.)
 Don't Just Stand Around! Give Us a Call!
- Give us a call (970-224-1222) and
- Enjoy Serious Significant Savings!
-
- Every week can be a special week. Pick your week and call us. (970-224-1222)
- As these weeks get really close, we are downright enthusiastic to fill them!
-
- Don’t forget the
- “Refer another family” discount &
- “Non-rider” discount.
Wow! So many emails and phone calls! Y’all make us feel very cared for.
The fire remains at least 25 miles south east of us and on the other side of the river ( a major big protective fire line).
Our prevailing winds continue to be from the west or northwest, pushing the fire away (and filling Fort Collins with smoke). A wind from the south will push the fire north, but still far west of us. A wind from the east will push the fire far south of us. Our concern is high winds from the south-east; pretty unusual. We are watching closely and we are prepared.
Staff fire training is complete. We own our own foam system to cover the lodge. We have set up impulse sprinkler systems around defenable buildings as a precaution. The last few beetle killed trees will come down today. All is well, we are prepared. Actually, thanks to Nick, Victor, James and a few others, we have been well prepared for a couple of years now. (We have been expecting this since we moved here – Smoky the bear has caused almost one hundred years of fuels to be left on the ground – Mother Nature is trying to balance out our arrogant foolishness.)
Neighbors closer to the fire are bringing their horses here. Thanks to Dicky and Christine’s loaning us their 10-horse trailer, we can move all of the horses to Luann’s corrals in Owl Canyon in less than three hours.
In other words, we are expecting the best, prepared for the worst, and watching closely.
Now join us in praying for rain.
And we are starting the summer dude ranch season. Yee-haw!
Sorry no pictures on this post – have been off buying horses! Have bought 6 new horses in the last two weeks – all are “honeys”! Pictures of Ralph, Dharma, Rio, Guss, Soda-Pop and Gene soon.
 Good luck in your next adventure, Victor! Know any good candidates?
- One of our year-round staff has just been offered a career-position and he will be moving on soon. We wish him well and expect to see him visit often. …and we need to fill his position!
- Sundance is looking for a wrangler/climbing-instructor/sawyer for the summer. This is the opposite of a boring job, as the work changes every day, and the “to-do” list is never-ending!
- Horsemanship and “people skills” a must, other skills can be taught to the right persons. A strong sense of safety and a commitment to delighting our guests is basic. S-212 certification highly respected. Right now we have no female staff beds available, but may be able to create one for the right candidate.
- If qualified and interested, please visit the Employment Pages of our website: www.sundancetrail.com. After studying the website, feel free to call either Dan Morin or Justin Ripley at 970-224-1222.
Shasta Had Her Baby — a family adventure vacation!
 Shasta and Little Miss Not-Yet-Named Sundance Trail Guest Ranch, a small Colorado dude ranch, doesn’t usually have pregnant mares, so this was an exciting new adventure for us.
 Breakfast! Welcome to the world little Miss Not-Yet -Named!
Request our Dude Ranch brochure, or Download pdf now, or Email the ranch.
Colorado Dude Ranch: The Thirty-fifth Annual Grateful Disc!
 A Few Rocks! See the basket in the rocks? Disc golf at our dude ranch can be quite a family adventure!
This is the 35th Annual Grateful Disc Festival.
Yee-haw!
 And a few trees... Can you see the basket just on the other side of the trees? For the first time in all these years, we have beautiful weather .
Yes, most years we have snow and sleet and freezing rain.
No one is complaining!
Here are a few shots from the morning round.
 Sorry, Evan, this picture makes your butt look big... One of our fearless leader hosts, Evan. Thank you Evan!
For more info about disc golf in Red Feather Lakes, take a peek at our (oops… outdated) Dude Ranch Disc Golf webpage.
If you are new to disc golf, visit our First Time Here Disc Golf page.
 Oh that sweet sound! Colorado Dude Ranch Disc Golf For Dude Ranch Maps and Directions.
A hugs big thank you to Evan and Bill from Wright Life.
 Poor Tess, the dude ranch retriever, does not get to bring back any discs... For information about this summer’s Red Feather
Open, July 7th and 8th, call Evan at 970-980-1148.
We’ll post more pictures next week in our Dude Ranch Photo Album.
 Colorado Dude Ranch Vacations - something different! 1. Do you have a less-than-a-full-week stay?
Answer: Yes! We offer a four-day, three night family vacation:
- Sunday afternoon through some-time Wednesday OR
- Wednesday afternoon through Saturday afternoon.
