Our Cattle Drives
Dude Ranch Style (definition)
Drive any number of cattle from point A to point B, which could be from
one to ten miles. On these drives, we typically sleep and eat most, if not
all meals, at the ranch. We may have the occasional need to pack a
sack lunch in the saddle bag. We can take just about any age, riding
and/or adventure level. This type of cattle drive is very common, if not
the norm, at Burnt Well on most regular ranch stays (unless you specify
that this is not what you want to do).
Since we are a working cattle ranch, on 15,000 acres, there is always plenty
of cattle work to be done. The need to round up the cattle and drive
them various distances to different pens could very well have you in the
saddle for many miles or hours a day. Our guests have told us that our cattle
work on a regular ranch stay is more than many of the other ranches “specified”
Cattle Drives.
Authentic "Old West" style (definition)
As with our dude ranch style cattle drives, on our authentic
"old west" cattle drives, we are actually doing a job, not just moving
cows in the name of a cattle drive.
On these cattle drives we camp out on the trail at least three nights,
sometimes four or five. We provide you with a "cowboy" bedroll (a three
inch mattress made up with sheets & blankets and rolled in a tarp). We
have "cowboy" teepees in case of inclement weather. There are also
cots for those who are a little squeamish about being right on the
ground. We usually make between 10 and 15 miles a day with the cattle
and are in the saddle between 5-10 hours a day. We start early, driving
cattle by sun up, and will try to be at camp by early
afternoon.
The hot breakfasts and suppers are cooked Dutch oven style and over the
campfire while out on the trail. There is always plenty to eat.
Patricia says, “If you leave Burnt Well hungry it's your fault!”
After breakfast, you pack your lunch for the day, choosing from a wide
variety of choices along with a delicious wrap made with the "extra
Chesser natural beef", from supper the night before.
Nightly campfires, a blanket of twinkling stars on a New Mexico black
velvet sky and, if you can get Patricia away from her camp kitchen, you
could enjoy an evening of sweet fiddle music. Since we are out for the
duration of the drive, actually doing a job, and living and eating in
the elements, the conditions can sometimes be unpleasant. Therefore, our
authentic "old west style" cattle drives are adult only. They are
for adventurous adults with plenty of stick-to-itiveness! The stuff
memories and bucket lists are made of!
Spring Cattle Drives (Old West Style)
 Saddling Up |
The 2011 Spring Cattle Drive Dates will be Wed., April 27-Tues.,May 3.
Fall Cattle Drives (Old West Style)
Our fall drives will be October 2 - 8, 2011.
Get on our email cattle drive list for updates. Just fill out our contact form and put "cattle drive" in the message section.
Cattle Drive Requirements:
You must be physically fit and able to participate on this cattle drive.
Unless you fall off of your horse, you will be expected to complete the
cattle drive as a member of the crew. The following paragraph from the book
"The Texan A Story of the Cattle Country" by James B. Hendryx,
1880-1963, illustrates what we experience on the open range.
"No. It ain't wrong. It's hard, an' it's cruel, maybe, an' brutal.
But it's right. It ain't a country for weaklings--the cow country ain't.
It's a country where, every now an' then, a man comes square up against
something that he's got to do. An' that something is apt as not to be just
what he don't want to do. If he does it, he's a man, an' the cow country
needs him. If he don't do it, he passes on to where there's room for his
kind--an' the cow country don't miss him. A man earns his place here, it
ain't made for him--often he earns the name by which he's called. I reckon
it's the same all over--only this is rawer."
If you have doubts about being able to complete the requirements of the
"Old West Style" cattle drives, please know that you are always
welcome at Burnt Well for a regular ranch stay. There, we can tailor
your stay to your needs and wishes. As stated above, regular ranch stays
can include as much riding as our "Old West Style" cattle drives.
There’s always the need to drive cattle but on a regular ranch stay, we
are much more laid back and able to be more flexible, unlike our "Old
West Style" cattle drives.
Other Info:
$1,710.00 plus 6.0625% tax. Prices include all your meals, horse/tack, bedroll, etc.
The space is limited, All of our cattle drives go on a first book/deposit
received basis and we take 10 - 12 riders. A 20% deposit will be required
upon booking, with the remainder due 14 days before the cattle drive begins.
Deposits are non refundable but can be applied to a stay within a year as
long as the cancellation is over 30 days prior to your arrival. Cancellations
received less than 30 days prior to your arrival will forfeit the future
use or your deposit due to inability to refill your spot. Gratuities are
left to the discretion of the riders. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover
or personal checks.