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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) . . . → Read More: Colorado Dude Ranch: Hello’s and Good Byes
 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 . . . → Read More: Dude Ranch Challenge Courses: Part 1
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.
 . . . → Read More: A Unique Sundance Trail Guest
Family Christmas Dude Ranch Vacation: 10% Discount December, 2012  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 . . . → Read More: Christmas at Sundance Trail Dude Ranch – 10% Discount!
 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 . . . → Read More: Cut Your Own Christmas Tree & Red Feather Art Fair!
 
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 . . . → Read More: Colorado Dude Ranch: Sundance Trail & High Park Fire
 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 . . . → Read More: Sundance Trail Dude Ranch & High Park Fire Colorado
 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 . . . → Read More: Dude Ranch Disc Golf: Wright Life’s Grateful Disc Tourney
 
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 . . . → Read More: 10 Common Questions People Ask Our Dude Ranch
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!
If you are staying with us the dude ranch week starting Sunday July 1st, , OR If you are arriving for the dude ranch week starting Sunday July 8th, OR If you are local, and want to spend the night and breakfast with us, consider staying Saturday night for the fireworks!
Suites will be available for single Saturday night stay with Sunday breakfast at our mountain lodge Bed & Breakfast rate of $149.
. . . → Read More: Fireworks Dude Ranch Vacation Saturday July 7th!
 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 . . . → Read More: Summer Vacation Plans Made? Time to Make Reservations!
 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
. . . → Read More: Pet Friendly Colorado Dude Ranch Vacations
 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! . . . → Read More: Dude Ranch Discounts, Specials and “Motivators”!
 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 . . . → Read More: Yeehaw! 2012 Summer Dude Ranch Jobs
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 . . . → Read More: Dude Ranch Quiz: What is This Horse Saying???
 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 . . . → Read More: Bears Invade Dude Ranch! (and Mooses too!)
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 . . . → Read More: Guest Ranch Horseback Riding – My Daydream
 
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 . . . → Read More: Dude Ranch Square Dancing in Red Feather Lakes!
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 . . . → Read More: New Dude Ranch Barn Manager
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 . . . → Read More: Colorado B&B Dude Ranch Murder Mysteries
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