Improving your horsemanship was stressed and instructed daily. Whether branding, roping or riding proper horsemanship took presidence over the task! How awesome is that! Kudos for high standards!
Thanks to the staff for a great two weeks!
Richard and Patti
There is no other place like this guest ranch. A must! The people, the place, the horses, all of this will give you a very nice experience of ranch way of life
I just returned from a week during the roundup and I can only call the experience awesome. Everyone on the staff was exceptionally kind and helpful, while still expecting a lot from you. This isn't a place to of if you want to be coddled. If you want a dude ranch then I'd suggest you look elsewhere. But if you want honest feedback given in a direct yet respectful manner, then I couldn't recommend McGinnis Meadows highly enough. If you want to be put to work managing steers from horseback, then this is the place to learn. They'll push you hard to be the best horseman possible, but won't let you do something that might hurt you or the horse. I'll be going back.
The people, the horses, the cattle, the food, and the great outdoors.
Everyone made you feel like family!!!
What a great vacation with my Bro s!!
Following my dreams, chasing rainbows, with a ride in big sky country!
Beautiful place. Some great people on staff when we were there a few years ago. Arrogant owner promoted young intern to Ranch Manager and ditched his wife. Too much back of the house drama to be a worthwhile experience.
Not enough words to express my feelings of inspiration and gratitude for discovering this ranch ten years ago. Buck Brannaman himself recommended I re-start my horsemanship education here in hopes that some previous bad experiences that broke my confidence could be resolved and I've never looked back. Everything is top notch quality, from the horses, to the instructors (especially Shayne, Des, Roby and Janice), the comfortable accommodations and the landscape is unbeatable. Through years of following their horsemanship program, my riding style changed completely and I now feel confident in the saddle. It has been hard work but anything worth doing well is worth the effort. They really care about being physically fit and inspired me to lose the weight that was holding me back from being a better rider. They care about the mental aspect and being in a good mind frame and honoring the horse, which surprisingly has helped me in my personal life and business career. They host two Buck clinics here every summer and what a great opportunity it has been to ride my own horse (who I purchased from the ranch) as well as fantastic guest horses and feel what Buck teaches from an experienced horse who knows their job. The horses here aren't just trained, they are "guest ready" and 100% safe for beginner to advanced riders. I have had the great honor of watching these people start young horses, restart older horses and the attention to the smallest detail and the slightest "try" is inspiring and beautiful. This ranch is truly a testament to the great teachings of Tom Dorrance, Ray Hunt, Buck Brannaman, not to mention the great vaquero and dressage teachers who practice fine horsemanship. Come here with an open mind, leave your ego at the door and be ready to be welcomed into a place where the horse comes first and you will be rewarded with a fantastic experience that will carry through not only with your horsemanship, but in life. Anyone who wants to know more is absolutely welcome to email me from this page and I will be glad to share my experiences.
If you are a dressage rider I don't reconmended it, I went along, as I know that all riding at the end is the same, dressage, western all have similar principles. However sitting through lesson after lesson with someone telling that your chosen sport is cruel to horses, that dressage horse are all unhappy and it is all bad training. When it is easy to tell that they don't know much about dressage at all.
Then the owner and his new girlfriend Des both have a go at you and instead of stopping and explaining what they want and what part of the gear they are referring to, (not everyone knows what a slobber strap is), they start telling you, you will ruin their horse. I was there to learn with a open mind but they were not there to teach with an open mine. All disclpines have people who don't treat horses well, you can't tell me all Cowboys do everything perfect.
No one can say it better than their own web site, which accurately describes this amazing destination. Every square foot of the ranch is beautiful.
You have two housing options; cabins or lodge. Both options are comfortable, spacious, and attractive. Our cabin looked tiny from the outside, but it was very roomy inside. Two twin beds and a four drawer dresser upstairs, and a queen bed with two dressers downstairs. There were also two comfortable leather chairs, an ottoman, two more simple chairs, a gas burning fireplace, plenty of lighting, and a ceiling fan. All of the contents of the cabins are new, and at the same time give an authentic cowboy feel. They use tankless water heaters, so hot water is quick to arrive and you get as much as you need. Each cabin porch has two chairs, two warm blankets, and one two person bench, along with a broom, and coat-hangers where you can leave a wet coat or your helmet or your cowboy hat. If you've forgotten something, no worries, they have whatever you need, and it's all included. They also provide each guest with a note pad, water bottle, lip balm, and a very nice souvenir coffee cup.
