34 APRIL 2024 W hen I was a little girl growing up in New York, the closest I ever got to being a cowgirl was watching my mom try to lasso a taxicab. I still remember singing Home, Home on the Range, but we city slickers living in the concrete jungle only dreamed of a place where the deer and the antelope play. Who would have thought that one day, I would be sitting tall in the saddle learning how to rope and ride, reminiscent of Billy Crystal and Bruno Kirby in the iconic film City Slickers . One of my more memorable adventures on an Arizona highway was a trip to Rancho De Los Caballeros in Wickenburg, where I got to pretend to be Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane. There are lots of options for all ages, whether you are a nature lover or looking for a more heart-pumping activity. Guests can enjoy a scenic one or two-hour morning or afternoon ride with an experienced wrangler, or a sunset cookout ride. Now, if you are like me and my crew and looking for more adventure, you can take your cowboy or girl dreams to new heights by learning to rope and steer the cattle. We signed up for Team Penning, and I quickly discovered that it was anything but a leisurely stroll on a horse. This was about skill, horsemanship, teamwork and good, old-fashioned competition. You and your riding partners work together to wrangle up headstrong cows that are going every which way – other than the way you want them to go – to get to the other end of the corral. The goal is to do this as fast as you can, or at least faster than the other team because you are on a time clock. On our first try, the “Phoenix Brunettes” – feeling a little cocky because we had home-field advantage – ran out the clock, whereas the other team, the “Native New Yorkers,” penned their cows in just 36 seconds. It was humbling and somewhat embarrassing, but then again, have you ever watched a New Yorker hail a cab in the rain? We tried our hands at roping, which is more difficult than it looks in the movies. We quickly discovered the wrangler’s life is hard work, and we were happy to dust off our boots at lunchtime to enjoy a hearty meal. I had a chance to mingle with some other guests and find out why they opted to spend their vacation the cowboy way. The overwhelming response was the tranquility of the desert and a chance to take time away from a busy lifestyle. Those sentiments today are the foundation of how the ranch started years ago. Rancho De Los Caballeros has welcomed guests since 1948 and is now a full-service resort with a championship golf course, tennis court, spa and even summer camp for kids. As modern as the ranch has become, it’s never lost the philosophy or tradition of Western life and hospitality. You can ride or hike all week and never see the same trail twice, but what you will see is the spectacular flora and fauna that blossoms under an endless blue sky and sunsets, which are a kaleidoscope of the warmest hues on the color wheel – a great escape just off an Arizona highway. Learn how to cowboy at this Arizona ranch Robin is the host and executive producer of the Arizona Highways Television , Saturdays and Sundays on CBS. BY ROBIN SEWELL Rancho De Los Caballeros is a full-service resort with horseback riding, a championship golf course, tennis court, spa and a summer camp for kids. FHA Loans Construction Loans Private Money Loans Commercial Loans VA Loans Investor Loans HELOC's Jumbo Loans Conventional Loans Bridge Loans Portfolio Loans Bank Statement Loans From first time homebuyers to seasoned real estate investors, High Place Mortgage has to the tools and expertise to assist with your financing goals in 2024 highplacemortgage.com | 602.463.3780 | 3609 N 44th St. Phoenix, AZ 85018 NMLS #2408347 BK #1041294 A r c a d i a ’ s o m e t o w n M o r t g a g e L e n d e r