McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch is located in Northwest Montana’s picturesque town of Libby. This authentic working cattle ranch is set in a wide-open meadow at elevations of more than 3,000 feet surrounded by forested mountain terrain.
Originally homesteaded in the 1890s, the ranch today still contains certain elements of the past. Cattle first appeared in this valley in the 1920s, although the ranch as it stands today wasn’t established until 1998.
The main focus of the McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch has always been on riding, with a strong emphasis on Buck Brannaman horsemanship. This can be put to the test either in the ranch’s onsite arena, along the trails, or working the cattle.
Every aspect of horsemanship is taught here, and as the owners are long-standing members of the Dude Rancher’s Association, it’s no surprise that most guests leave here as better and more skillful riders. On top of that, visitors get fine accommodation and fantastic home-cooked cuisine during a stay at the ranch.
McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch: A Guide
The Main Features of McGinnis Meadows Ranch
The McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch is somewhat unique in that it offers horsemanship-focused vacations which can include as much as 6 hours of riding per day.
The ranch has a huge, state-of-the-art arena, with gentle and experienced horses of exceptional quality used by all kinds of riders. The instruction and coaching from owner Shayne and the wranglers are also reported as top-notch.
The Buck Brannaman Horsemanship and Cattle Program are offered to riders of all levels from beginner to more experienced riders. The owner Shane has traveled and ridden with Buck extensively over 2 decades or more, and he now incorporates this experience and knowledge into the operations and activities at the ranch.
Potential visitors will be pleased to hear that the guest-to-wrangler ratio is low, which means a more individually-tailored experience each day. The ranch believes this style of learning facilitates more attention from the instructors than would be likely at any other ranch.
The Buck Brannaman Horsemanship Clinic is run daily along with working the cattle for a couple of days a week. Guests can even bring their own horse if they have one, but the majority of visitors will opt for one of the ranch’s own horses which come with custom-made saddles and tack.
The 10-Day Ranch Experience
The 10-day programs have been hugely popular and the guests who participate really benefit from a few extra days in the saddle.
For many, a program like this will take any existing level of skill to new heights, and instill solid basics in rank novices. The riding is undertaken both indoors and outdoors and covers the entire monthly opening of the ranch to visitors.
The programs commonly run from April through October with one 10-day working ranch experience being held every month/program per month. Guests primarily come out to the ranch for the purpose of advancing their horsemanship in a multi-faceted, authentic working ranch environment.
The program is geared towards riding skills both in and out of the arena, and it is adjusted according to the seasons and the work in hand.
Wintertime means indoor riding only, but come the warmer months there are trails to ride, cattle to drive, and lots of refined horsemanship training.
The horses at the ranch are trained as ‘all-rounders’ that can adapt to various scenarios such as working cattle, riding solo or in groups, covering any and all types of terrain, as well as having a decent set of skills for the arena.
The 10-day program aims to imbue riders with similar qualities and a more complete sense of adaptability to various scenarios on horseback.
All th