Whatever your skill level, whatever your age, they can teach you to ride. Their wranglers are friendly and patient. You can spend the entire week taking horsemanship lessons, herding cattle, going on trail rides, or simply relaxing. They do a great job pairing you with a horse, and they have plenty of horses to choose from. Spend plenty of time getting to know your horse on day one so you will know which horse to halter up on day two. They will also teach you to rope a calf, brand a calf, and anything else you want to know about working on a cattle ranch.
The guests eat breakfast and dinner together, and lunch is eaten whenever you like. Every meal is bountiful and tasty, no food goes to waste, and if you have a special request, just ask. They provide bottled OJ, green tea, Gatorade, and refillable water bottles, They also serve a variety of wine, great appetizers, beer, and dessert. Be sure to let them know if you are celebrating something. They make great desserts!! Most of the staff will join you for dinner, and they make a point of moving around each night so you get to know everyone, providing a family feeling to the entire experience.
Forget your boots? Borrow a pair. No chaps? Borrow a pair. No cowboy hat? Borrow one. They will lend you just about everything you need including bug spray and sun screen. Homesick? Bring your favorite DVD or VHS, and watch it on the big screen in the Game Room where they have a Foosball, pool, ping pong, and air hockey table, along with cards, poker chips, and other games. They also have a washer and dryer in case you run low on clean cloths.
Something extra... You can do as much or as little as you like. You can grab a halter, catch your horse, groom him, feed him, get him saddled up, put his bridle on, and take care of all of this in reverse at the end of the day, or you can let the wranglers handle some or all of this for you. In addition to the regular activities, they put a sign-up for the morning jingles on Tuesday - Friday. If you love to ride, be sure to sign up to jingle the horses in from the pasture. One of the wranglers will meet you in front of the tack room at 5:50 am, help you get a jingle horse ready for the ride of your life, and then spend around half an hour with you riding through the early mist as you trot non-stop to bring all of the rest of the horses in for the morning.
This was our first visit to McGinnis Meadows Cattle and Guest Ranch, but it definitely won't be our last.
Great place for riders and people who want to submerse themselves into the cattle world for the first time.
Lovely support staff, excellent food and comfortable lodging. This experience is one of the best. I highly recommend.
The horses are well trained and maintained with care and integrity. You will find this an experience worth a lifetime.
This was an incredible experience. My wife is a horse riding person, me not so much, but after a week of riding at Mcginnis Meadows Ranch I now have a new love for riding.
My stay at McGinnis Meadows was the best experience of my entire life. I was drawn to this ranch by the Buck Brannaman Clinic. I lost my 32 year old mare who I shared 1/2 my life with and found myself horseless after 50 years of owing, raising and riding. (My dreams of riding in a b
Buck Clinic seemed bleak). I found out that McGinnis had over 100 head of horses started or retrained in the Tom Dorrance, Ray Hunt and Buck Brannaman style of horsemanship and that they would pair me up with the perfect horse to achieve my dream! Owned by one of Buck's best friends, student and fabulous horseman in his own right Shayne Jackson. He has put together the perfect place to learn this style of horsemanship with an incredible staff, wranglers, eager interns, great cooks, beautiful surroundings, comfortable, quaint lodging and beautiful horses for every level of rider. You can also bring your own horse and they will put them up for you right there on the ranch. It was an amazing three days of horsemanship and cattle cutting with Buck, but I think the best time ever was the last 2 days using what I learned out in real life situations with the wranglers, interns and awesome guests. WHO KNEW A 64 YEAR YOUNG WOMAN WOULD LOVE TO DRIVE CATTLE
Great views, great rides and the staff is awesome to learn from
Where do I start with praises for Mcginnis. It is hard to put into 200 words the special qualities of this place.
I have been coming to the ranch for Winter Horsemanship for several years and it just keeps getting better and better. Shayne, Robbie, and Des are truly dedicated to the advancement of Brannaman horsemanship, in both the horse and the student. Hands down, the best quality instruction of horsemanship in the country. Shayne progresses and evolves with each passing day, and is happy to share this progess with his students.
The staff and interns are respectful, helpful, and kind. The horses are top shelf, and are trustworthy, safe, and highly trained.
Is it intense? YES. Is it hard? YES. But most things worth having in life are.
I would recommend the ranch, and Winter Horsemanship, to anyone who is a looking for MORE. MORE quality in their horsemanship, MORE dedication to their progression, and MORE learning to feel FOR the horse and where he is coming from.
There is no where else like McGinnis to gain the knowledge of how to move forward on your horsemanship journey. Your relationship with horses will change forever if you are willing to learn and change as well.
