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Ride the Ranch

At Rough Creek Lodge

It’s now possible to relive the nostalgic freedom of the days of the Wild West in Glen Rose, Texas. Rough Creek Lodge offers guided trail rides for overnight and day guests to experience the 11,000-acre ranch on horseback.  Guests’ senses are awakened with fresh air and a unique perspective as they ride the ranch like true Texas cowboys. Equestrian manager, Dawn Klipfel says, “Many guests comment that the encounter is ‘soul therapy.’ The horses and magnificent views allow people to connect with nature.”

Dawn has been a part of the equine industry for 25 years and specializes in reining horses as well as breeding quarter horses. Her expertise and genuine love of horses makes her an excellent fit to the Rough Creek culture.

The equestrian program includes riding lessons and guided tours on Rough Creek’s horses or your own.  Groups of up to 10 can ride together on Rough Creek’s stable of well-mannered quarter horses and paint horses.  The new stables offer safe and spacious 12’ x 16’ stalls. Water and high-quality coastal hay is provided. Rough Creek would make an excellent getaway for a group of riding buddies or youth riders. Any size group can be accommodated on their own horses and riders are allowed to explore the ranch freely. All rides on the lodge’s horses are guided.

In addition to guided tours, western riding lessons are offered for beginners up to advanced (ages 8 and older) to enhance horsemanship and riding skills. Natural horsemanship methods of teaching are used.““Natural Methods of Horsemanship” refers to gentle training methods revealing the depths of communication most possible between human and horse”.

The program caters to all levels of riders. “We offer lessons to beginners on up to the advanced riders.  My theory is that we can always learn something from everyone.  We do not have the facility at the moment to offer full scale reining lessons.  However, we can offer the basics for reining which is always the foundation to every good reining horse as well as all other western riding”.

If you bring your own horses, current negative Coggins papers are required. Stallions are not allowed. 

To make reservations for tours and boarding, call 800-864-4705. 

For more information, visit the website at www.roughcreek.com

Edited by Erika Wright

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