I stir to the noise of horses stomping below me, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, crisp mountain air, and dew blanketing the meadow. Since I can remember, my summers were spent on our family ranch in Cooke City, Montana guiding horseback riding, fishing, and camping trips.
Days begin at sunrise. I crawl down the ladder from the bunkroom of our three-story barn, built by my grandpa in 1982. The barn gets cold at night and hot during the day, and when it rains it sounds like you’re standing under a waterfall. I proudly call this barn home!
Horseback Riding in Montana
Morning chores consist of letting the horses in for grain, grooming, and saddling the guest horses I need for my trip. I load our drinks and lunches into the old stick-shift Dodge.
My favorite part of the morning, only challenged by my mom’s amazing breakfasts, is choosing which horse of mine I want to ride. I have four options: Winchester is a young blue roan Percheron that I bought as a yearling and have been working on getting broke to sell. Red Hot, Denali, and Jasmine are my three broodmares, who are the foundation of my growing business. Broodmares are female horses whose job is to produce foals to be trained for personal use, guest horses, or to sell.
Winchester has a personality comparable to a Golden Retriever puppy, Jasmine glides while walking, Red
parable to a Golden Retriever puppy, Jasmine glides while walking, Red Hot is my pride and joy, and Denali would walk off a bridge if told her to. Riding one or more of them each day, I get a chance to work on my business of training, selling, and establishing a horse breeding operation.
Fishing in Yellowstone National Park
After the chores are finished, I run inside to eat a breakfast Gordon Ramsey would be proud of—Mom’s food is hard to beat. I scarf it down before grabbing my chaps and fishing equipment and loading the horses in the trailer. We’re off to fish in Yellowstone National Park, a remote place so exquisite I question if humans are even worthy to go. The isolated, high mountain streams we fish all summer are the closest thing to heaven you can experience in this life.
Pulling into the trailhead, I hop out of the truck, unload the horses, and prepare myself and my clients for a day in the backcountry. Equipped with bear spray, a hearty sack lunch, and my trusty fly rod, I swing my leg over the saddle and embark. Our two-hour ride into the heart of Yellowstone provides plenty of opportunity to witness wildlife that leaves you in awe.
We arrive at the stream where I unsaddle the horses and hobble them, giving them the freedom to move around and graze for the day. Hobbling, our preferred method of stock retention, keeps our horses from bolting back to the trailer or destroying the beautiful landscape if they were tied to a tree. We eat lunch and gather the remaining food and drinks in an empty saddle bag to be hung out of reach of any nearby grizzly bears. Using a lariat rope, I hang the saddle bag on a sturdy branch of a tall pine tree, pulling the food 10 to 12 feet in the air. Once the food is secure, it’s time to fish for some beautiful Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
Throughout the day, I help our clients improve their fly fishing skills and show them the best spots to catch the big ones. I often have the opportunity to learn new tricks and skills from the guests. In the late afternoon, I head back to saddle the horses up, take down the food, and break down the rods. Leaving the stream, everyone is in a good mood after catching some fish, riding amazing horses, and enjoying breathtaking views.
I try not to take for granted the privilege it is to live, ride, and work in paradise. My job at my family ranch provides unlimited opportunities to fish, see exquisite scenery, and meet new people, all while working to raise and train well-rounded mountain horses.
I take pride in working with horses. Their grace, beauty, and compassion are evidence of the truth to the saying, “There’s something about the outside of a horse that’s good for the inside of a man.”
Learn more about Skyline Guest Ranch here.
This article about Montana horseback riding appeared in the July/August 2023 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
