advice wanted please. two adults and a 15 year old, travelling from scotland next summer. (july or august ).we are really into horse riding and want to try a dude ranch . we would also like to see a real rodeo,(as opposed to a show put on for tourists).anywhere considered.
thanks in advance.

I really liked the Seven Lazy P guest ranch in Montana. www.sevenlazyp.com

I stayed at the Triangle C outside Jackson Wyoming this fall...www.trianglec.com....They have a brochure and DVD you can watch and Saturday nights they will take you to the rodeo in the summer...It is family owned and operated and first class..Their horses are very well taken care of and the trails wind for miles around the Wind river, through mountains, etc...and the food was excellent...it is also close to the entrance to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks which you can include also...take a look !

I jsut found out that there is a big rodeo in Jax Fl this January!
I haven't been to one since I was a pipsqueak..and that was in Arizona..where my grandfather took me to a Dude ranch also.
Although those months might be way too hot for such a thing in Arizona.

I know this is not a dude ranch, but it is a great way to see some beautiful country by horseback.

www.frontierpacktrain.com

July & August is the perfect time.

If you opt for the Jackson area of Wyoming, there's a weekly rodeo there. I don't know it's done year round since we were there in the summer.

There are alot of Dude (guest) ranches in Bandera, Texas. The one we stayed at (Twin Elm) runs the local rodeo right on their property twice a week during summer.

Here's a second vote for Bandera, specifically Twin Elm for a working ranch and family run rodeo.

Red Lodge, Montana
Rodeo - July 2,3, and 4th
Parade every day but you have to see the one on the 4th (independence day, ya know..it lasts an hour and a half!)
Real Town, Real Rodeo, Real Beer, Real People. I am going to Scotland for a month in May-June so meet me in my hometown and I will pull out red carpet for you. We are on the way to Yellowstone National Park....work on the dude ranch later.

Red Lodge. It just doesn't get any better.

`thank you to everyone for the advice.
1rood, where in scotland are you travelling to?

I'll be there in mid-May for a month. I have signed up for two trips: backpacking Knoydart for a week and Backpacking (you call it hillclimbing)canoeing up in the NW Highlands/Lochs starting near Ullapool. I have a week inbetween plus days at the beginning and end. Need to go to Knapdale where relatives are buried and then out to the islands, Hebrides, Speyside and ending in Edinburgh. If you want info on Red Lodge go to www.redlodge.com and start there.

Laurie, just out of curiosity....were Brigitte and Kerry running Twin Elm when you were there?

Hi Statia -- Yes they were. I seem to remember that you are related to them somehow? I believe they are elsewhere now? They were really nice people with a great staff. They had only been with the ranch about 8 months when we visited.

Yes, Laurie, she is my husband's sister. They unfortunately no longer run the ranch but another couple does, so it's still in operation. At least my DH's sister is still in Bandera, so we are able to visit the area when we are in the US. It's really a neat town.