Question 1

What is a Dude Ranch?

Accepted Answer

A dude ranch vacation is an all-inclusive immersive vacation that includes lodging, meals, horseback riding, hiking and more. On the Steens Mountain Guest Ranch, you will also saddle your own horse, ride and round up cattle throughout the Steens Mountains cattle range on this Oregon dude ranch vacation of a lifetime. You will also fix fences, learn cowhand detail, learn to ride, make rope, and enjoy the views for days on this dude ranch cattle drive.

Question 2

Can a beginner ride a horse?

Accepted Answer

Common Beginner Horse Riding Mistakes

Not keeping your shoulders back: It's good to be relaxed, but it's not good to slump. ... Doing too much too soon: Riding a horse takes a lot of practice, and everyone starts at the beginning. Be patient with yourself (and your horse) as you work through all the steps.

Question 3

What is a cowboy hat called?

Accepted Answer

While some version of the cowboy hat has existed since men began working the prairies and rangelands, the first popular American style hat hit stores in 1865. Known as the “Boss of the Plains,” its designer John B. Stetson, became one of the standout designers of hats, and his company still exists today.

Stetson' became synonymous with the word 'hat' in every corner and culture west of the Mississippi River." The shape of the hat's crown and brim were often modified by the wearer for fashion and to protect against weather by being softened in hot steam, shaped, and allowed to dry and cool.

Question 4

What do horses eat?

Accepted Answer

In simple terms, horses eat grass and hay or haylage, but salt, concentrates and fruits or vegetables can also enhance their diets, depending on the required work regime and available feed. Here's our Horse Feeding Guide, containing a handy list of everything your average adult horse should eat to remain healthy.

Question 5

Why are horses measured by hands?

Accepted Answer

Thousands of years ago, there were no measuring tapes lying around (or a metric system, for that matter). People needed a way of measuring their riding horses for purposes of selling and trading, and so they used a unit of measurement that they always had with them – their hands.

Question 6

Do horses like to be hugged?

Accepted Answer

Sharing body contact is one of the main ways horses share affection. Since horses don't have hands to hold or arms to give hugs, gentle leans and even “neck hugs” express their love.

Question 7

What is the difference between a Kiger Mustang and a mustang?

Accepted Answer

The Kiger mustang is a strain of mustang horse located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. Horses with specific conformation traits discovered in 1977, the name applies only to wild-captured individuals and does not apply to their bred-in-captivity progeny, which are known as Kiger horses.

Question 8

What are Kiger Mustangs good at?

Accepted Answer

The Kiger Mustang has a good working attitude. It is obedient. It shows a marked willingness to learn and obey instructions. Similar to most Spanish Mustangs, the Kiger Mustang is also very adept at working with cattle. Here at Steens Mountain Guest Ranch, we have a few Kiger Mustangs that we use and you might be riding.

Question 9

When do cows give birth?

Accepted Answer

We generally think of “spring” time (February - May) as the ideal calving season (about 70 to 75% of all calves are born in this period, although it is not exactly “spring”) because the forage is regrowing as sunlight and temperatures increase and can provide adequate nutrition to the cow and her calf.

Question 10

Why are they called the Steens mountains?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Army named the mountain in 1860 during the small-scale but brutal conflict known as the Snake Wars, when Major Enoch Steen skirmished with Northern Paiutes there during a patrol.

Question 11

How high is the Steens Mountain?

Accepted Answer

9,738'. -Set high in the Steens Mountain Wilderness, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. It's called Steens Mountain Road. Starting at OR-205, near Frenchglen, the road is 43.61km (27.1 miles) long.

Question 12

How many acres is the Steens Mountains?

Accepted Answer

The Steens Mountain Wilderness encompasses 170,166 acres (68,864 ha) of Steens Mountain. 98,859 acres (40,007 ha) of the Wilderness are protected from grazing and free of cattle.

Question 13

What animals live in the Steens Mountains?

Accepted Answer

Home to a wide variety of animals, the area is primarily known for birding, hunting, and fishing. Golden eagles, owls, and the protected sage grouse. Other animals found in the area include rattlesnakes, scorpions, elk, big horn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and cougars. The area is also home to wild Kiger Mustang horses.