Details in the “4 Day/ 3 Night Prices Section” of the Summer Rates Page.
2. How is the shorter stay different?
Answer: Our riding program is NOT nose-to-tail! It is based on a “curriculum” of learning objectives based on the level of skill you bring with you.
- If Sunday afternoon through Wednesday sometime. You follow the same riding schedule as the full-week guests.
- If Wednesday through Saturday, you have your own wrangler who will start you with the first learning objectives (depending on your skill) and build from there.
3. What type of riding is available? How are you different?
Answer: First, this is not a nose-to-tail riding program!. Our program is small enough to accommodate both proficient riders, and beginners. We are one of the smallest ranches in Colorado, and we enjoy being flexible in our programs and teaching.
Those who enjoy sight-seeing at a walk can; and those who want the faster jogs and lopes can too!
Our program uses a series of six steps to bring beginners from the ground up, starting with basic Dude Ranch Western Riding and ground manners. These steps are based on principles of Western Riding taught by the American Association of Horsemanship Safety and the Dude Ranchers Association Wrangler Safety programs. More details on our Riding and What Makes Us Different pages.
4. How often?
Answer: Every day but Sunday (Horses’ Sabbath)!
- Monday both AM & PM
- Tuesday AM (or Rock Climbing) and PM
- Wednesday All day ride or two shorter rides AM & PM
- Thursday white water rafting or AM ride for shorter stay folks
- Friday All day ride or two shorter rides AM and PM
- Saturday AM Gymkana (Ranch Rodeo!) and swim with horses in the pond.
5. Are there fast rides? Long rides? Family rides? Separate kids rides?
Answer: Yes, yes, yes, and yes!
Massage? Jaccuzzi?
Yes! Yes!
6. What type of terrain is the riding in (mountains, meadows, rocky, flat etc)?
Answer: We are in the Rocky Mountains. Although we have lots of meadows where we can jog and lope horses, much of our trail in the Roosevelt National Forest involves some climbing and descending.
7. What is there to do?
Answer: The list of activities is long!
- Shooting: rifles, black powder, & shotgun trap (with safety instruction)
- Rock climbing, belaying, and rappeling lessons
- Fun Fishing in nearby lakes for trout
- Serious Fly Fishing on nearby “Wild and Scenic” river
- Hiking
- World Class Disc Golf
- Private Riding lessons and Coaching
- Tomahawk Throwing
- Archery
- Horse Shoes
- Pool Table
- Fooseball
- Mountain Biking
- Adventurous side trips
- Jacuzzi
- Professional Massage
- and, of course, the hammocks…
Evening Activities include:
- Sunday Evening guided hikes
- Monday Square Dancing Lessons
- Tuesday Evening Kids’ Night Out at the Campfire and Tipi, & Adults’ Quiet Candle Light Supper.
- Wednesday Campfires with Cowboy Singers
- Friday Campfires with Cowboy Poetry
Summer Schedule of Weekly Activities
8. What is there to do nearby?
- Answer: Visit the Laramie Territorial Prison, where Butch Cassidy lived for a while in the late 1800′s.
- Visit Rocky Mountain National Park and say hello to the elk.
- Visit the village of Red Feather Lakes
- Visit the Great Stupa of Darmakaya
- Visit Old Town Fort Collins (a few hundred unique shops, galleries, brew pubs, tea houses, restaurants, a VERY cool toy store, and Ben & Jerry’s)
9. What’s new?
Disc golf course is known for being knarley! (Nice word for nasty!!!)
Obstacle course — we’re designing now. Should have up by the end of May.
10. How do I check availability?
Easy – just call us! 970-224-1222 or 800-357-4930
More questions? Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Fourth of July Celebration & Dude Ranch Vacation
 Colorado Sky You can plan your Family Adventure Vacation to include some of the most amazing, awe-inspiring and impressive Independence Day fireworks in the state of Colorado!
Suites will be available for single Saturday night stay with Sunday breakfast at our mountain lodge Bed & Breakfast rate of $149.
 Kids Fishing Contest - Family Adventure Vacation
Red Feather Lakes has a great weekend planned Saturday, July 7th:
- Arts and Crafts Show 9am – 4pm.
- Kid’s Fishing Contest 8:30am – 11:30am Ramona Lake
- Bar-B-Que 11:30am – 1:30pm
- Parade! 2:00pm
- Fireworks at Dusk.
