In the Rocky Mountains you feel like you're in an old western.

We have all seen them in movies, at least as children. But those landscapes and atmospheres can still be found in some areas of the western United States where people continue to live like in the Far West, in solitary ranches surrounded by thousands of hectares of prairies.

Thinking of going to the American West and not visiting a ranch is a contradiction, especially for those who love horses: in any ranch, there is always a horse because without the horse, the West would not exist.

In the Rocky Mountains region of Montana, one of the largest states in the United States (the fourth largest), there are seven Indian reservations. You can start by visiting the National Bison Range, a nature reserve in the Flathead Reservation, where 350 bison are protected, and in the Crow Reservation, the monument commemorating the historic Battle of Little Bighorn in June 1876, won by the Sioux. Not far away, in the Pryor Mountains, at the border with Wyoming, 120 Mustang horses live, divided into small herds, free on sixteen thousand hectares of land.

But it's not enough. To understand the spirit of the West, at the very least you need to learn how to use a lasso. And if you are able to make some decent throws and have established a strong bond with the horse, then you can participate in a real rodeo (yes, even guests). Modern cowboys, despite our hyperconnected and technological present, do not abandon traditions, but gladly pass them on to their students (beginning with children, who will have a blast), while still indulging in luxuries like boots, buckles, and silver jewelry (which can be purchased at the ranch's boutique).

And then, above all, in this estate you can spend entire days in contact with seventy Quarter Horses, the quintessential American horses, trained to handle entire herds of cattle but also to immediately bond with their inseparable cowboys. Here they still exist, and they are the real deal. This is the setting of The Ranch at Rock Creek, with guest rooms and hotel-style services, near Missoula, a one-hour flight from Seattle. In the surrounding landscape, only rivers, lakes, and mountains for miles and miles. Here the rule is to be outdoors, discover the work that goes on around you, choose what to do for the day. Clay pigeon shooting or with the bow, fly fishing, hunting for bears and deer (no worries, they are just dummies, not real animals), skiing, walks.

You will sleep in rooms decorated with great attention to detail, with silk sheets and handmade quilts. Situated on a small hill, Granite Lodge is the heart of the ranch where you can have breakfast, lunch, and play bowling or billiards. The menu features meats from animals raised in large pastures and vegetables from the organic garden.

Here you can see first-hand ghost towns that speak of extraordinary epics, ancient agricultural traditions, and battles that have made history on a continent with grand ideals. You meet characters who seem to have stepped out of a western movie but are real people. Here, a promise made with a handshake still holds more weight than a signed contract. Smiles are rare but those few are very genuine.

Big Sky – that's what this area of Montana is called – deserves a thorough visit for all nature and the noble animal lovers who have made history alongside humans: the horse!
 

For those who desire an experience where the horse is the protagonist, Elena Bajona, an equine ethologist specialized in wild horses, offers the opportunity to discover corners of the world where you can live adventures and emotions of extraordinary authenticity. Her particular professional skills and her enthusiastic passion will accompany you on journeys dedicated to horses in every aspect: you will visit breeding farms and excellent training centers, stay in the best ranches of the great West, breathe the atmosphere of historic Argentine haciendas, exploring the most remote places in the world, where wild horses live.

For all our horse travel experiences, we collaborate with Animantia, an international professional educational polo dedicated to horses, founded by Elena Bajona.