Missouri Foxtrot Ride in the Ozarks
Highlights
Enjoy 500 Acres of beautiful Missouri Ozark scenery and peaceful surroundings at a small family farm set on the spring-fed Meramec River in East Central Missouri. In the heart of cattle country, the surrounding countryside is also home to wild turkey, white-tailed deer and many other native Missouri animals. You’ll enjoy a wealth of cowboy activities to choose from and spend your time doing as much or as little as you prefer. Bring your own fishing pole and/or take the paddle boat out on the lake! Bass and trout flourish in the Meramec River and nearby streams. You have many trail riding options, plus roping lessons, horse-drawn hayrides or sleigh rides in the winter. Unwind in the evening with star gazing or moonlight activities by the campfire.
Missouri Horseback Riding
Your ride begins at your cabin door! Explore rivers, caves, forests and farmlands. At the ranch you'll find a herd of 30+ Foxtrotters, Tennessee Walkers, Quarter Horses and Draft Horses bred, raised and trained to provide guests with the finest riding opportunities. In addition, the "Big Girls," the Percheron draft horses, can be used for pulling the hayride wagon in the summer and sleigh rides in the winter.
Experience
Enjoy 500 Acres of beautiful Missouri Ozark scenery and peaceful surroundings at a small family farm set on the spring-fed Meramec River in East Central Missouri.
- You have many trail riding options, plus roping lessons, horse-drawn hayrides or sleigh rides in the winter.
- Ride Missouri Foxtrotters that are smooth, quick and sure-footed horses ready to handle the hilly rocky outlaw trails in style.
- Unwind in spacious 2 bedroom log cabin equipped with a full kitchen with views of the large lake from your porch.
- Bring your own fishing pole and/or take the paddle boat out on the lake
- If you like star gazing or moonlight activities by campfire, try the BBQ grill and fire pit.
- Enjoy a wealth of cowboy activities to choose from and spend your time doing as much or as little as you prefer.
Itinerary
In the afternoon you arrive at the 500-acre family-operated cattle and horse ranch. Meet your hosts and settle into your secluded log cabin or room. Take time to admire the view of the sparkling lake from the porch of your cabin.
Your dinner is served from an authentic chuck wagon while nearby musicians play Bluegrass music around the campfire. The evening ends with an old-fashioned hayride, behind a team of coal black Percheron draft horses, into the sunset.
The following days will offer a variety of riding excursions into the Meramec countryside. Several days will include a short morning transfer for horses and riders, giving you a wide range of trails to explore.
Note: Sample itinerary only. Upon your arrival your hosts will help you design a riding holiday that is right for you. You have many trail riding options, roping, horse-drawn hayrides or sleigh rides in the winter. In addition to riding there is hiking, bird watching or swimming in the nearby river.
The morning ride introduces you to the gait of the foxtrot horse so that you will enjoy a smooth ride across the ranch, returning for a cowboy lunch at the house.
After lunch it is back on the trail to explore rock bluffs decorated with drawings by the Osage Indians.
Note: Sample itinerary only. Upon your arrival your hosts will help you design a riding holiday that is right for you. You have many trail riding options, roping, horse-drawn hayrides or sleigh rides in the winter. In addition to riding there is hiking, bird watching or swimming in the nearby river.
Ride across country and over a ridge to a neighboring homestead that raises buffalo and other animals.
The host Fran will give you a tour of her farm, after which you will enjoy your lunch on the front porch of her log house while watching buffalo graze nearby.
A fast-paced foxtrot ride returns you in time for dinner.
Note: Sample itinerary only. Upon your arrival your hosts will help you design a riding holiday that is right for you. You have many trail riding options, roping, horse-drawn hayrides or sleigh rides in the winter. In addition to riding there is hiking, bird watching or swimming in the nearby river.
Time to Cowboy Up! You can help saddle and load your horse before heading to Blue Springs Ranch. From Blue Springs Ranch you can see some of the most spectacular lookouts over the Meramec River.
Your ride today will cover miles along river frontage and through farms, ranches and hardwood forests. You climb the landscape for impressive views from bluffs over looking the river. You will enjoy a saddlebag lunch overlooking the Meramec River. This is a challenging all-day ride that you will not want to miss.
Note: Sample itinerary only. Upon your arrival your hosts will help you design a riding holiday that is right for you. You have many trail riding options, roping, horse-drawn hayrides or sleigh rides in the winter. In addition to riding there is hiking, bird watching or swimming in the nearby river.
It is time to saddle and load up to head deeper into Ozark country for today’s ride. Hidden Trails will be unloading their horses at the Brazil Campground to ride the Berryman Trail. You will be riding switchbacks and thru thick stands of pine forest. You’ll enjoy your saddlebag lunch overlooking the forest.
Note: Sample itinerary only. Upon your arrival your hosts will help you design a riding holiday that is right for you. You have many trail riding options, roping, horse-drawn hayrides or sleigh rides in the winter. In addition to riding there is hiking, bird watching or swimming in the nearby river.
Transfer horses and riders to a completely different area: Dry Fork Creek. Ride on the Lenauer Farm, settled by German immigrants in the late 1800s. This unique farm still has huge stands of virgin timber though you will ride under huge stands of oak and maple and through pastures of cattle along Dry Fork Creek.
Let you horse gait back to the woods to a natural rock bridge, complete with a cave and spring-fed pool of water. This is where you will have lunch today.
