Hey Friends,
The riding stable at the foot of Mt. Princeton in Nathrop, Colorado has been a part of Chaffee County since 1973. Native area resident and proprietor Ralph Ogden started the business at age 17.
Unique small businesses like this are few and far between. The stables contribute to the economy of Chaffee County and Southern Colorado in many ways by offering creative recreation opportunities and drawing travelers from all over Colorado, most states across the country and many countries around the world.
The level of commitment required to keep these stables running is beyond description. It takes someone like me who has known Ralph his entire life to fully understand what he, his family and dedicated employees go through to keep the business afloat. It takes a true love of horses and a lifestyle that very few are willing to preserve in a world dominated by a high-tech environment..
Small entrepreneurial businesses like this have been hit the hardest because of their reliance on tourism and the independent structure of the business. Feeding 85 head of horses during the slow part of the season is an enormous expense!
Thank you for reading,
Mike & Karen M.B. Cowan
Saguache, CO
