This story is sponsored by DudeRanch.com

Suffering from equinophobia (fear of horses), I knew I had to take on this dude ranch assignment.

The fear was unbased and a bit irrational: I never got thrown off a horse, had never even been on a horse, actually, but I had heard stories — Uncle Charlie got kicked in the head by Trigger and was just never the same since; the neighbor’s little girl broke her arm during a pony trail ride.

Stories, all ending in not-so-favorable results. Combine that with acrophobia (fear of heights), and horse riding was buried at the bottom of my “To Do” list.

I arrived at Drowsy Water Ranch (altitude 8,200 feet) in Granby, Colorado, nestled on 640 acres of wooded backcountry near the Arapaho National Forest, with my head spinning from the lack of oxygen and a full-blown migraine brewing at the base of my neck.

I was cordially met by co-owner Gretta, decked out in her cowgirl best (bandana, checkered shirt, denim skirt and boots) as she walked me, the token City Slicker (flowery scarf, sweater, chino pants and open-toed sandals) to my no-frills cabin. It was clean, comfortable, and spacious—the cabin was big enough to sleep a family of six—and had a real wood-burning fireplace in the main living room that I actually used on a chilly June night.

Make sure to stop in downtown Granby on the way for sodas or adult beverages to stock the in-room mini-fridge; beverage choices at the ranch are limited to water, lemonade and iced tea.

The main activity is obviously riding—morning and afternoon trail rides—as well as instruction in the main arena, all led by experienced wranglers whose instruction runs the gamut from teaching first-time riders how to mount a horse to cattle round-ups with seasoned cowboys.  By far, the most memorable trail ride was riding the meandering mountain path through fragrant sage brush that opened to a stunning vista of the Continental Divide beneath an endless ceiling of Colorado sky.

By the end of the week’s riding program, even first-time riders will be confident enough to go from trotting their horse (two-beat gait) to loping (a faster, three-beat gait). I was loping by Day 3 with some fear and no real injuries, save a broken crotch and very tired legs.

(Bring lots of Aleve and soak in the on-site hot tub.) It’s also a good idea to pack your own riding boots (rental boots are available at the ranch for a fee), cowboy hat, durable rain gear, and light-weight, layerable clothing that can get dirty. And don’t forget the sunscreen.

Non-riders can choose from a variety of activities such as river rafting down the Colorado (price included in rate fee), fishing (fly-casting instruction is available), swimming in the heated pool, golfing at nearby courses, guided hikes on nearby trails, hayrides, old-fashioned hoedowns, or just sitting on the cabin porch with a good book.

Eating is also sport here: When we weren’t riding, we were at the feeding trough (dining hall), feasting on copious amounts of home-cooked meals.

Drowsy Water Ranch is a great, all-inclusive travel deal for any family or group of friends looking for a unique, rough-n-tumble vacation to get away from the noise of life—there are no TVs and cell reception is limited (Yee-hah!).

The owners—Ken, Randy Sue, Justin, Gretta and Ryan Fosha—have been running the ranch for more than 30 years and pride themselves on running an affordable dude ranch experience that’s laid-back, fun and family-friendly.  So, happy trails, partner…see you at the ranch.