Well… what happened on a Jackson Hole ranch used to stay on the ranch, until the technology era took over. Now we get to share all of the Wild West stories with the world! We hope that all of our guests and employees have a positive experience while at the ranch…some just at the expensive of others. I hope you enjoy these fun tails, and remember cowboys and cowgirls are known for their story telling and fun antics.
As a wrangler the worst thing that could happen is to lose your horse. I not only lost my horse, I lost my very own personal horse that I have had since she was a baby. The situation is funny now, but at the time it was a bit intense. We were trying to make our way down one of the Gros Ventre mountains when a hail and lightning storm came out of nowhere. I was helping a lady dismount when her horse reared, and came down on my foot. I got the lady safely to the ground but had lost hold of my horse, Sheila. Sheila was standing there nicely when another guest ran up to grab her. She spooked and ran about 150 yards. Once everyone was safe and wearing their slickers I went to get her. The same guest ran up behind me asking to help, Sheila took one look at him and bolted again. I whistled to her, she turned, looked at me, and as to say sorry but I am going home, she bolted again. There I was left with a group of people, all on horses, and looking to me to lead them home in this storm. Faced with no slicker, no mount, and a long walk home… I did what any good wrangler would do… I knocked the closest person to me off their horse, and left them all out there to fend for themselves. No, I am just kidding… I tried to hide my embarrassment and bruised pride, and got them all back in line and started back down the trail, on foot, this is what we call hoof’ in it. Six miles into our seven mile trek home, another wrangler shows up to check on us, and rub some salt in my wounds. I sent this wrangler back to the ranch, because I was bound and determined to complete this ride/hike on my own. After arriving back at the ranch, I found my horse standing there. Now soaking wet, I untied my slicker from my saddle that my oh-so trusty mount took with her, and tried to pretend nothing happened. If you didn’t know, wet wrangler jeans, cowboy boots, and hiking just don’t mix. I received a lot of guff from my fellow wranglers, and had to by the bunk house beer for a week.
Another fun story involves a couple of our young buckaroos on the ranch. It was a warm summer day when a brother, and his sister were trying to work together and navigate their way across the Goosewing Ranch pond, when a WYOMING beaver popped up. The children were so excited they both leaned to the same side of the canoe. The canoe flips, and dumps them both into the water. The brother thinks it is funny and is horsing around out there teasing his sister, while his little sister is screaming that the beaver is going to eat them. Though this is funny, it gets better when hours later, after a shower, and awaiting dinner, the little sister lures her brother out by the pond to see if they can catch a glimpse of the beaver, this time from dry land. She gets him to the edge of the water, and points across the pond, just as he leans toward the pond she shoves him with all her might. He loses his balance, and falls head first into the mucky water. It wasn’t as fun for him this go around, now that he is wearing his last set of dry clean clothes, but his little sister couldn’t get enough!
There are many more fun stories to tell, from wranglers playing tricks with your tack, to waitresses hiding the housekeepers’ golf-cart. We would love to hear your Goosewing Ranch story, send it to us for a chance to win a “What Happens on the Ranch” t-shirt!
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Come share this corner of North America’s wildest country with us! At Goosewing Ranch, we combine the Wyoming wilderness ranching lifestyle with many of the modern refinements in life. It’s sure to be an amazing, memorable “Dude Ranch” vacation here in amazing Jackson Hole!
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Blog – https://ranchstyleliving.wordpress.com/
“As the gateway to the Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is the epicenter of guest-ranch vacationing in North America. If one acknowledges that this is the area that sets the standard, then the Goosewing Ranch sets the gold standard.”
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