You don't have to be an expert rider to belong here. Whether you haven't been in the saddle for decades or you've never ridden at all, Women of the Rancho is designed to meet you exactly where you are — and take you somewhere you won't forget.
You don't have to be an expert rider to belong here. Whether you haven't been in the saddle for decades or you've never ridden at all, Women of the Rancho is designed to meet you exactly where you are — and take you somewhere you won't forget.
Are you considering joining us this October at Alisal Ranch? I’d love to introduce myself and share what makes our retreat with horses so special. My name is Janet Solie and I’ve been hosting these retreats for ten years—this upcoming gathering will be our eleventh. Over the years, I’ve gained valuable insights, both from the saddle and from life’s winding paths. Why I Host This Retreat: ...
Welcome to Women of the Rancho, a women’s retreat with trail riding at its heart—and connection as its foundation. From the moment you arrive, everything we do is about building trust: between you and your horse, and among the amazing women sharing this experience. Over the years, I’ve been to plenty of retreats, workshops, and events, and I noticed something missing: time. Time to settle in, ...
This year Women of the Rancho will offer a truly unique heart-centered horse retreat—one that goes beyond simply riding and mindfulness. Here, your experience will begin with forming a deep heart connection with your horse, a bond that will guide every ride and every moment throughout the retreat. A Moment of Awakening At last year’s Women of the Rancho Wellness Retreat at Alisal Ranch, I was ...
Hello 2025! With just one week left in the first month of the New Year, it feels like six months have passed. For over 10 years, I have guided women on a journey of personal growth through horse retreats both in the Colorado Rockies and more recently in the Santa Ynez Valley at Alisal Ranch, outside of Solvang, California. This past Santa Ana wind and fire ...
Our first annual women’s wellness retreat in California has ended. We said goodbye after our breakfast ride to the historic ranch house for a cookout. On the way back, along the lake we saw a pair of bald eagles, Fred and Ethyl. We spotted them at the top of a tree in a fortress of a nest overlooking the lake. Just up the trail from the eagles was a ...
Choosing a California wellness retreat location for my newest adventure—Women of the Rancho—was not easy. I am passionate about connecting women with horses as a way to soothe, heal and teach self-care techniques, and I didn’t feel I could do that at an an ordinary resort. No. The first thing I required was an excellent equestrian program. The horses need to be well-trained and properly cared ...
You might be wondering why horseback riding retreats for women are such a big deal. Why spend all that money on yourself? What benefit can a retreat like that provide versus a regular vacation? I’ll try to explain why Women of the Rancho (a women’s retreat with horses) might be exactly what you need. I’ll start off with my story. Years ago, I booked a family ...
As I planned the Women of the Rancho wellness riding retreat I couldn’t help but look back to the Women in the Rockies retreat that I created and hosted for 7 years in Colorado. What were the best parts of Women in the Rockies? And the bigger question, knowing what the best parts were, what will the Women of the Rancho program contain? And could Women ...