I’ve always wanted to stay at a proper Dude Ranch and see the landscape so familiar from classic Westerns and adverts.

Somebody who’s been there, done it and got the t-shirt is Vanessa Jackman, a photographer and (travel) writer who captures your imagination with a double dose for the senses. She even suggest a playlist of basically anything by Glen Campbell (By the Time I get to Phoenix, Wichita Lineman, Rhinestone Cowboy) and a dress-code so you won’t be frowned upon (Jeans, R.M. Williams boots and cowboy hats. The more denim, the better).

Below is an excerpt of her stay at the White Stallion Ranch in Tuscon, Arizona.

The first ride gave us the chance to familiarise ourselves with our horses, the Western style of riding and breathe in the exquisite beauty of the 3,000 acre property owned by the True Family. The Sonoran desert landscape truly is breathtaking: Big blue skies contrast against the soft brown and beige tones of the arid desert floor, abundant cacti (including the magnificent Saguaro cactus with its almost humanlike characteristics) punctuate the landscape as far as the eye can see, longhorn cattle poke lazily about in the scrub keeping a watchful eye on the horses as they pass, and in the distance the rugged peaks of the Tucson mountains rise majestically. It is not hard to understand why dozens of movies, commercials and stills have been shot at the White Stallion Ranch over the years: it is the unspoilt terrain of my wistful childhood dreams.

If your appetite is whet read on here.

Enjoy and happy Friday!

Photography | Vanessa Jackman
More information | White Stallion Ranch