Dude Ranch Vacation Events near the Sundance Trail Guest Ranch
Lots of great summer family adventure vacation opportunities coming up this summer. Here’s just four:
#1 Greeley Stampede June 22–July 4, 2012
 Rodeo Events at Sundance Trail Guest Ranch Dust off your cowboy boots for one of Colorado’s largest summer festivals and rodeos. Dating back to the 1800s, Greeley’s Fourth of July celebration puts the “Yeehaw!” in Colorado’s western culture. Justin Moore, Credence Clearwater Revisited, Montgomery Gentry and Luke Bryan will headline this year’s Stampede.
greeleystampede.org
#2 Colorado Brewers’ Festival June 23–24, 2012
If you’ve tasted a Colorado-brewed beer, then you know why Colorado Brewers’ Festival is wildly popular. 30 Colorado breweries, showcasing more than 60 cold and fresh handcrafted beers, fill Fort Collins’ historic downtown. Summer has never been more refreshing than at this beer-lover’s paradise.
downtownfortcollins.com
#3 Cheyenne Frontier Days July 20-29
 Thanks David Hobby! Cheyenne’s world-class rodeo is truly the Daddy of ‘em All. Known for its fast pace and large number of contestants, the CFD rodeo ensures that visitors see more rodeo action (over 40 bulls and 70 saddle and bareback broncs daily) than they can see at any other rodeo. Every event is performed in each of the nine daily performances, so any day at Cheyenne Frontier Days is a good day to see an exciting, action-packed
rodeo.http://www.cfdrodeo.com/
 Family Time -- Roman's Gang #4 Larimer County Fair & Rodeo August 3 – 7th
The Ranch 5280 Arena Circle Loveland, CO Mary Starck, 5280 Arena Circle, Ste 100, Loveland, CO 80538 mstarck@larimer.org (970) 619-4009 Aug. 3-5
www.larimercountyfair.org
Ever Wonder Where Our Colorado Ranch Vacation Horses Retire?
 Matt & Leo -- Horseback Riding
Hello Sundance Trail Guest Ranch,
I talked to Justin the other day and thought that you might want to see a couple of pictures of Leo.
He and Matthew have really bonded and spend most weekends riding around in the pasture.
They are the perfect match, and Leo seems to enjoy getting out and seeing his new surroundings.
Matthew can’t wait until summer so that we can take Leo with us on a few trail rides.
Katie
 Matt & Leo -- Horseback Riding Friends
 Me! Waiting to greet you! You Dogs and Horses are welcome here! You can be part of your family’s adventure vacation!
Hi! I’m Jack-jack, the official Sundance Trail Guest Ranch Dog. My job is to be so happy I can barely stand it!
Also, I lead some special “dog-only” activities like
- chasing the cats and the goats (when they want to play too, otherwise they just sit there);
- sometimes taking naps with the kittens:
- playing with kids!;
- sniffing noses with the miniature horses (who are only about 30 inches tall and weigh the same as me!);
- NOT chasing the big horses (unless you want to get kicked!);
- checking EVERY tree and, well, you know…!
 RJ, Me & Annie
 Baby-sitting I just talked with a couple of dogs who asked about our dog and horse “culture.” Here’s what two people thought: Dude Ranch Delight – Dog Friendly Guest Ranches, Bark Magazine, July/Aug 2009 and Pet Friendly in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, The Pet Gazette, May/June 2006.
Summer Horseback Riding is Right Around the Corner!
 Kristina leads a horseback ride back to the ranch
Sundance Trail Guest Ranch
Is Ready With Specials and Discounts!
It’s cold out. I don’t want to go outside, so I’m playing with last year’s pictures,
getting them ready to put in the albums, and I’m kinda lonely sitting here….
What can I do to “nudge” you to call me?
I know! How about:
- Early Bird Incentive – add a Swedish Massage to your stay if you call and book before March 15th, and how about
- Return Guest Discount – wouldn’t it be fun to come back this year? How about a 5% discount? Or
- Refer another family for a 5% discount on your next stay. Or
- Do Both! Come back and Bring Another Family With You (or refer another family) and receive a 10%discount on your next stay.
 Rock Climbing Makes for a Great Dude Ranch Adventure Vacation! Or maybe you’d be more interested in a Spring B&B Trail Maintenance week –
- work new horses,
- train new staff and
- help get the trails ready for summer riding!
Details of all of these are on our Summer Dude Ranch Specials page.
