Horseback Riding Vacations in Nebraska

Nebraska: Adventure in the Great Plains

The state of Nebraska is located in the Midwest region of the United States. The capital of Nebraska is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha.

This state’s name comes from Native American words that mean "shallow water". The phrase refers to the Platte River, which runs through the state.

Nebraska has 3 major geographic regions: the Till Plains, the Great Plains and the Loes Plains.

The Dissected Till Plains cover the eastern quarter of Nebraska. When glaciers melted in this region at the end of the last Ice Age they left behind till, a mixture of sand, gravel, and boulders. Today the area has low hills and deposits of loess, which is windblown sediment.

The Great Plains spread across the rest of the state. This region is flat with a few canyons and valleys, as well as lakes and wetlands. Here is the state’s highest peak, Panorama Point.

Four-fifths of western Nebraska lies within the Great Plains region.

Central Nebraska boasts the largest expanse of sand dunes in North America. Called the Sand Hills, the dunes stretch for about 20,000 square miles.

The far northwest is home to the Badlands, where the wind has cut sandstone into weird, pointy, and even mushroom-like shapes.

Also known as the “Cornhusker State”, Nebraska is the third largest corn producer in the United States.

Thanks to modern agriculture, Nebraska farmers have transformed the Plains into a country full of ranches and farms.

Horse riding in Nebraska

If there is something that this place doesn’t lack is an endless number of trails which we can explore on horseback feeling part of that great mobilization of adventurers during the Gold Rush.

Riding through the vast meadows of the Great Plains, the spectacular rock formations in Panhandle and the impressive dunes in Sandhills is quite an adventure.

Take a trail in the Badlands and enjoy its immense skies and pine forests.

Stay in one of the many ranches offering guided Rides and farm-related activities. Work with the ranchers rounding up and moving cattle, or branding and sorting them.

You can also follow the Cowboy Trail, which stretches over 517 Km (321 miles) in northern Nebraska, along the old Chicago and Northwestern railroad.

Horse riding holiday proposals in Nebraska

Nebraska has multiple horse riding holiday options, for all riding levels. Its valleys are the best setting for the ride of your dreams.

There are endless riding opportunities here, although the terrain and the landscape of each ride will depend on the location of the ranch where you choose to stay.

Check the following list of some Nebraska guess ranches and their equestrian tourism offers.

Rowse's 1+1 Ranch

Rowse’s 1+1 Ranch is located in the heart of the Nebraska Sand Hills, the largest sand dune formation in North America. This region played a tremendous role in the history of this part of the country during the westward expansion in the 1800s.

This ranch was established to work the land, and hosts run an award-winning quarter horse breeding program. In this ranch, horses are not just part of their daily routine – horses mean the world to them.

Today, the Sandhills is among the most productive cattle ranching areas of the world and comprises roughly one-quarter of the state of Nebraska

The Rowse family is proud to be a part of the rugged American tradition that has carved out ranches in the Sandhills.

Ranch activities

You can participate in all the activities of the ranch, especially rides and cattle working, enjoying their fine horses.

You’ll be teamed up with a gentle, well-schooled Quarter Horse that will be yours for your stay as you complete the daily ranch work with the Rowses.

Depending on the time of year, you will learn to work, brand and sort cattle. Other activities include team penning and roping.

In this secluded patch of land, views are breathtaking and there’s a lot of hard work to do every day. However, here you forget about your everyday life, following the pace of a leisurely horseback ride in the surroundings.

Horseback riding at the Ranch

With 2,850 hectares (7,000 acres) of hills and valleys, these vast wide open spaces make it ideal for riding.

There is a lot of beauty in the landscape of the Sandhills, a region of mixed-grass prairie on grass-stabilized sand dunes in north-central Nebraska. It’s an intact natural habitat. The Sand hills sit atop the Ogallala Aquifer, thus both temporary and permanent shallow lakes are common in low-lying valleys among the grass-stabilized dunes prevalent here.

After the first horseback ride, Jerry will assess your riding skills. If Jerry considers you need more practice before trotting or cantering, he is willing to share his years of ranch experience and cowboy knowledge in 100% private lessons.

