Working Ranch Activities
Activities are centered on our daily ranch operations that include cattle drives, gathering, sorting, branding and shipping cattle. Padlock guests learn the fine art of cattle handling and horsemanship as they ride our awe inspiring grassy plains.
Stockmanship focuses on safe and effective methods of stock handling. Horsemanship enhances the partnership between rider and horse. These skills are used on a day-to-day basis at the Padlock Ranch promoting sustainability of the ranching lifestyle both in the arena and on the range.
You can hone your stockmanship skills while gathering cattle in the historic Wolf Mountains or the majestically forested Big Horn mountains. With approximately 10,000 head of mother cows grazing on nearly a half million acres across Wyoming and Montana, there is a lot of riding and cattle work to be done. Guests are welcome to join in all ranch activities according to their interest.
- Gathering and trailing cattle, (cattle drives), are an integral part of ranch life from May until the end of September.
- During May, riders are frequently moving cow/calf pairs providing golden opportunities to practice stockmanship. If you can handle a mother cow with a young calf at side, you're a long way down the road to being a ranch cowboy!
- June is the time for branding and learning some of the finer points of cowboy etiquette. It's about getting the job done efficiently and effectively.
- July work includes sorting cattle and trailing them to summer rangeland pastures while working on horsemanship skills.
- In August, we work on horsemanship while riding herd health in the scenic beauty of the Big Horn Mountains. This is also a time when we move cattle away from our riparian areas. This promotes good health for these vital grazing lands.
- September gatherings of yearlings from Wolf Mountain and fall cattle drives provide special challenges and rewards. Fall is a favorite time of year. The weather is very predictable and the turning colors are outstanding.
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