There are so many areas in our life where we are defined by being called a “beginner” or “novice” or “advanced” or “expert”, and everything in between. But when it comes to horses and horsemanship, what do those labels mean? It is common that people equate speed with ability. We hear from many riders that…
One of the things I’ve always admired about the mindset of the leadership of Vista Verde Ranch is the consistent push towards “betterness.” You can’t find this term in the dictionary, but it comes from former ranch owner John Munn, and we continue to use it as a guiding principle today. The key is to…
Oatmeal White Chocolate Craisin Cookies Ingredients: ½ pound unsalted butter ½ pound Crisco/shortening 2 cups brown sugar 2 cups granulated sugar 4 eggs 1½ tsp. vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt ½ tsp. nutmeg 1 ½ tsp. cinnamon 6 cups old fashioned rolled oats 1 cup white…
If you’ve got a case of Spring fever, this recipe might be just right for you. As the snow melts and the days get longer, we’re itching for dinner on the patio and, here’s a novel idea, visiting with friends over a great meal! Although it’s always better to have Chef Jonathon make this for…
We have been hit by the Covid rebound syndrome. People have been cooped up, are craving a vacation, and want to go to more remote and outdoor destinations. We know that some guests who usually plan their summer vacation later in the spring have been disappointed when they reach out and find we are booked…
ERKS Back in 2019 we established the Elk River Kipper Scholarship Fund (ERKS) to honor Charlie’s 20th anniversary at the ranch and add to his legacy of helping our staff grow and develop at the ranch and into their lives when they leave the ranch. A bright spot in the blur of 2020 was awarding…
Several of the horse lovers here at Vista Verde have gotten hooked on podcasts from horse trainer Julie Goodnight. Julie is a Colorado-based trainer who also partners as a clinician with our friends and fellow dude-ranchers at C Lazy U Ranch. We love the way she approaches teaching and training with her pragmatic philosophy that…
While our guests are snuggled up for a long winter’s dream, the ranch hand crew are bustling around like little elves on snowy mornings. Here is a quick behind-the-scenes look at all that gets done on a snowy morning. The snow removal begins around 4:00 am, with the potential for six operators running our fleet…
Got the itch? You know, that one that just keeps nagging you and will not go away? Never fear, we are not prescribing an antifungal here. Because you have the itch for a vacation!! It may be that your kids have been with you 24-7 for the last 10 months. Or you have been staring…
One unexpected result of the pandemic is that more and more people are seeking outdoor experiences that get them away from others. Of course, this has lined Vista Verde up as an ideal destination for an adventure vacation! But this pull has also led to more people heading out into the backcountry, with many of…