And BTW, I will be uploading summer activity pictures,Bed & Breakfast pictures, Murder Mystery pictures,
 Lilly and Fiona want to know why you don't call the dude ranch!
and maybe a couple of wedding pictures to the Photo Albums page of the web site. Do you have pictures that I should post? Email them to me quick- Dan@sundancetrail.com!
Spring Trail Maintenance – Dude Ranch Work Vacation
 Spring is here! Time to groom trails! Yee-haw! By popular demand! A new get-away idea! May 13 to May 19
So, if you want to get away from
- the telephone ringing,
- the traffic,
- the TV commercials every six minutes
And you think that celebrating spring might include
- hauling logs,
- carrying buckets of dirt up steep climbs
 Posts for fencing and barn - what fun!
- setting fence posts and
- a few hours of riding horses every day for a week?
May 13 is our spring trail maintenance week, and you are invited to join us!
 Who left the corral gate open??? We will have 12 – 15 new horses joining our herd, and they will need lots and lots of riding to get into shape for the summer.
Our trails will also need lots of attention (that is, lots of sweat and dirt!). Areas of erosion will be repaired, dead trees that may compromise safety will need to be removed, water bars built, and just maybe we will build a small barn.
 Lot's of trails to clean up
- Hard physical labor and
- Lots of dirt.
- No texting,
- No cell phones,
- No TV
- and very limited internet available.
A break from civilization!
If this sounds like fun, visit our Dude Ranch Specials Page or call the ranch (970-224-1222) for more details.
BTW, summer is booking now. If you are planning to join us this year, you might want to call soon!
Colorado Guest Ranch Summer Employment
 Guest Ranch Wranglers - a serious bunch Summer is coming soon – yeehaw! We are now looking over applications for summer 2012. Here’s some highlights:
Summer Dude Ranch Kitchen Staff
Don’t listen to those wranglers! YOU are the most important part of our ranch!
Some of the most important memories that we want to create for our guests are meal memories. We eat in the dining room, in the back yard, and on the trail. We serve “hearty western fare family style,” which can include lots of vegetables and salads as well as meat and potatoes. Because Ellen and Dan are both RN’s we see many guests who have therapeutic diets or allergies.
The kitchen staff is a group of five people who have high energy and good humor. Psychosis is not an obstacle to working in the kitchen, although active drinking problems will get you sent on your way. Kitchen and housekeeping staff typically works forty-five hours per week over six days.
 Horse back riding summer ranch job There are five positions in and around the kitchen:
1. Kitchen Manager/THE Cook (the Boss)
2. Breakfast Cook/Prep Cook
3. Dining Room Steward/Dishwasher
4. Kangaroo #1/Housekeeper/Dishwasher/Other skill #1
5. Kangaroo #2/ Housekeeper/Dishwasher/Other skill #2
Guest Ranch Barn Employment:
Don’t listen to those kitchen people! YOU are the most important part of our ranch!
Some of the most important memories that we want to create for our guests are from horseback! The barn has three types of wranglers:
 Making happy people: not a bad summer job! 1. The Barn Manager (Boss)
2. Children’s Wrangler
3. Plain Ol’ Fashioned Wranglers
Dude Ranch Rock Climbing Instructor.
This is a part time position, usually done by a Kangaroo or Wrangler. (i.e. Must be bi-lingual (speaking both kitchen and horse) or schizophrenic.
 Hunting jackalopes - guest ranch employment can be dangerous! If you are interested in working for us, then please
1. Study the Dude Ranch Job Descriptions, then
2. Visit the page that lists our Guest Ranch Employment Expectations, and then
3. Wranglers (only) please visit the Dude Ranch Wrangler Video script, then
4. Feel free to send us a Sundance Trail Guest Ranch Application.
A Pretty Darn Good Deal! 10% Off Colorado Country Inn Christmas or New Years B&B -
 Country Inn Christmas Horseback Ride Usually by now we are fully booked for the Christmas Country Inn holiday week, and the New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery.
 Pet Friendly Sledding: Christmas Country Inn We’re not!!! Come see us!
Come join us! Your dogs are welcome! We are pet friendly. (You can bring human friends too. Heck, even your children!)
We have Colorado snow on the ground, and sunny days. It makes for beautiful horse back riding!
We ride our horses just about every day.
After your ride, you will enjoy the quiet. Here’s some pictures of our Bed & Breakfast rooms and suites.
We can also arrange Swedish Massage.
 Is that Charlie Chaplain? The evening of New Year’s Eve we plan a Murder Mystery game. These games can be hysterically funny!
