Ranch Vacation

Enjoying a Ranch Vacation

Rounding up the herd

At Burnt Well Guest Ranch you can participate on whatever level of actual ranch life you wish, or just relax and reconnect with your self, your family or nature. With our guest capacity of only two rooms, we can make your interests our interest. There is always plenty of riding, whether we’re checking the 50 miles of fences, waters or driving cattle to a new pasture. We will take time to carefully match your riding level, beginner or experienced, to the appropriate horse and tack; We will also make available, riding lessons or refresher courses which you can put to use with the riding opportunities of that day. Your safety and enjoyment will be top priority. [click for rates]

A young rider having a great time.

Parents and older children can enjoy more challenging rides. We do not intentionally want to segregate the kids from the parents, except for a brief break or two. We want to help your family get back in touch with each other, get dirty and have some fun together. There is often a bottle-fed lamb or calf around for the kids (young and old) to feed.

Other ranch work, depending on the season, includes doctoring cattle, branding calves, marking lambs, shearing sheep and weaning calves & lambs for market. Of course, there’s always arena games such as pole bending, running barrels, roping and team penning. Out of the arena, there’s horseshoes, or a game of pool, maybe some home-made ice cream on the deck or relax in the hot tub to ease those saddle sore muscles. We may even be able to work in an old fashioned hay ride, some local cowboy musicians or poets for you to sit back and enjoy around the campfire under the warm, blanket of New Mexico stars.

Little lambs need lots of attention.

Once a week (weather & schedule permitting) you can participate in a supper/sunset ride or maybe a breakfast/sunrise ride. You can’t miss our awesome New Mexico sunsets or sunrises, and what better way then in a place away from the hustle and bustle of every day life with delicious Dutch-oven meals prepared over a glowing campfire.

What a beautiful rainbow.

Sight Seeing

A weekly sightseeing trip is provided, with a six day stay, to one of our local attractions, such as a trip to Historic Lincoln, home to the West's most infamous outlaw Billy the Kid; Carlsbad Caverns, site of some of the largest caves in the world; the Roswell International UFO Museum and 1947 UFO crash site; White Sands National Monument, home to the largest collection of gypsum sand dunes; Capitan, home of Smokey Bear; Ruidoso Downs Race Track home to the All American Futurity; or a trail ride through some of our beautiful, local mountain trails which rise to 12,000 feet above sea level.

Ranch Rodeo

Haley separates calf.

Ranch Rodeo is growing in popularity in the west and in our area. Kim has been a member of a, four time qualifying World Champion, ranch rodeo team. Area ranches compete in these rodeos, which are made up of events that simulate actual every day ranch work. In season, these are a great outing for guests. The events are such that you could try them at the ranch, in the arena. Our own ‘mini’ ranch rodeo.

Meals and Accommodations

Our hearty cowboy meals are home-cooked with Chesser's own natural beef and/or lamb in Patricia’s kitchen, where you are encouraged to join the Chesser’s for an old-fashioned sit-down, pass-around, family-style dinner.

Our lodge style guest hacienda is decorated and furnished with an 'Old West' rustic flavor. There is a spaciously inviting covered porch, furnished for your enjoyment and relaxation. The 1,000 square foot 'great' room has proven to be a favorite among our younger guests because of the checker board table, hobby horse, toy box and lots of room to play. And our more mature guests have found the native rock fire place, pool table and even the "in tune" upright piano an added source of their enjoyment and relaxation. It is furnished with your comfort and relaxation in mind, and has a small kitchenette for handy drinks and snacks at any hour.

Off of the 'great' room, for your convenience, laundry facilities, bath with a real horse trough for a shower and a charming, well stocked gift shop, "The Burnt Well Mercantile". The "Rodeo" room is comfortably furnished for a family of 4 with a king size bed and a set of bunk beds. The "Indian" room has a queen size bed and 2 sets of bunk beds, perfect for the larger family. Each bedroom has it's own private bath." [click for rates]