Longhorn Cattle Drives

(Please check our upcoming events for a listing of current cattle drives, cowboy school, cowgirl weekends, and other special ranch activities. Ranch Experience Vacations are available April—October.)

For our heartier guests that want a truly rustic experience, we invite you to join us as we mount up on horseback to drive about ninety head of longhorn cattle to seasonal pasture.

Historically, longhorns were driven from Texas to the railheads in Kansas for market in the 1880’s. In this part of Kansas, the longhorns were driven up the Western Trail to Dodge City, one of the best known cattle towns of that era.

Many people who come on the cattle drives enjoy the essence of re-living those days by pushing our longhorns over the open prairie.

Guests will learn to ride, camp under the stars, move cattle, and eat from the chuck wagon-authentic cattle drive at Moore Longhorn Ranch, Bucklin, Kansas. In April and October, we have a three-day cattle drive, moving the longhorns about thirty-five miles. In July and September, we drive them about twelve miles to new pasture one day and camp out. The second day we leave the cattle at the pasture and ride horses back to the ranch.

The first day, we spend the morning acquainting guests with their mount. The horse will be the responsibility of the guest for the entire drive. We give riding instruction as necessary, and head out for a short ride to make sure everyone is comfortable.

After rounding up the cattle, we are off on the trail. Guests are invited to participate at any level they feel comfortable—from pushing the cattle at the back of the herd, to turning cattle at the sides of the herd. Some may be happy just riding along in the chuckwagon.

Nancy cooks all the meals from the chuckwagon. Supper and breakfast are prepared at the camp with dutch ovens, with meals like stew, cornbread, cobbler, brisket, potatoes, biscuits, breakfast burritos, and biscuits and gravy.

Meals on the cattle drive are prepared over the campfire and in dutch ovens and kettles on this authentic cattle drive at Moore Longhorn Ranch in Bucklin, Kansas. After a long day in the saddle and supper has been served, we may target shoot or listen to some western entertainment. You might also enjoy just sitting on a bale of hay, looking at the stars in the clear sky and hearing the coyotes in the distance after a long day on the trail.

We sleep out under the stars in cowboy bedrolls which are made of canvas cover with a flap to cover the face in case of moisture, a pad, sleeping bag and blankets inside the canvas.

Target practice or songs around the campfire are typical evening activities during the cattle drives at Moore Longhorn Ranch in Bucklin, Kansas.

Some guests opt to sleep in cowboy teepees instead of outside.

Everyone pitches in to help on the drive from catching horses in the morning, saddling, making camp and driving the cattle.

Moore Ranch

Longhorn Cattle Drives

Many people who come on the cattle drives enjoy the essence of re-living those days by pushing our longhorns over the open prairie.

It is a fun experience with lots of fresh air.