 Sledding down the front steps. Get in touch with your “inner murderer”!
More about our B&B Murder Mystery weekends.
Winter Country Inn B&B Rates
To book your reservation, give us a call at 970-224-1222 or 800-357-4930.
You can subscribe to our new newsletter, to be published not-too-frequently – we promise!.
 Riding in the front yard Here’s a few memories from winters past.
 Happy rider, happy horse.
 Soooo Romantic! Is this a Bed & Breakfast wedding with a Murder Mystery Game?
or a
B&B Murder Mystery Weekend with a wedding?
Most people elope to a dude ranch to get away from their family and friends. They want a relaxed, very simple ceremony and a fun weekend getaway horseback riding.
 Country Inn Wedding Well, Joel and Sheri decided to have a simple, relaxed ceremony, but brought their family, including all the kids and the dogs.
Why? They had an opportunity to tie the knot while on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and were married while visiting the Sea of Galilee. Wow!
But what of mom and dad? And what of the gang of brothers and sisters and the small herd of nephews and nieces?
What to do?
 Cocoa Tasting Her New Creation Sheri is a brilliant woman – she brought the family together for a re-do and just for fun a murder mystery game for the weekend! Joel’s a pretty smart guy – he married a brilliant woman! Twice!
 Despite the Dog's Best Efforts, Cocoa Dies Everyone had a great weekend except Cocoa. Poor Cocoa!
She takes one taste of her new candy, and dies! Dead as a doornail, despite the dog’s best efforts at muzzle to mouth resuscitation.
 Two Suspects: Princess Leia & Luke Jr??? Who did it???
The list of suspects includes almost everyone who attended the wedding!
So here’s a small collection of some of the pictures from the murder mystery game and the wedding.
 Kids, dogs, dead bodies... what a wedding!  Mom doesn't watch the high-jinks, she CAUSES the high-jinks!  Is Wally Winker Cocoa's Wacker?  Murder Didn't Affect Anyone's Appetite for Cake!  A Cup of Wine, Thee, and a Murder Mystery  Family Adventure
Colorado Dude Ranch horses communicate very clearly!
 1. What is Stevie saying here? This quiz is part of a series of articles that we have written in the Sundance Trail Guest Ranch Horse Safety and Horse Communication collection, including Speaking to Your Dude Ranch Horse Part 1 and Speaking to your Dude Ranch Horse Part 2.
When at Sundance Trail Guest Ranch, either for a summer dude ranch vacation or Fall/Winter/Spring B&B stay,
 2. And Mocha? you will spend lots of time with our horses (and donkeys!).
Horses communicate with body language. (Is this why women so often understand their horses immediately, and why guys are so often clueless?) Their faces, and especially their ears speak volumes, once you learn how to read them.
 3. And Rose Blossom? Here’s a quick primer on some easy to recognize “expressions.” Have fun!
Answers to each of these facial expressions are listed at he bottom of the page!
 4. What is Apache saying here?  5. What is Khalli doing?  6. And Rusty?  7. What is Calamity Jane saying here? 1. Stevie is ANGRY!!! She is having a bad hair week. Spring snow has melted and she want’s to party, and the geldings around her are all nerds or something!! Dude ranch horses are supposed to be romantic!!! None of these guys want to dance!!! Best to just leave her alone for a few more days…
She is clearly saying: “keep your distance or I will bite you!!!”
2. Mocha is taking a nap, or maybe she is meditating. Nope, she’s sleeping, in fact, she is snoring! One of her back hooves is up on the toe, her ears are flopped off to the sides, and her eyes are soft, gently starting off into the distance.
3. Rose Blossom is definitely sleeping! She’s still a baby, so she sleeps a lot. She even has her eyes closed, which only babies do – adults sleep with their eyes open.
4. Apache is awake, alert, and wants the cookie in my pocket. He is demonstrating interest and is interacting.
5. Khalli also wants the cookie in my pocket, but at the same time she is listening to some interesting gossip BEHIND her! Yes, kinda like radar dishes, horses’ ears can pivot front to side to back; even in different directions. Yes, if she wanted, Khalli could listen to two different conversations at once!
6. Rusty is actually sleeping. one of his hind feet is up on the toe, his ears are flopped off to the side, and his eyes are softly staring off into space…
7. Calamity is not happy that she is the last picture. She is small, but she is VERY bossy!
Request our Dude Ranch brochure, or Download pdf now, or Email the ranch.
