Things to do before the Flying U

After talking to the owner of the Ranch I realized that cattle ranching was as important as the horses. The people who work there love horses, it seems as though it is more than a job. These are some initial story ideas.

Story concept 1 for The Flying U Guest Ranch:

A Day in the Life: The life of a cowboy or cowgirl has been consistently dramatized over the last several decades. Movies depict beautiful sunrises, cowbells rung to call everyone to meals, leisurely trail rides through sinuous mountain paths, and sleeping next to campfires that crackle and pop through the night. In reality, life on a working ranch is hard work, and though there are certainly enjoyable perks to living in the country, there are also considerable hardships.

The Flying U Ranch in the southern Cariboo Region is on a beautiful stretch of land – more than three hundred acres of lush grass, rolling hills, and rocky mountainsides. The entrance to the ranch is a solid gate that bares the Flying U brand, and a crushed gravel drive that leads up to the farmhouse. There is a barn with twelve stalls, as well as four arenas, a round pen, and several miles of trails wound throughout the property. Life on the ranch is never without work. While guests are enjoying a relaxing ride on their horse through the woods Erica is keeping the ranch running.

Simultaneous parallel: Guests VS Ranchers

The Mornings/Afternoons/Evenings: Horses/Cows feeding times? Types of Feed? Amount of feed? When horses are sick? Cleaning the stalls? Exercise Horses? Rodeos? Evening feedings? Putting horseshoes on the horses? Where do the cows graze? How do you keep track of the cows? Preparation of Meals? Preparing the cabins? Fixing Fences? Breeding animals? Calving season? Closing the Ranch for the winter? Activities in the winter?

Story concept 2 for The Flying U Guest Ranch:


Last of the Old Time Cowboys: Working cowboys live as genuine legends who rode through a golden moment in history. As a child I dreamed of cowgirls and horses and riding off into the sunset but for those people who grew up in the city that life was just a fantasy. A shiny pair of boots, a finely shaped Stetson and a pearl-snap Western cut shirt was the uniform of the cowboy and a whip and spurs were his tools.

While these things may be relics of the past the cowboy still lives on and you can find them at the Flying U Guest Ranch. They’re hands off approach to riding gives you a feeling of freedom. When asking for advice on how to ride that answer is Just get on your horse and say Giddyup. They know that deep down we are all coyboys.

What are the horse fantasies of the guests VS the reality of todays cowboy?