Hi everyone at Bucks and Spurs Guest Ranch,

Ann was over today and I found this most amazing horse in my barn. This was my first real ride on Lady Ann since I got her home. We just walked around with Blackhawk. But Lady just walked off like she was the only one here.
No problems at all. She’s the first horse I have ever had that wasn’t bothered by anything she had not ever seen before. Even the noisy Donkey didn’t bother her. I got her all full of mud crossing a very wet muddy pasture. Blackhawk wasn’t as impressed crossing thru the mud but she followed along.
I have a platform with steps about 30″ tall that I use to mount with, it is too big to move so I have to get the horse to stand next to it. I walked up the steps, asked Lady to step forward, she did. I patted my leg and she moved sideways so I could get on. Ann just said “WOW” !!! We also closed a gate. She made it look like I knew what I was doing.
What a horse. I whistle and she leaves her grass and walks over to me, of course she then wants a treat and of course I have one.
Ann is off work and we will be riding for the next couple days but I don’t expect Lady will have any problem riding without a buddy with her.

Thanks for the great horse; she is so pretty and smart.

Sandy

C & Sonny,

Finally made it back to the UK.
Just wanted to drop you a line to say how much Jim & I enjoyed our time with you. We were talking on the way back home and after everything we had done in the 10 days (Memphis & Vegas included) we both agreed that our time at the ranch was the best of the lot. I knew I was going to enjoy it but I wasn’t sure about Jim as he’d only ridden once before, but he loved it. He said that he wished we had more time there. You may see us again next year! Lots of love,
Jo & Jim

Dear C & Sonny
Now I’m safety get back to my home, Tokyo Japan.
Since my parents could not wait hearing my great story of the ranch,
I directly went their home and show them a part of my pictures and had dinner with them.

Thank you for all your kindness and consideration at the ranch.
I miss you all but “something warm” is still in my heart and I believe it will live forever.

I will soon go back to my city life
and busy working days. Miki

C & Sonny –
From the moment we drove up to the moment we pulled away, my girls were in heaven. Horses, dogs, cats, kittens, chicken, cows, and the river. Your ranch sits on some of the most beautiful Ozark hills in Missouri and you get to see that every day. You get to lead a wonderful life with a scenic view.
It’s an understatement to say the girls loved the riding and their horses. Mackena fell in love with Blue before she even knew it would be her horse for the week. She was so gentle, listened well and provided Mackena with hours of fun. And Kyra seemed to be Tracey’s twin. Their blonde hair, they were like two peas in a pod. To have horses that aren’t trail sour, with their noses to the horse in front of you, was refreshing. It was wonderful for me to see my girls enjoy their spring break. I can’t thank you enough! Carrie and girls.

Just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful time my family had on your beautiful ranch. It was so wonderful to see my grandson, Jordan, having the time of his life; running free and outside all day, from sun up to sun down; not sitting in front of a video game. He learned so much about horses and riding and a different way of life. Beside discovering where to look for eggs, he learned to tell the roosters from the hens, the mares from the geldings, the gelding from the stallions. He playing with the cats in the barn and jumped from the loft; which he talked about over and over. He must have crossed that corral 15 times in an hour one day; while I watched from the porch. He was building his confidence and knowledge, learning the moods and signals from the horses, exercising his own judgement; testing his courage.

I find myself longing for a ride, wishing to have a chance to learn more, and to rediscover all the things I have forgotten about horses. I really enjoyed how you made each ride a little more challenging, building on the rides we had done before. That last river crossing was a very exciting experience, stimulated the senses, and made a person feel proud about doing it. Herding the cattle is something everyone is still talking about, especially the adults, they really enjoyed it, and will always remember doing it; we smile when we think about it.

Beautiful sunsets and sunrises, peace and quiet, then the sounds of nature-water rushing, birds calling, roosters crowing, horses communicating, even coyotes howling. Campfires at night, great food, the thrill of adventure. What more could a person ask for? I hope we get to come soon. This was one of our treasured times and awesome experiences as a family.

Writes Ms Debbie from Kansas City

Spring is here! If you don’t believe it, ask our guests from Northern Wisconsin. Our grass is green, flowers are blooming. The horses are beginning to shed their winter coats. We’ve started our vegetable garden, peas, radishes, onions, lettuce and spinach. I can’t wait for ripe home grown tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers. FOALS are due soon. Top Gun, Moondust, Osage Dreamer, Foxy, Misty Dawn, and Imperial Jewel all due this spring. You can choose vacation dates around the foaling season or help with foal imprinting and training anytime this season. The farrier has shod several head of horses for guest and some training horses too.

[Horseback riding the secluded trails of Bucks and Spurs Guest Ranch, checking the cattle herd for new born calves, the smell of supper on the stove as you ride in, now that’s living. All Inclusive Vacations include this and more, Natural Horsemanship, fishing, canoing, hikes and bird watching are other activities you can enjoy. This month we experienced a wide range of temperatures and we managed horseback riding almost everyday! Now today the young horses are being trained in the barn with Mr. C and intern Jaclyn. Singles or small groups looking for horseback riding vacations find tailored vacations at Bucks and Spurs Guest Ranch. Visit http://www.bucksandspurs.com/contact.php or Call 417 683 2381 for availability and packages estimates

What a great day. It’s COLD….for the Ozarks anyway. Jaclyn (from New Hampshire laughs at our cold weather and snow). It was just getting light when we started our day as always…hot strong coffee and the sun coming up, cardinals gathering at the feeder. The two inches of frozen slush is just to dangerous for horseback riding so on foot we locked up the bulls, ran the heifers in and sorted them, got a DNA sample from a calf, preg checked two head, sorted and feed, then returned all to their proper pastures. The Little Bluff Pasture cattle had broke into the Homestead pature…they followed their feed right back in but we didn’t fix the fence so at last report is they are out again. (tomorrows project) The big herd of cattle on the lower end were waiting on their hay. Baby calves bounded across the field while worried mothers trotted along. We moved and filled mineral feeders, watched some hunger Roadrunners scurry around looking for something to eat. With all the horses fed, the hen house shut, cats and dogs feed we’ll call it a day as dark thirty is here. Kim has supper ready and wood carried in for the night. Good Night you all.

It’s a perfect day. The sun is just coming up and the cardinals are swarming the feeders like bees at a hive! The new snow has filled yesterday’s tracks making our world look post card perfect. Horses are moseying up just to let us know it’s about feeding time. Hum, just another day at the ranch, strong hot coffee in the pot, breakfast cooking, morning chores calling. Yes it’s a perfect day.

Last week at Bucks and Spurs Guest Ranch the children played and rode horses in their t-shirts, then Saturday it was so warm they wore no shirts! But Old Man Winter played a trick and sent ice and snow late Tuesday morning. We had spent Monday getting ready for the predicted storm. We moved cattle around to pastures with the best wind breaks. Cowboys don’t need an excuse for horseback riding and this was a good reason to work Star and E-Z Rider. How I wished for the video camera as I watched C. and Jaclyn ride in perfect unison across the pasture. The horses were fed on the south slope near a cedar thicket. All the stock got extra hay. According to the weather man it will warm back up soon but we won’t wait, everyday is perfect for horseback riding! All Inclusive Vacation Packages accomodate families and small groups and singles too. Book early for choice dates. www.bucksandspurs.com Call 417 683 2381 for your
All Inclusive Family Vacations – Horseback Riding Vacations.