Afterwards, a short ride takes you back to the ranch for the evening. Relax, fish, or reflect on the great day you've had.
Note: Sample itinerary only. Upon your arrival your hosts will help you design a riding holiday that is right for you. You have many trail riding options, roping, horse-drawn hayrides or sleigh rides in the winter. In addition to riding there is hiking, bird watching or swimming in the nearby river.
Departure after breakfast.
Note: Sample itinerary only. Upon your arrival your hosts will help you design a riding holiday that is right for you. You have many trail riding options, roping, horse-drawn hayrides or sleigh rides in the winter. In addition to riding there is hiking, bird watching or swimming in the nearby river.
RS Ranch
Your starting point is RS Ranch, a small family farm where the surrounding countryside is home to flora and fauna, rolling hills and interesting stops that include wineries, cave tours and antique shops. A stay here is rich in cowboy traditions, horsemanship and horse husbandry. Take a true horseback trail rides vacation in the Missouri Ozarks.
Accommodations
Come enjoy the Missouri Ozark scenery and peaceful surroundings from the spacious 2 bedroom cabin equipped with a full kitchen and stove, refrigerator, microwave oven, dishes, tableware, pans and cooking utensils. The Cabin-Bunkhouse was built in 2005 from cedar logs hauled in by a team of Percheron draft horses and constructed and decorated with a cowboy theme. Your surroundings will transform you to out west! There is a 6 person hot tub/spa pool to relax in when not riding. On cool evenings gather around the stone hearth, by the fireplace, made from local river rocks. Enjoy the view of our large lake from your porch, a very romantic setting for special occasions.
Map
FAQ
Transfers are not available for this trip. Best to rent a car from St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) and drive.
Airport: St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Distance to ranch from the airport: 146.5 km / 91 miles
Meals will not be offered in 2021. The cabin has a full kitchen.
There are many restaurants open, with dine-in and take-out within a few miles of the ranch! There is also an outside grill for guests to use.
There are many local restaurants in Bourbon nearby the ranch that your hosts can recommend for you or else you can bring groceries on your own and make meals in the kitchen of the cabin! Bourbon has a nice grocery & deli open till 9:00 P.M. Guests are welcome to bring their own alcohol if they wish.
Your mount will be selected with your own riding abilities in mind. Rides are adjusted to each individual's riding abilities for the riders, as well as the horses!
"Fox Trotting at its Finest," is what RS Ranch likes to call the special gaited horse rides they offer on their beautiful and healthy Missouri Foxtrotting Horses - they are smooth, quick, sure-footed and kind, able to handle the hilly and rocky 'outlaw trails' in style.
The ranch has a very special relationship with their herd of 30+ Foxtrotters, Tennessee Walkers, Quarter Horses and Draft Horses. They have bred, raised and trained them to provide guests with the finest riding opportunities.
In addition, the "Big Girls," their Percheron draft horses, can be used for pulling the hayride wagon in the summer and sleigh rides in the winter.
Terms
Deposit Payment
- A deposit of 25% of the total balance (50% for group bookings of 6+) with a minimum of US$350 per person is due at the time of booking (higher deposits are required for certain trips).
- The final balance is due 70 days prior to the departure date. If the booking is made within 70 days of departure the full amount is required at the time of booking.
- No deposit will be charged if Hidden Trails cannot confirm your trip. A full refund will be made in case they have to cancel your trip for any reason.
Once Hidden Trails receives your reservation, they will confirm availability. If there is availability, they will charge the pending payment to your credit card. Only once they have secured the deposit, will your reservation be confirmed to you in writing (e-mail). Your actual participation in the trip is not confirmed until Hidden Trails Ltd. has received all the signed booking and liability release forms.
Payment of the Balance
Once Hidden Trails has confirmed your trip (not at the time of submitting your reservation), they will process the payment due to your credit card. The deposit will be treated as part payment of the total amount due. If your reservation is made less than 70 days out, full payment is due at time of confirmation. After they have processed or received the deposit, you will receive a Final Invoice showing the total cost of your vacation and the balance owing. Hidden Trails will automatically process the final balance when it is due (70 days prior to arrival) on your submitted credit card unless you instruct us otherwise in due time. If the balance is not paid/ received 70 days prior to the date of departure, Hidden Trails Ltd. shall have the right to cancel the booking without further notice, and cancellation charges as set out below will apply.
If You Cancel Your Booking
If you find it necessary to cancel your booking, you must advise Hidden Trails Ltd. in writing, the letter is signed by the person who signed the original booking form. Cancellation charges will be calculated as follows (period before departure date within which written notice of cancellation is received):
- 71 days or more: deposit (deposits are non-refundable)
- 70-61 days: 65% of total price or deposit if higher
- Under 61 days: 100% of total balance
If cancellation falls within the terms of an insurance policy you may be able to claim for cancellation charges, therefore Hidden Trails highly recommends purchasing trip cancellation insurance. Insurance premiums will not be refundable.
If after acceptance of the booking you wish to alter the confirmed arrangements a minimum fee of US $75 per person for each change may be charged if such change is possible. If the alteration is less than 90 days prior to departure the cancellation charges shown above may be applied. Any changes to the original booking will not be effective until it is received and agreed in writing by Hidden Trails Ltd. Any additional costs imposed by the suppliers may also be charged.
