PROGRAM : HORSE DRIVE

Sunday : Billings - Schively Ranch
Around 04:00 pm, transfer from the airport or the Rimview Inn Hotel in Billings to the Ranch or to the departure point of the ride by 4x4. Dinner and night.

From monday to Saturday : Migration of the herds
Joe Bassett, the former owner of the ranch, spent his life to breed Quarter Horses, all year long, in Montana. However, since the introduction of wolves and the presence of pumas in the ranch's area the loss of horses (mostly foals) has been deplored.
Therefore, it was essential to change the way of managing the herds of mares and foals in winter and he decided to drive them away from Montana during this period of the year.

Because of this and after several years of breeding at the ranch, the Bassett family decided to carry out 2 weeks of migration of their mares and colts (more than 100 animals) to lead them to a safer place on their ranch in Wyoming.
Horse drives are proposed in spring, just before starting the cattle drives. Indeed, in spring the period of foaling of the mares is planned for the first part of May. In fall, the migration season also ends with the horse drive.
.We cover about 80 km (50 miles) during the week going along the "Big Horn" river between the Pryor Mountains and the Big Horn Mountains.

The programs in spring and in fall are a little bit different.
2 days are planned for the gathering of horses before leaving for 3 days of moving.
In spring (depending on the weather conditions), a visit of the city of "Cody" in Wyoming can be scheduled. This city, where "Buffalo Bill" was born is particularly "western style", and has the biggest western museum with a unique collection of " Remington" arms. As well, still depending on the weather, you can plan horseback trails around the ranch or even near the "Devils Canyon" and the "Carolyn Lockheart Ranch", two historical sites of the region.
You will spend all the nights and have dinner at the ranch located in the Pryor Mountains. Lunch will be in the form of pic-nics.
Warning : The route can be modified according to the weather conditions. As well weather can be very rough and you should plan to bring warm clothes.
The maximum number of riders is 10 and only adults and experienced riders are allowed to come.
Return to Billings on Saturday at 06:pm.

CATTLE DRIVE (gathering and leading of cow herds) in Montana

Sunday: Billings - Transfer to the ranch
Around 04:00 pm transfer from the airport or hotel Rimview Inn hotel in Billings to our working ranch or to the departure point of the cattle drive by 4x4. Dinner and night.

From Monday to Saturday: Moving the herds
Every year the cattle, which has spent the winter in Wyoming, near Lovell, needs to be driven to the Pryor Mountains, located 80 km away. It will spend the summer on about 15000 hectares of wild meadows located in an isolated region of the Pryor Mountains.

Every week, a herd of about 250-300 cows and their calves moves there. Several weeks are necessary to drive the 1200 animals to their new pastures.

We propose you to drive these herds of 300 animals on 80 km, in spring or in fall. The whole migation of the cows takes almost a month, but you can participate in one week. In the end of fall, the whole herd is transfered back to Lovell, for the winter.

Since 2005, we also propose 2 weeks of gathering and transfer of the herds into the Big Horn Mountains (3650 meters high). These stays are reserved for experienced riders. In small groups, also including cowboys of the neighbour ranchs, you will drive hundreds of cattle up to the summit of the Bald Mountain. You will have the opportunity to pass through the famous historical site of "Medecine Wheel" from where, on clear days, you can see the mountains Yellow Stone National Park.

Be careful : On these summer departures, spaces are limited and because of the long days spent on horseback riders need to be in very good physical shape.

You will camp along the track and will eat under the cook's tent or near a camp fire. This camp is located halfway between the departure and the arrival ranch.
This accommodation is only available during the cattle drives of spring and summer. Indeed, in automn the weather is too unsettled so you will go back to the ranch for dinner and for the night.
The days will be dedicated to the cattle drive, so you have to be ready to spend many hours in the saddle. The itinerary can be modified according to the weather conditions.

Saturday
Return to Billings at 06:00 pm.


The itinerary described above can be subject to changes according to the weather, the location of cattle and the forest service recommandations.

The cattle drive is a varied and unforeseeable work, it requires to spend several hours on horseback.
You will mainly walk, with many strong moments.

To extend your stay :
- Tour in car rental + hotel in Great National Parks : Consult us.
- You can also combine a weekly stay at the ranch with a week of cattle drive. Please consult the dates below.

There are 150 horses, and more than 1200 cattle at the ranch.
They are quarter horses born and bred at the ranch and trained for the cattle work.

You will choose yours among 70 geldings, the others horses being dedicated to reproduction : 4 stallions reign over a herd of about 40 mares. Every spring and all summer long you can look out for the foals!

For the weeks of cattle transfer, we will ask you te be able to control your horse in all paces, and to be ready to spend several hours on horseback.

Weather conditions can be changeable (depending on the season), so you have to adapt the clothes you are going to bring.

The ranch is owned by the Bassett family, Iris and her daughter Jennifer work there with their children.
You will be supervised by professsional cow-boys, who spend their lives on horses, and take care of the ranch's herd, one of the biggest in the USA (more than 1200 animals!).
They will initiate you in the western way of riding, in cattle care and how to lead a herd in the vast plains.

During the cattle drive, we will camp along the track (depending on the weather and decision of the group).This accommodation is only available during the spring and summer cattle drives. If the weather turns out to be cold, we go back to the ranch in order to spend the night as we do for the cattle drive in fall.

- Flights to Billings,
- Any other services,
- Drinks,
- Meals in Billings,
- Tips,
- Personnal expenses,
- The extensions (visit of other regions, car tour in the Great National Parks, Visit of New York..) whenever they are organised before or after your trail ( consult us).
- Optional insurances. More information.

USA (Montana-Wyoming)

10 days / 8 nights : 1 night in Billings + 6 nights on cattle drive + 1 night in Billings.

Montana is subject to a continental climate, warm in summer and rough in winter, with a wide range of temperatures.
Cattle drives take place during the change of seasons, so the temperatures are quite fresh and can become much colder.