I felt like I needed to invite the horse out for a beer, or at least get him some oats. When we got back to the stables, I dismounted and patted the horse on its side. I thought about turning the horse around and jumping again. Up we went, off all four feet momentarily. We were almost back at the stables when we had to cross some standing water, and my horse stalled for a second until I gave an few nudges. The roller coaster feeling did come back, and I enjoyed it as much as the first time. Even though I had one hand on the reigns and my other hand resting at my side, I easily kept my balance. I don’t know what provoked it, but my horse pulled up and gave a little buck. I let my mind wander for a few minutes, and my horse threw me for a quick surprise. On the ride back down, I started planning on when I’d make my next ride. “You get to see the old, real Colorado.”įrom the highest point on the property, you can see the Elkhead Mountains in Steamboat, the Mosquito Range in Breckenridge or the Maroon Bells in Aspen. “It’s like Eagle County was 40 years ago,” said Jouflas. He gets here 20 minutes before the ceremony and finds out we are a gun club, and asks, ‘Hey, can I borrow a double-barrel shotgun?’ I said ‘Sure,’ but I was kind of curious what he wanted.’ He had his daughter on one arm and the shotgun on the other as he walked down the isle.”Īs our ride progressed, I noticed the an abundance of wildlife and when we passed by the old log cabins that had been inhabited by homesteaders from Kansas, I really felt like I’d been transported back in time. “We had a guy one time, his daughter was getting married here, and he hadn’t been here. “The joke is we do shotgun weddings,” said ranch owner James Jouflas, whose family used to herd sheep on the land. While the Lazy-J hosts about one wedding a week, they don’t need to worry about me coming by in a tuxedo, that is unless there happens to be another mix of activities at the ranch. There is one part of the ranch I don’t plan on using anytime soon ” the banquet facilities. Chances are, though, if I could successfully ride a horse, I’d be able to catch a fish, especially on a part of the river that has enough fish to be any amateur’s best friend.Īnd the ranch will stay open year-round for the first time this year, with snowmobiling and an outdoor hockey rink. But I bet the fish are praying that I don’t get on the 4.5-mile stretch of private water on the Eagle River. In the fall, there are game hunts for elk, deer, mountain lions and bears, all of which can need not worry about me. The five-stand sporting clay shooting range and 10-station, 100-target shooting course may be graced with my presence. While I didn’t have time to try my hand at any of the other activities on the ranch, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll go back.

For those looking for a big taste of ranch life, there are cattle drives.Īnd if you happened to be like me, and want to the scenic ride, there are one-, two- and three-hour morning and afternoon trips, as well as sunset and wildlife rides.

Anyone wanting to get a good mix of the outdoors can go on a horse ride and fly-fishing trip. Mycoskie told me the pond was stocked with fish, and that in addition to the regular horseback rides, the ranch offers a wide array of unique rides. We stopped at a pond and Mycoskie led her horse in the water for a drink. I bounced up and down and listened to the leather saddle creak and the intermittent clop of the horse’s hoofs against the ground. Mycoskie showed me a large ponderosa pine, and I dismounted for a second to get a whiff of the vanilla bark.Īfter I got back on my horse, I decided to ride with my eyes closed for a few seconds. The smell of sage filled the air, and I grabbed a handful as my horse brushed me against a large bush. I relaxed and let my horse follow the other horses while I soaked up the surroundings. Horses are big on self-preservation, and won’t do anything to endanger themselves, which usually translates into not harming the rider. Much like flying a large jet, you can go on autopilot if you want. I wasn’t able to see my face, but I could feel the smile spanning from ear to ear.Īfter my first gallop, I felt comfortable, and didn’t clutch the reigns as tight the next time I gave the horse a good kick. I couldn’t have been going more than 10 mph, but my stomach led me to believe that I was on a roller coaster. When the horses ahead of me picked up some speed, I gave an extra nudge with my feet, and my horse went from a walk to a gallop.

Lazy j ranch