Mountain Lodge Horse Back Riding in the Snow
 Laura and Skip enjoy the snow. Hmmmm…… The weather people call for an October total of 2.9 inches of snow for our area. We got that three weeks ago, and it disappeared the next morning, as October snow should. The aspens still claim October as theirs; time to show off their golden leaves.
 HoustonTracy with her horse Gauge Oops! Wait a minute – we got a good eight more inches last night, and another six inches falling today!
The dogs are delighted! The older horses are playing like foals! The goats are making snow angels and laughing!
And the guests riding in the snow? Just look at their faces…
 This Sure Ain't Houston Horse back Riding Y'all! Tracy (from Houston!) says that riding in the snow is spectacular. I think that Laura (from Cleveland) agrees. Not too sure what Texan Kevin (also from Houston) thinks, but his horse, Jack is a happy fella! At lunch Kevin said it was a great ride…
Cowboy Victor was born and raised up here – he’s just cold!
 Mountain lodge cowboy Victor horseback riding his trusty steed, Trigger! So now it’s official.
It’s fall. now we’re ready for Halloween!
Trick or treat!!!
 First snow-person of the season. Jack! No Jack! No! Ahhhh... naughty dog....
An Adventure Vacation Trail Rider: Asia
 Asia is small, but sure is pretty! Asia is a beautiful little girl. Just look at those eyes! Easy to catch, groom and tack.
Good all-around – in the arena, in the pasture or on the trail. Neck reins, never argues, can be fast if you ask her!
This is a horse with lots of heart and potential. She is young, but developing real grace and poise.
>Note: Pink booted dude ranch cowgirl, Marion, is from France and rides with short reins.
Age: 2003
 Asia has pretty eyes. Color & Markings: Bay; star, strip, snip
Height: 14 H
Horse size: Small
Rider size: Small
Rider skill: Confident Beginner/teen
Bit: Low port
 Dude ranch horse & rider: Asia & Marion!
Guest Ranch take-over!!!
 Dude Ranch Bear Table –After successfully keeping momma black bear and her cubs out of the dumpster and the kitchen all summer, Sundance Trail Guest Ranch has been been completely overrun with bears… and mooses*!!
-Take home a bear as a memory of your ranch vacation! Or maybe a Christmas present from your family vacation. Looks like there’s a whole herd of the critters hiding in the gift shop, next to the Jackalopes, water bottles, disc golf Frisbies, and elegant Colorado hand carved bowls.
 Bears Hiding in our Dude Ranch Gift Shop -Our neighbor, Rob, is a chainsaw artist, and he make some of the finest carvings we’ve ever seen!
-Our dude ranch has become a gallery of finished pieces!
-Rob’s work shows the demanding control and precision needed for this unlikely art form.
 Itty Bitty Dude Ranch Bear & Kleenex Big ones, little ones, some holding signs, some holding tables, some just sitting on a table top being cute.
 Sundance Trail Guest Ranch Front Porch Greeters! Most of these are bears, but there are cubs and mooses* as well.
He takes custom orders for wood carvings of any kind; including bears, bear lamps, Eagles, Indians, Cowboys, Santas, pumpkins, …you name it!
 Bears Protecting Ranch Dining Room Fireplace Rob’s prices vary, depending on the size and difficulty of the piece, and whether any museums or fine arts galleries are bidding for the piece.
 Colorado Ranch Vacation Hugs 5 cents! Generally, small bears & mooses*, about a foot tall, start at $35 or so.
If you have something special in mind, please feel free to email the ranch and Rob can give you a quote.
Also, Rob said he’s open to demonstrating his art here at the guest ranch if you have a group that would like to watch & learn more.
* We appreciate that in some parts of the country the plural of “moose” is “meese” but here in Colorado we use the more correct ranch term “mooses.”
Guest Ranch Vacation Old-timer Dusty!
 Family Dude Ranch Vacation KIds Horse: Old Man Dusty Dusty is about 35 years old. He is a solid professional, and refuses to retire. He loves kids, and when saddled, gets in line and follows the leader.
A great teacher for beginners, a great buddy horse for a kid on an adventure vacation.
Dusty is missing most of his grinders and is fat because he is fed Senior Feed twice a day.
Note: Pink booted cowgirl (Marion!) is from France and rides with short reins. Dark haired cowgirl (Kaitlyn!) is a beginner student.
 Dusty is a fat old horse! Age: Older than dirt
Height: 15
Horse size: Medium
Rider size: Small to medium
Rider skill: Children/beginners
Bit: Padded hack
 Kids ride Dusty on their Adventure vacation!
