Are you ready for a Cowboy’s vacation?  Why not take a cowboy vacation on one of the many Texas dude ranches.  Just think riding a horse western saddle over the plains, across the streams and over the mountains.  If fresh air and wide open spaces is what you are hankering for a dude ranch may be just for you!  Are you ready for the perfect experience?  Let me tell you a tale….

Jumping into my western wear pulling on my cowboy boots and putting on my hat, causes my blood to stir.  Today is my first time in a bunk house but I’m not alone.  There are fifteen other greenhorns or tender foots with me.  Most of my comrades are city folk.  Sure we’ve all seen a horse but it was on TV or at the parade.  Today we get to experience the real thing.  The question that flashes through my mind is whether I am ready to learn to saddle that wild snorting beast.

The door opens and in steps the lead hand.  He says “the first order of business today is to head of to the corral for a lesson on saddling our horses.”  So off we go.  I look for the smallest beast I can find who’s  over in the far side of the corral. Yup that one’s for me.  As I tip my hat and approach the small gray mare grazing at the feed trough I’m a little surprised.

Well actually it’s more like I’m shocked.  That small gray mare stands over a foot taller than me.  Wow! now what to do.  After all who am I kidding, I’m no cowboy.  But with some help I managed to saddle the monster.  Swinging up into the saddle my mind drifts to a western movie with me as the trail boss setting off on a cattle drive.

Suddenly with the movement of my steed I instantly come back to my senses to realize this beautiful beast is walking out of the corral and I’m about to experience my first adventure.  After many miles of riding along a cool grassy plain our group of tender foots comes upon a small steam.  Perfect, it’s time for a rest.