Photo: Concho Hills Guest RanchWorking ranch
Magdalena, New Mexico
Concho Hills Guest Ranch
Small horsemanship ranch near Magdalena where guests may help neighbors work cattle.
Ranch work available
- Season
- Year-round
- Ages
- Guests 12+
- Guests
- Up to 14 guests in seven guest rooms
- Elevation
- 7,400 feet
What you'll do
- First-time riding guests begin with a vaquero horsemanship clinic, then open-range riding
- Gathers, brandings, and cow, fence and water checks with neighboring ranches when conditions allow
- Roping, whip cracking, atlatl, shooting and rodeo outings
When to go
- Open year-round
- First-time riding guests stay at least four nights, and bookings need at least a week's notice
Who it's for
- Riders 12 and older who want to build horsemanship; helmets under 16
- Small groups: seven rooms and up to 14 guests
- Non-riders who come for ranch life, history, photography, birding, hunting or the quiet of southwestern New Mexico
Good to know
- Rides are split by ability, and riders are assessed before they go out on the open range
- The ranch has no herd for guests to work, so cattle work depends on neighbors and can't be scheduled or guaranteed
- Riders are limited to 230 lb
- Private lessons, firearms instruction, ammunition and gratuities cost extra
- Bring your own alcohol, but no riding within 8 hours of drinking
Getting there
- Albuquerque, 136 miles away.
- Cattle work
- Horsemanship
- Sport shooting
- Trail riding
Photos from the ranch
Photos: Concho Hills Guest Ranch, shown with their permission.
Ride for the brand. No branding required.
- Burned on
- Right hip on cattle, right hip on horses
- On record
- New Mexico Livestock Board brand search (opens in a new tab)To find it:
- Brand Master Number: 80097