What Makes Us Different?

People sometimes ask: “What makes the Sundance different from other Dude Ranches?”

This is a very good question! It can be a challenge to decide which ranch is the best for your family.

We have visited many of our neighbor dude ranches, and each is unique. Here are some of the aspects of the Sundance Trail that make us little bit different:

Size:

• You will find it very easy to meet and get to know the other guests here.
• No nametags. No crowds. No lines. Our dining room has only four tables!
• Our ranch is one of the smallest dude ranches that we know. We accept no more than seven families or 24 people maximum.
• Our ranch is small, but our playground is big. You will have a million acres of National Forest to play!

Relaxed:

• Take off your watch. You won’t need it. We ring the dinner bell for the most important activities of the day!
• You will find a weekly schedule of activities with lots and lots to do, but you’re not locked into a rigid schedule – every activity is optional, and there is a good balance of “unstructured time.”
• Vacations are supposed to be relaxing!

Flexible:

• You may not have ever ridden a horse before, or
• You may own your own and ride every day
• Because we are so small, and because we keep riding groups small, we are able to be very flexible in our riding program and in most activities.

We love to teach:

• Our barn is an excellent place to develop your horse skills,
• Beginners begin with the basics - most are jogging and loping by the end of the week.
• We coach the proficient – if desired, coaching is always available.
• We believe that riding should be fun, should be safe, and that learning never ends.

Not a nose-to-tail program:

• Our wranglers will never tell you to “get in line.” We don’t believe in lines!

Concern for Your Safety:

• Our barn follows the standards of the American Association of Horsemanship Safety, and
• Our wranglers are Safety Certified by the Dude Ranchers Association, and
• Both Ellen and Dan are certified Instructors in the DRA Wrangler Safety Certification program.
• There are a number of fine organizations that provide standards and safety certification programs.
• Frankly, you should not consider a ranch that does not have safety certification from an outside organization.

Concern for the environment:

• The environment is not “something out there,” or covered with concrete and asphalt. Our life is part of the Rocky Mountain moraine ecosystem.

• You will not see trash on your trail rides. Ever. Only very rarely will you see any other people!

  We leave nothing in the forest and we take nothing from the forest – except, of course, good memories and good pictures!

Pet Friendly:

• We are the only pet friendly dude ranch that we know!
• Your dog, if he/she is well mannered around children and other animals, is welcome! Give us a call and we can discuss details.

• Your horses are also welcome! Call us about hay, vaccinations and coggins.

Close to the airport:

• How much of your vacation do you want to spend “getting there”? Although lost in the mountains, we are less than a two hour drive from Denver International Airport.

Family Orientation:

• We enjoy sharing our lifestyle with people, especially families. We enjoy helping families play together.
• If you are looking for a “drop-off” children’s program, then Sundance Trail is not the right ranch for you.

Association Memberships:

• We belong to the
  • the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association,
  • the Dude Ranchers Association,
  • the American Association of Horsemanship Safety, and
  • the Larimer County Horseman's Association.
  This means that we take pride in maintaining high standards of guest safety, horse health, cleanliness and business ethics.

Come Visit Us:

• This is our home, we live here and we're open year-round.
• You are very welcome to come visit us, and meet the staff and horses. Just give us a call!

If these differences attract you, then the Sundance Trail may be a great fit for your vacation. If not, feel free to give us a call, and maybe we can direct you to one of our neighbor ranches.