2010 Itinerary

Sunday
Our guests arrive from 3pm to 6pm (supper is at 6 so don't be late because it's not served later-also if you arrive late and miss orientation you have to take a one hour lesson on Monday-cost $20)
We will be presenting the round pen part of the orientation from 7pm to 8:30pm. You will hopefully learn how a horse thinks and reacts, how you think and react, and how to make yourself one with the horse.

From 8:30pm we will be doing interviews to determine which of the ranch horses you will be assigned for the week, which includes a weigh in.(check FAQ's for details) This is the horse that you will groom, saddle, ride, cool down walk, and give a bunch of carrots to during the week.

Monday
Breakfast is at the corral. After breakfast, kids and adults are split up for the morning for corral orientation and rides. Kids will come to the hitching post first by assigned groups, and adults will start after the kids which is usually around 10am. While the kids wait on the adults to get back, they get to do a scavenger hunt. After lunch adults and kids will go out together on the 2nd ride. The first ride today is called the blue trail, and is on flat ground lasting about an 45 minutes. After lunch the green trail is up, which is one hour and climbs up the mountain about 200 feet higher in elevation. Supper comes at 6pm. After supper everyone can participate in pioneer games, and afterwards the kids can finger paint horses. Also new this year for those 18 years and older, there will be an opportunity after pioneer games to shoot black powder pistols at fixed balloons, at the lower side of the ranch like the Old Cowboy's.

Tonight the kids get to Sleep under the Stars at the ring of fire by the pond!

Tuesday
After breakfast most guests will go on the White trail which climbs about 600 feet in elevation from the lodge and lasts about 1.5 hours, while up to 10 guests help us move the cattle to the team penning corral. After lunch, everyone gets to go on the beginning whitewater raft trip, which has rapids from class I to III and is considered a family trip. The raft trip lasts from 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on water levels at the time of the trip. Supper is at 6pm then we do team penning. Team penning is a rodeo game in which three guests try to pen 3 cows into the box.  You can go from a walk or trot up to a short gallop during team penning, but it’s up to your abilities as to what speed you go. Team penning is our #1 guest favorite activity!

Wednesday
Today we have guest departures and arrivals like Sunday. If you're leaving, you’ll have breakfast and then check out time is 10am but there isn't any activities for half weekers. If you're checking in, 3 pm is check in time and likewise there isn't any activities planned, but you can get moved in and play volleyball after supper. For guests staying the whole week, the Gold trail is up, and that means up about 1000 feet higher than the lodge elevation. While on the Gold trail, you see reforestation caused by last years fire. After lunch, there is tubing available or another horseback ride. Around 5pm we take out the Sunset Supper Ride. You will ride to a mountain summit, watch as the sun starts to go down, eat a open fire cooked meal, and then ride back to the ranch in the dusk of the day. This ride is limited to the first 20 all week guests that sign up as you make your reservations, and excludes the lunch ride.
(please note: for returning guests the supper ride replaces the overnight ride)

Thursday
New arrivals will meet at the round pen after breakfast for orientation (read Sunday night and Monday morning for details) and then go on the blue trail. For our week long guests, there are rides in the morning (green) and in the afternoon for anyone (gold).
Also for our week long guests we also have new this year, the progression riding lessons ($20/participant). You will get to trot and canter in a small pasture with instruction for 45 minutes. During this time we hope we can improve your riding skills to the point that you can go on the loping ride Friday morning.  Supper is an open fire at the team penning corral. Team penning follows.

Friday
We have a cattle drive and our new loping ride for progressive riders. The lunch ride (11am-2pm) is also today, limited to 20 riders that didn't take the supper ride on Wednesday and our mid week guests.  The progressive ride is for week long guests that passed the instruction the day before which means that have acquired good balance and control.

After lunch we have horseback rides, a cattle drive and then a kids rodeo ages 5-12 at 3:30 pm.

After supper, we have the square dance with live musicians.

Saturday
After breakfast, we have the advanced whitewater raft trip or horseback rides. After lunch and the raft trip we have horseback rides. Also for those advanced riders that have been approved to go, we have the galloping ride. After supper, the bluegrass band starts at 7pm for two hours of great Smoky Mountain music.

Sunday
After breakfast, we say our goodbyes until your next trip to the ranch. Check out time is 10 am.