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 paired with a quiet gray horse—a bit pokey and far more interested in grazing than working. For the first few days, I found myself constantly redirecting him, trying to show him that our rides weren’t meant to be a moving buffet. But he had no reason to think I was any different from the riders before me, who had let him do as he pleased.
Then, on the third day, something changed. As I stood waiting to mount up, I noticed him watching me from across the barnyard. His eyes locked onto mine in recognition. In that moment, I could almost hear his thoughts: Oh, it’s her again. I kind of like her soft hands and fair way of communicating. His expression softened, as if connecting the dots. From that point on, everything shifted. He no longer tried to eat, he listened attentively, and he gave me the softest, most effortless lope whenever I asked. Our heart connection had been made, and it carried us through the rest of the retreat.
A Heart-Centered Horse Retreat Designed Around Connection
What makes Women of the Rancho’s heart-centered horse retreat different is that we don’t just ride—we create a partnership with our horses from day one. At Alisal Ranch, each rider is paired with a horse specifically chosen for their needs, ensuring the best possible experience. But instead of immediately jumping into the saddle, we take time to establish a heart connection first.
Unlike many retreats, Alisal Ranch welcomes our approach of beginning with our boots on the ground. We don’t just get on and go—we start at ground level, offering our horses the chance to truly see us, read our body language, and sense our energy. This foundation allows for a more intuitive, seamless partnership once we do ride.
Cultivating Heart Connection at the Retreat
This year, we’ll introduce an even deeper practice: a heart-based meditation before you even step into the saddle. Through this practice, we align our heart fields with our horses, inviting a level of connection where it feels as though your horse can anticipate your thoughts. Following the meditation, grooming becomes an act of giving—a way to nurture your horse and strengthen your bond before the first ride.
After grooming, we move to the big arena for hand-walking. This simple yet profound exercise allows your horse to walk beside you, not just physically but emotionally. It’s an opportunity to share your energy, emotions, and intentions. Horses are healers, and they respond deeply to open-hearted communication. The more you share, the more they listen and respond in kind.
A Journey Beyond the Arena
Some of my most cherished memories are of hand-walking my beloved mare, Lady. She would stay beside me, perfectly in sync, whether we were on the trail, in the arena, or simply meandering through the barnyard. That quiet, unspoken connection—built through mutual respect and presence—is exactly what I want to cultivate at Women of the Rancho.
By starting our retreat with this heart-centered connection, everything that follows—every ride, every moment in the saddle—is guided by trust and intuition. Your horse becomes more than just a mount; they become your partner in personal growth, healing, and transformation.
I invite you to join us this October for a truly heart-centered horse retreat—one where you’ll discover the profound magic that happens when you build a connection that lasts far beyond the final ride.
Happy trails, and I hope to see you in October at the Women of the Rancho Wellness Retreat!
