COWBOY WAY
AN EXCLUSIVE HANDS-ON HORSEMANSHIP PROGRAM
FEBRUARY 8-14, 2026
Join us for a six-night exclusive horsemanship workshop and retreat with the team at Kay El Bar Guest Ranch. During this special program, led by True Ranch Collection’s Chief of Ranch Operations and lifelong dude rancher, Ted Harvey, you’ll improve your horsemanship skills in and out of the saddle with guided instructional rides, and time spent in the arena and corral. Improve your skills and deepen your equine connection with this exclusive program!
PROGRAM DETAILS
EXPERIENCE
Improve your horsemanship with special rides in the arena and out on the trail during the Cowboy Way:
Learn how to catch, groom and saddle your horse
Improve your riding during guided instructional time in the arena and on the trail
Learn trailering and hauling skills through hands-on demonstrations
Cattle work
Group rodeo with awards
Additional entertainment and nightly activities including a complimentary tequila tasting
LODGING
Lodging will be in Kay El Bar’s historic guest rooms, with King and Twin bedding arrangements available.
MEALS
All meals will be included for this special retreat, ranging from lunch out on the trail to family-style dinners in Kay El Bar’s historic dining room.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR, TED HARVEY
In 1981, as a young teenager, Ted and his family traveled to Cody, Wyoming, for a dude ranch vacation. Arriving at Valley Ranch, a large ranch south of Cody, Ted became fascinated with the ranching lifestyle. Staying at the ranch lodge, he became accustomed to the aroma, feel and sensations of western living. The horseback riding was exceptional; well-equipped for family vacations and novice riders. “Back then, I don’t remember much in the way of instruction,” says Ted. “They showed us how to go, stop and turn and that was about it. In the lodge each evening at dinner there was a sign-up sheet for riding the next day. You could choose between slow, intermediate or advanced. I went on every advanced ride for the two weeks we were there and was hooked. I knew then that dude ranching was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” Ted’s experience set the course for his future vocation and instilled his love for horses, and dude ranching.
Over the next 40 years Ted worked on dude ranches in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. He got his first job as head wrangler at the age of 20 at Black Mountain Ranch, in McCoy, Colorado, followed by operations manager, general manager and even a couple years on cattle ranches in New Mexico. Today, Ted is proud to be part of The True Ranch Collection as Chief of Ranch Operations for their ranch properties in Arizona, Wyoming and Montana. Ted is pleased to partner with The Ture Ranch Collection and Kay El Bar Guest Ranch, to share some of his experience, with our guests, in our Cowboy Way program.
RATES
2026 Special Package Cost:
Single Occupancy: $2250 per person
Double Occupancy: $1990 per person
The above rates are subject to taxes and 15% ranch service fee.
This six-night exclusive retreat includes all lodging, meals, horseback riding and activities as outlined in the sample schedule below.
Guests must be at least 14 years old and physically able to mount/dismount from the ground to participate.
Space is limited, please call for information and reservations at: 928-684-7593 or email us at info@kayelbar.com.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
SUNDAY
Check in and tour the ranch. Join us for for a Welcome Reception with complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres, followed by a patio cookout for dinner.
MONDAY
After breakfast, you’ll work with our team during a orientation session with your horse. You’ll catch your own horse and learn how to groom and saddle them. Next, a riding orientation and practice in the arena will precede a ride out on the trail. After lunch by the pool, we’ll take an afternoon trail ride and you’ll help unsaddle and feed. End the evening with happy hour, dinner and a campfire with s’mores.
TUESDAY
You’ll start the day by catching your horse and tacking up for a breakfast ride. In the afternoon, we’ll try out some arena games, learning some barrel racing, pole bending and general riding skills to improve your horsemanship. After unsaddling and feeding the horses, join us for a roping demonstration and then a tequila tasting in the lodge before dinner.
WEDNESDAY
Before breakfast, you’ll get your horse ready in preparation of an all-day ride with a sack lunch out on the trail. Dinner will be a hearty steak cookout with an evening of line dancing.
THURSDAY
Before breakfast, catch and saddle your horse, then head out to the arena for some cattle work. We’ll work on some sorting and team penning, then have a clinic on loading and hauling livestock with some trailer hook-up and driving tips. After lunch, you can either take a fast ride out on the trail or a trip into Wickenburg to check out the shops and museums.
FRIDAY
As the week winds down, we’ll show off our horsemanship skills during a ranch rodeo. Practice and a trail ride in the morning will prepare you for a rodeo including barrel racing, pole bending, a stake race, egg toss and team penning. After happy hour and dinner we’ll have a rodeo awards ceremony in the lodge.
SATURDAY
After breakfast, check-out is 11 a.m. We’ll enjoy swapping stories about everything we learned this week!