No prior riding experience is needed, but a good fitness condition is recommended.

For more information, go to their website: https://1plus1ranch.com.

Our Heritage Guest Ranch

Nestled in the foothills of the picturesque Pine Ridge of northwest Nebraska, Jean Norman provides unique recreational experiences on their family ranch.

Located next to Toadstool Park near Crawford, the ranch is surrounded by the Oglala National Grasslands, which enhance the beauty of its open spaces and unique geological formations.

Besides horse-related activities, the ranch offers photography workshops, train watching and fossil hunting, among others.

They also run tours to some local attractions, such as Scotts Bluff National Monument, Fort Robinson State Park or Toadstool Geological Park.

Equestrian Activities

You may bring your own horses to ride on the ranch and be involved in their ranch activities.

They have very nice horse facilities and 3,600 acres of private ground for riding.

You have the opportunity to join in on some of their everyday tasks like fixing fences, haying and calving if you wish.

On one of their typical tours, you’ll ride on the top of their land to the 11,000-year-old Paleo Indian Dig site. On a clear day, you will be able to see Harney Peak 193 km (120 miles) away in the Black Hills.

On the two rides they offer, the first night will be spent in one of their guest homes. The next day will be spent learning Natural Horsemanship and safety tips.

These are their two rides:

• Pioneer journeys: For 4 days, you will travel on horseback or on a horse-drawn wagon, will eat what pioneers used to eat and in the same way they did, enjoying some social events similar to the ones they knew during those days.
• Lakota journeys: A 6-day journey staying in typical Lakota tepees, which we have packed on our horses. You will learn about Lakota history, culture and spiritual beliefs, and also the plant and animal life in this area.

For more information, go to their website: ourheritageguestranch.com.

Double R Guest Ranch

This guest ranch is located in the heart of the Nebraska Sand Hills, 32 km (20 miles) north of Mullen. It is a land of spring-fed lakes and lush fields of open prairie.

Their hosts, Tony and Mary Jo, offer a variety of activities including hunting, fishing and stargazing.

They have two vacation properties available for rent, the Country Cabin and the Lake View House.

Once here, you can explore the highlands and the grassy, rolling sand dunes; watch the ducks and geese on their gorgeous spring-fed lakes and marshy flatlands that are home to a variety of birds and other wildlife.

Venture into this incredible territory to enjoy birding along the many trails or evergreen groves.

In addition, if you are keen on History, you can relive the life and history of the early pioneers in Nebraska.

Equestrian Activities

To enjoy horseback riding in the area, you may bring your own horse.

Nebraska Double R Guest Ranch offers horse boarding for a nominal fee.This includes the use of the corrals and grazing, if desired.

If you love photography, you can ride the hills of the tall grass meadows, in search of wild flowers and birds to photograph.

Ranch activities

You also have the opportunity to learn the daily tasks of American ranchers:

• Rounding up and moving cattle: It may take half an hour, or half a day, depending upon several factors. The cattle can be unpredictable.
• Checking windmills and fences: They are reviewed daily.
• Harvesting the hay and moving the bales: In July the meadows and some of the hills are harvested for hay. In autumn and winter the cattle are fed with hay and hay almost every day.
• Calving and feeding the cattle: This is one of the basic ranch activities that guests enjoy most.
• Vaccinating, testing and treating the cattle: Most of the time, the rancher will do his own veterinary work because of the great distance away from town.
• Branding calves: During May and June, while the calves are still small enough to handle, the babies are branded.

All these tasks will be carried out with your own horse, unless you have a special agreement with your hosts. With him, you can enjoy doing all these tasks just like old-time pioneers used to do.

If you are looking for peace and quiet, or an outdoor adventure, you will find it at this ranch.

For more information, go to their website: www.sandhilldoublerranch.com.

In the state of Nebraska you will find vast prairies in the east, stunning cliffs and peaks in the west and sand hills in the center. There are endless riding opportunities here. Discover them in one of Nebraska dude ranches and feel like a true cowboy.

Thinking about a horse riding holiday but don’t know how to book it?

Download our free eBook "How to plan your next horseback trip" and learn all you need to know when choosing the right holiday and outfitter for your next equestrian adventure.