A rider on a black horse beside rounded sandstone boulders under a blue sky.Photo: Concho Hills Guest Ranch
Working 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+

What you'll do

  • Every stay starts 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 guests stay at least four nights, and bookings need 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

Good to know

  • 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
  • Cattle work
  • Horsemanship
  • Sport shooting
  • Trail riding