Cowboy Academies
Learn real ranch skills on this 20,000 acre working cattle ranch
Upcoming V6 Cowboy Academies
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![V6 Dude Ranch California Cattle Drive]()
APRIL 7-11, 2025
SOLD OUT
Learn real ranch skills with coaching from professional cowboys and cowgirls, and explore the beauty of the V6 Ranch at the peak of spring.
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Oct 15-19, 2025
On beautiful fall days take learn ranch skills like gathering and sorting cattle to roping, ranch obstacles courses and more. Go head to head for a chance to win a beautiful belt buckle.
V6 Ranch Cowboy Academies offer riders a true working ranch experience, designed to help improve your horsemanship and working knowledge of cattle and ranch skills.
What to expect
On these fun-filled rides, you'll have the opportunity to take scenic trail rides and learn a wide variety of ranch skills from gathering and sorting cattle to roping, ranch obstacles courses and more. Bring your own horse or ride one of our experienced V6 Ranch Horses.
At the end of each Cowboy Academy guests put their skills to the test in a fun and lighthearted competition. The champions win beautiful belt buckle and bragging rights for life!
Accommodation
This ride is based out of Blue Oak Camp, at the southernmost entrance to the V6 Ranch. Guest have shared access to our large Roundup Room, bathrooms, showers, campfire and more.
RV or tent camping: Bring your camper or tent and find the perfect campsite! 30 water hookups are available on a first come first served basis. No additional charge.
Parkfield Lodge: Kick up your boots in true comfort in these spacious, fully modern, private rooms. Located 2.7 miles from Blue Oak Camp. Pricing varies.
Wrangler Row Glamping Tents: Camping at its very finest right in Blue Oak Camp! These tents have canvas walls and stunning wood ceilings. Each tent has a fully made king and twin bed. $125/night plus tax.
V6 Bunkhouse: Cozy bedrooms located in the middle of Blue Oak Camp. Each room has two fully made twin beds. $125/night plus tax.
Food
Nothing compliments a long day in the saddle like a delicious, home cooked meal. All meals are prepared from scratch by the V6 Ranch Crew and Varian Family using the freshest of ingredients. Enjoy California ranch favorites like marinated top-sirloin cooked over an oak bbq, smoky cheese enchiladas, and fresh salads.
Kick off each day with scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, homefries, fresh-baked pastries, and fruit. For lunch enjoy sandwiches on locally baked bread with hand-sliced cold cuts and vegetables, delicious salads, freshly baked cookies and more.
Sample itinerary
Day 1:
3:00pm: Official ride start with scenic trail ride
6:30pm: Dinner and get acquainted at the V6 Blue Oak Horse Camp
Day 2,3,4:
8:00am: Breakfast and coffee in the Roundup Room.
9:00am: Practice your roping skills on the roping dummy’s with coaching from the V6 Ranch Crew.
9:30am: Saddle up and choose your adventure! Head out for a scenic trail ride, gather and sort cattle, practice your roping, or test your horse out on our ranch obstacle course.
12am: Break for lunch in the Roundup Room before heading out an choosing your adventure again!
5pm: Unsaddle and enjoy some R&R in camp.
6:30pm: Appetizers in the Roundup Room followed by dinner, dessert and music around the campfire from a local rancher.
Day 5:
8:00am: Breakfast at the Roundup Room
9:00am: Scenic Trail Ride
12:00pm: Say our good-byes until next time!
Keep in mind that schedules may vary significantly.
Pricing
$1,1o0 per person for guests bringing their own horse
$1,500 per person for guests riding a V6 Ranch Horse
$500 deposit due at signup
Gratuity not included.
Includes: All meals, all activities and instruction, RV or tent camping (water hookups available on first come first served basis), horse corrals (by reservation).
Glamping Tents, Bunkhouse Rooms and Lodge Rooms are not included.
“I discovered my "Inner Cowboy" several years ago and the V6 Ranch was the perfect place for me to experience the cowboy ranch life. As I've gained skills, (riding, roping, herding) the wranglers have been patient, encouraging and good humored. What I love about the V6 ranch is that it is a family, multigenerational run ranch, and the family is just terrific. Kinda inspirational really.”
- Cy L.
The stars aligned in 2007 and I found myself traveling to the V6 Ranch… with my horse in tow, to attend the very first Cowboy Academy. The beauty of the landscape, the peace and solitude, the sunrises and sunsets, the horses and cattle, and the friends who become family all make up what this place is. Oh, and did I mention the amazing food!
~ Anne K.
“After my first Cowboy Academy at V6 Ranch, I was hooked. I immediately felt like I was more than a guest… like a family member… From the delicious food, to the horses and activities, I can help but keep coming back.”
~ Nicole P.
More info
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Fill out the form here to request a registration form. We are a family-run team and are frequently working on the ranch, so it can take a few days to receive a registration form. Requests will be processed in order of receipt.
Fill out and sign the V6 Ranch registration form and V6 Ranch Release. A $500 deposit must be received within seven days to hold your reservation. If a deposit is not received within seven days, your spot will be forfeited.
Your balance is due no later than 30 days prior to your arrival.
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Cancellation policy:
Due to the small group sizes on V6 Ranch Rides, cancelations have a significant impact on our business and we must adhere to a strict cancellation policy. Please reach out to us at info@v6ranch.com to make any modifications to your reservation.
Reservations may be canceled or moved up to 60 days prior to your arrival less a 10% processing fee.
Reservations can only be moved one time.
Reservations that have been moved to a different date are non-refundable and may incur an additional fee as costs rise.
Moving a reservation within 60 days of the arrival date results in a $200 processing fee and the new date becomes non-refundable.
Reservations that are canceled within 60 days of your arrival date result in a forfeited deposit.
There are no refunds for reservations that are canceled within 30 days of your arrival date.
Reservations can not be moved within 30 days of your arrival date.
Guests that depart prior to the end of a scheduled reservation are responsible for the total original stay amount.
We strongly recommend purchasing trip cancellation insurance.
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V6 Ranch Cowboy Academies are open to guests of all riding skill levels.
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Kids ages 7 and up are welcome.
For the safety of our horses we unfortunately cannot accommodate guests over 250 lbs.
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V6 Cowboy Academies have a group size of approximately 50 guests.
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V6 Ranch Horses are available on a first come first served basis.
If you would prefer to bring your own horse stalls are available by reservation. Horses must be in good shape and have shoes as terrain can be steep and rocky.
Learn more about our V6 Ranch Horses here.
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V6 ranch rides and events are held rain or shine
On a ranch in California, there is no better day than a rainy day! The ranch is BEAUTIFUL in the rain and we will do our best to ride around the rain.
Develop your ranch skills on this working cattle ranch, with coaching from working cowboys.