Trail riding on Annie is a great adventure vacation!
 Annie (with John) loves to lead every Trail Ride at our Guest Ranch She has a very fast walk, which some riders enjoy, and which intimidates some anxious riders. She has very sensitive sides. Annie loves to run! The whole forest is her dude ranch!!!
She has never bucked, spun, reared or tried to unseat her rider. But she has a mind of her own, and does not immediately automatically follow her riders’ cues. She likes to be in charge, but will gladly follow a confident rider, after that rider has established her/his horse back riding authority.
Annie is excellent on trails – never spooks. Likes to lead every trail ride.
Timid riders who need a “push-button” horse would not enjoy her.
A wrangler favorite. Annie also LOVES water. When allowed, she will swim in our mountain lodge pond with the ducks (and her tack, and her rider…!). She also enjoys putting both front feet in the water troughs and kicking out all the water – just for fun!
 Annie - cutest lady in the horseback riding world!
Age: 1998
Color & Markings: Buckskin
Height: 15 Hands
Horse size: Medium QH
Rider size: Medium
Rider skill: Confident
Bit: Padded hack
 Annie loves to laugh!
Guest Ranch Horseback Riding is seldom as intense as Dorothy May Winfield expresses here, but this poem beautifully catches those blissful moments of being “in the zone” with your horse. Thanks, Dorothy (and Stewart!) – please say hello to Scotland for us. We hope to see you again next year!
 Dude Ranch horseback riding; Sundance Trail Guest Ranch Colorado Mounting my quarter horse, I steel myself for the journey,
A ripple runs through him as my legs gently squeeze his sides,
He moves forward, slowly at first.
I feel his power beneath me,
Flicking the reins he gathers momentum
Faster and faster and faster,
He breathes deeply,
Fire bursts from his flared nostrils.
The plain stretches before us like endless time.
hands pull at my hair, my clothes,
Stripping my mortality.
My heart beats to the rhythm of his hooves.
The ball of fire above, now burns my naked body.
The saddle has gone,
There is nothing between us,
We have become one.
Only my senses are alive,
I am lost, deep within myself.
Our Western Horseback Riding philosophy is on our Riding Horses page.
Elope to a Guest Ranch Vacation: Fast! Fun! Stress free!
 Kim and Gale's Western Dude Ranch Elopement Wedding Justin: “We’ve gotten old and stodgy. We need some excitement around here. Let’s host elopements! Let’s host gen-u-ine western dude ranch elopement weddings. Ride a horse and tie the knot! ”
Ellen: “Elope to a Colorado dude ranch… Awwww… That’s sooo romantic!”
Jackjack: “RRRRrrrrrooooo!”
Dan: [Grumble grumble.] “Keep it simple!”
Justin: “That’s the whole idea! A simple Colorado get-away elopement wedding at a western dude ranch.
1. Folks don’t need a preacher or justice of the peace to elope. In Colorado, they just need two witnesses to sign the license with them. And getting the license is easy – no blood tests, no waiting time; just ID and $30.” The Larimer County Clerk’s rules are pretty darn simple.
2. We’re only 2 hours from Denver International Airport. Couples can fly in, get their license, marry and be in their honeymoon cabin the same day! Next day half-day horseback rides, all day horseback rides, or maybe just an hour or two and some frisbee golf, or hiking or fishing, or maybe even a jack-a-lope hunt!
 Dan & Michelle's Western Dude Ranch Honeymoon 3. They can save themselves hassle – their wedding can create a frazzled “bride-zilla” or relaxed cow girl. Instead of endless family arguments, they can enjoy a romantic ranch vacation, a spontaneous elopement wedding and honeymoon. Pull out your hair organizing or sit in the jaccuzzi with a glass of champagne.
4. They can bring guests, or keep it intimate. Heck, they can bring their kids – we can throw in a few family binding ideas. Or they can bring a bunch of friends – I’ll bet Sherri and Joel would throw in a Murder Mystery and make a week-end party!
5. We can put together a handy-dandy Ceremony Planning Guide. They can cut and paste a ceremony from our guide in a matter of minutes, or they can write their own.
6. They can save lots of money. Getting married in jeans is cheap, relaxed and fun. Ride horses a dude ranch wanderlust adventure! Dude Ranch Elopement Wedding Rates at Sundance Trail Guest Ranch
7. With our own retail liquor store, folks can enjoy alcohol if they wish: champagne, spirits, wine, beer and sodas.
 Gale Helps Kim with Her Last Minute Elopement Wedding Jitters 8. And there’s no reason why married folks can’t elope and renew their vows.
