Book a Stay Now
Petting zoo, use of canoe/kayaks/bikes/sleds included in price of stay.We also welcome visitors who don't stay here (by appointment).
Live Music
Crooner Roger plans to perform impromptu concerts in our pasture arena throughout 2023. If it gains popularity we may make it a regular thing. We'll try to give as much advance notice as possible on our Facebook page. We will also send out an email and/or text message to folks interested in being informed of changes to the concert schedule. If you want to get these notifications contact us and ask to be placed on the notification list.If the weather is poor we can move the concert to our indoor arena.
Book a Stay Now
We rent two apartments inside the equestrian center.Apt 3 - 3BR, 2BA, kitchen, din/liv rm.
(1300 sqft, sleeps 8).
Apt 2 - 2BR, 2BA, kitchen, din/liv rm, and a family room.
(1300 sqft, sleeps 6).
Both apts have views of Mississipi river sunsets, pastures and indoor riding arena.
Pure, Great Tasting Well Water
Our tap water far exceeds standards. The annual test on 12/5/22 revealed no bacteria and less than 1 mg/L of nitrate. It doesn't get much better than that. The limit for bottled drinking water is 10 mg/L.Don't take my word for it: 18 miles away - Dubuque IA won a World Competition for best tasting water in 1997.
Horseback Rides & Petting Zoo
Bring your kids. We have Horses, a mini horse, goats, dogs, a mini pig, chickens, ducks, guinea pigs. (200 lb. wt. limit).(No Trail Rides).
Gift Certificates
Print yourself.Non-binding.
No discount.
Just something to give someone special to get them excited about coming.
Sunset
Snow
Logo
Border
Liability Release
To go into horse enclosures or to rent bikes/kayaks/canoes we require a signed liability release: Liability Release FormFollow Sabina on TikTok
Click the link above to see clips of our critters doing the things they do around the ranch.
Thousands of lilly pad flowers bloom mid July - mid Sept. See them up close by Canoe or Kayak. Use of canoe/kayaks is free for resort guests.
Bullseye, our miniature horse, is great with kids.
We may allow more advanced riders to ride two horses at a time, on a case by case basis. A wrangler will give instruction or will lead the horse if the rider seems to need assistance.
If you are an animal lover this is a place you will feel comfortable. Our horses can become unicorns for a small fee.
Our buckskin looks just like the animated movie star Spirit.
Arrive before sunset to enjoy watching horses graze as the sun sets over the Mississippi river.
Wraingler Roger attempts to be cool, but misses the mark. Proper dapping technique is demonstrated by the young rider.
We'll help you set up and capture great pictures of your kids.
We don't do trail rides. Our focus is on children and beginners.
Moms and Dads can ride too.
The rest of the group can take pictures and pet the miniature horse, 2 goats, 3 dogs, and mini pig while they wait for their turn to ride. After the riding is done, we'll introduce you to the rest of the petting zoo: 6 other horses, a miniature pig, 6 chickens, 3 ducks, 9 guinea pigs, and a baby snapping turtle.
Safety is our first priority, followed closely by our second priority - fun.
Wraingler Roger takes a selfie.
Floyd Wesley Burton, my 90 year old Dad, helped on my grandfather's, 13,500 acre ranch near Vaughn New Mexico. Photo taken circa 1949. Dad spent a lot of time on horseback before he joined the Air Force. We had a few head of cattle on our 20 acre ranch but we loved riding allover our neighbor's 1,000 acre property in Laytonville California. I traded my horse for a Marine Corps fighter jet and got away from ranching for a spell. Now, I'm trying to help city folk get a feel for the wild west in a controlled and safe environment. I'm having a lot of fun doing it too. Dad was the youngest of 13 kids and my Mom, Elinor Glynn (Tilly) Burton, was the oldest of 13 kids so I have a lot of cousins scattered all over. I try to welcome visitors as I would distant cousins. - Wraingler Roger.
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of our family visits to the Neckels' ranch in Laytonville California. Pictured here are part of my family and part of our friends' family. From left to right:
Roger (me - #3 of 5 Burton Boys)
Billy (#1 of 4 Neckels kids)
Eva Neckels (Momma Neckels)
Shawn (#5 of 5 Burton Boys) RIP
Elinor Burton (my Mom) RIP
Brenda (#3 of4 Neckels kids)
Floyd Burton (my Dad)
King (The Austrailian Shephard who found his way home) RIP
Rosalie (#2 of 4 Neckels kids) RIP
David Neckels (#4 of 4 Neckels kids)
Not pictured are: Glenn (#1 of 5 Burton Boys) RIP
Tommy (#2 of 5 Burton Boys)
David Burton (#4 of 5 Burton Boys)
Cecil Neckels (Neckels Dad)
Eva would play piano and we'd all sing songs together. My mom loved to sing. Her CB radio handle was "Songbird." She led singing in our little country Baptist church. We would often get up to the front of the church as a family and sing together - Classics like "The old Rugged Cross," and "I'm So Glad I'm a part of the Family of God." I can still see and hear my mom singing those hymns in front of all 35 of us in our little country church. I remember pastor Jimmy Warren and pastor Eddie Holcomb. Pastor Jimmy's son became pastor of a big church in Lake Forest California.
Billy Neckels became a helicopter pilot in the Army and then flew logs out of remote places for lumber. I hope he gives me a ride sometime. Billy's dad, Cecil, flew a Piper Cub out of his ranch. He landed and took off on a hillside with a 5 degree slope. He took off downhill and landed uphill. He never gave me a ride. I guess I should have told him I wanted one. I flew a Cessna 172 to Laytonville once and gave my mom a ride in my airplane. It was always on her bucket list so, we checked that one off before she went to heaven. I think I learned to fly because my Mom always wanted to learn to fly. Through me, I hope she did. She is probably also the reason I learned to play guitar and love singing. Now I want to reclaim my childhood, the best part of my life. I hope my family, my old friends, my new friends, and friends I've yet to meet, will visit and help me remember simpler times.