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Beyond the Saddle
One of the most common questions I hear from women considering a Dude Ranch Week is surprisingly simple:
“What if I don’t want to ride every day?”
The short answer?
You don’t have to.
While horseback riding is the heart of the week, a guest ranch offers far more than time in the saddle. In fact, many women find that their favorite memories happen on the “out-of-saddle” days.
Here’s what that can look like --
Porch Coffee
All the Other Ways to
Fall in Love with a Ranch Week
Sit on the porch. Read. Have coffee. Watch horses move across the pasture. Take a nap.
​Guided Hiking
If you love being outdoors but prefer to stay on your own two feet some mornings, guided hikes are a beautiful option.
Ranch guides know the terrain — from forest trails to wateralls to scenic overlooks you’d never find alone. These hikes aren’t competitive or fast-paced. They’re conversational, unhurried, and designed to help you experience the landscape in a different way.
You still get the fresh air. You still get the views. Just at a walking pace.
Long Lingering Lunch
​Guided Fly Fishing
For many women, fly fishing becomes an unexpected highlight of the week.
You don’t need experience. Plus the ranch provides all the equipment you will need. Ranch guides teach you how to cast, how to read the water, and how to enjoy the rhythm of standing in a quiet stream. It’s surprisingly meditative — and yes, often very social.
Even if you’ve never held a rod before, you can learn. And if you simply want to try it once and move on, that’s perfectly fine too.
Archery offers a quieter challenge — balance, focus, and technique.
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You don’t need prior experience. Many women try it simply for the fun of learning something new in a beautiful setting — and leave surprised at how empowering it feels.
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Rifle, Skeet & Archery: Try Something Different
If you’d like a break from the saddle, Rawah Ranch offers supervised rifle target practice, skeet shooting, and archery sessions led by experienced Activities Coordinators.
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Safety is always the priority. Before stepping onto the range, you’ll receive clear instruction on firearm handling, range etiquette, and bow safety. Everything is guided, controlled, and beginner-friendly.
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Skeet shooting uses a 20-gauge shotgun to track clay targets launched into the air. Rifle practice focuses on steady aim and target precision.
Creative & Hands-On Activities
The ranch will offer workshops that surprise first-time guests.
Your choices might include:
• Leather belt making
• Sip & Paint sessions
There is something grounding about working with your hands in a setting like this. It slows time down.
Horsemanship & Grooming Clinics
Sometimes connecting with horses doesn’t mean riding them.
Horsemanship sessions may include:
• Grooming and bonding time
• Learning about tack and saddle fit
• Understanding herd behavior
• Groundwork techniques
There will be sessions to deepen your confidence around horses and often help you feel more relaxed in the saddle during the week.
Your Ranch Week is designed for choice.
You can be:
• A daily rider.
• A once-a-day rider.
• A selective rider.
• Or someone who connects with the ranch in other meaningful ways.
There is no “right” way to participate.
You don’t have to prove anything. You don’t have to keep up. You don’t have to ride to exhaustion to belong.
You get to choose.
It’s your week --
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