9. Although Colorado does not yet recognize same sex marriage (we do), there’s no reason why we can’t provide these folks with a Certificate instead of a license.
Dan: “Simple rules (and not many of them!), simple ceremonies, simple fun! I like this.”
Ellen: “We’ll make little gift baskets for their rooms, and we can keep silk bouquets, and maybe some other simple keepsakes for couples to take home with them. And I can order petite wedding cakes if they want to celebrate.”
 Dude Ranch Square dance caller Mark A little while ago, a journeyman square dancing caller named Mark Hammett somehow got entangled with a local group of crazy people, and the result is the Ponderosa Promenaders Square Dancing Club.
The Promenaders meet every week. Cyril somehow managed to get Ellen, Dan and Justin off the dude ranch to enjoy part of the winter in weekly lessons, and we’ve all been having a ball.
In fact, we’re having so much fun that we’ve installed a new dancing floor in the dude ranch recreation room!
 Corrine and Mark Mr. Mark has graciously agreed to call for us this summer!
He and his bride Corrine will be joining us for supper every Monday and then will be teaching us with the beginning of the dude ranch season in late May.
We will be square dancing every Monday night!
All of our neighbors and all “Angels” are always welcome! No experience necessary! There is no charge to dance at the Sundance Trail.
 Ponderosa Promenaders .
Directions to our dude ranch.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us (970-224-1222)
Dude Ranch Justin Graduation God dropped Mr. Justin Ripley onto our laps just when we most needed him (Notes about LeAndra’s latest adventures coming soon; I’m waiting for pictures.)
And what a gift he has been. Careful, we now have two Justin’s: “our” dude ranch Justin the barn manager, and “LeAndra’s Justin” who is our neighbor, friend and local Department of Wildlife Officer.
Our dude ranch Justin, originally from Indiana, has experience as a vet tech, and as a med tech – corpsman from his years in the army. Justin is an experienced horseman, and experienced horse trainer, a dude wrangler, and was Barn Manager at one of our neighbor Colorado dude ranches for a number of years.
He can do everything around here except cook, and Ellen has plans to change that!
Justin brought his horse, Doc, and two dogs, Sassie and Misha.
What is this picture all about? Dude ranch dancing! More details to follow soon.
Justin & Cyril dancing Justin has big plans for our little ol’ dude ranch. Hard wood floors are going into the recreation barn and the dining room for dancing, and this week he’s “scoping out” the property for “just the right spot” for a volley ball court.
So screw your hat down tight, looks like a dude ranch rodeo year!
 With neighbors like Mae and Charlie, our dude ranch B&B sees lots of mystery murders! What do Pepi Roni (the pizza magnate), Judge Waylin Payne (of Roadkill, Colorado) and the science fiction author H. G. Wells have in common? Why, they’ve all been murdered right here at our Colorado B&B – dude ranch!
One of our favorite winter time activities is Murder Mystery weekends. Once a month or so, when we have 8 to 12 willing suspects, we find a poor murder victim sprawled out nearby – “deader than a doornail.” Murdered, and often with the first clue nearby.
 Murder on the Dude Ranch? Who did it? Helena Handcart? Charley Chaplin? Tiny Bubbles? Father Alfredo?
Our guests then spend the weekend, between meals and horse back riding, untangling each others’ half-truths. evasions and high jinks. The games are designed for participants who are willing to take a whimsical view of blackmail, larceny, deceit, and murder.
Those of you who are offended by such high-jinks as shady dealings, sordid affairs, and deceptive conduct should not book reservations for these weekends! If you do book, plan on some laughter!
We love hosting these games. Imagine, people come to spend a B&B week-end with us: They exercise our dude ranch horses, they make us laugh like crazy for the weekend, and then they pay us money! What a life!
 Agatha Christie, baffled by this Bed & Breakfast mystery murder, consoles herself.. We have games scheduled the weekends of:
November 11th Sorry! Fully booked!
December 9th
December 31st New years!
January 13th
February 24th
We can also schedule a game for any time that you might have 8 – 12 people who want to spend the week-end together and play (before dude ranch season begins in mid-May) – birthday party or maybe just get away with some friends!
Give us a call (970-224-1222) and we can tell you all about Bed and Breakfast murder in Red Feather Lakes.
 Mae West and Charlie Chaplin on a dude ranch?
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