Rope & Ride at the White Stallion Ranch With Your Grandchild
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At a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Take the reins as you set out out on low-key horseback trail rides to practice your horsemanship skills.
- Enjoy an Exhibition Ranch Rodeo, and learn about plants and animals at the nearby Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
- Far from the light pollution of any city, see millions of stars at an evening “Star Party,” and sing cowboy songs around the bonfire.
General Notes
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Ranch check-in from 3:00 p.m. If you arrive earlier in the day, you are welcome to participate in one of the 3:00 p.m. ranch activities. Walking up to 2 miles; mostly even, packed dirt terrain. Line dancing activity.
Afternoon: Program Registration: 5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will then view an introductory riding video in the theater. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. We will learn from our knowledgeable Group Leader and a series of local experts who will give presentations and lead supervised activities. We will spend most of our time on-site at White Stallion Ranch; transportation for any off site field trips will be via passenger vans. We will have meals in the ranch dining room or on the patio (weather permitting). Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At the Ranch.
Evening: Next, we’ll enjoy country-and-western line dance lessons taught by Ranch staff. It is not known exactly where line dancing originated, but many believe it developed from English country dances brought over to America by settlers. Since then, line dancing has been mixed with various styles of music. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Mounting, dismounting, and riding horses (mounting block available); riding about 5 miles; van transportation available for those who don’t wish to ride to breakfast. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; packed dirt, mostly even terrain.
Breakfast: At the Ranch.
Morning: First thing in the morning, join for a rock climbing class. (Limited to 6 people, available each morning.) Since there is limited space available for each activity, we’ll sign up with our Group Leader beforehand. After breakfast we'll meet the horses that we will be riding through the week. We will then set out on our first scenic trail ride. Next, we’ll watch a demonstration on “natural” horsemanship and learn about this effective technique for working with horses.
Lunch: At the ranch, dine inside or on the patio (depending on weather).
Afternoon: We’ll gather in our meeting room for a hands-on session learning to paint followed by a class on making windchimes.. Next, we’ll choose between a scenic slow ride or cattle sorting. We’ll then have a target shooting class with instruction from ranch staff.
Dinner: At the Ranch.
Evening: We’ll be joined by a local expert who will give us a presentation about the “critters” that live in this desert environment. We’ll also have an opportunity to hold some.
Activity note: Mounting, dismounting, and riding horses (mounting block available); riding several miles. Walking up to 1 mile; mostly even, packed dirt terrain.
Breakfast: At the Ranch. or Trailside cookout.
Morning: First thing in the morning, join for a rock climbing class. (Limited to 6 people, available each morning.) Since there is limited space available for each activity, we’ll sign up with our Group Leader beforehand. Early before breakfast, we’ll walk to the stables to meet our horses. The Ranch horses are friendly and usually gather round the corral fence for attention. We’ll have the same horses all week and get to know them. We’ll then mount our horses and set out on a trail ride to a beautiful location where we’ll have riding instruction, learn about the area, and have breakfast. We’ll then ride back to the ranch. We’ll choose from several hands-on activities. Since there is limited space available for each activity, we’ll sign up with our Group Leader beforehand. We will gather in the Longhorn Room to do some hands on Leather Tooling.
Lunch: At the Ranch.
Afternoon: We’ll meet in the Longhorn Room where a local expert will teach us about desert animal behavior. We’ll then choose another of the Ranch’s hands-on activities.
Dinner: At the Ranch.
Evening: We’ll enjoy a “Wild West Show” on the Ranch patio.
Activity note: Getting in/out of a van; driving about 60 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Walking and standing during field trips; paved and unpaved terrain. Mounting, dismounting, and riding horses (mounting block available). Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; packed dirt, mostly even terrain.
Breakfast: At the Ranch.
Morning: First thing in the morning, join for a rock climbing class. (Limited to 6 people, available each morning.) Since there is limited space available for each activity, we’ll sign up with our Group Leader beforehand. After breakfast we’ll hop into a van and ride to Tucson for a field trip to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. A docent will lead our exploration of the exhibits, followed by independent time to see what interests each of us most. The museum exhibits include more than 300 live animal species such as mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters, hawks, bighorn sheep, and hummingbirds in their natural habitats. We’ll walk on paths through landscapes more more than 1,300 species of plants indigenous to the Sonoran Desert region including desert grasslands, cactus, and desert gardens. Returning to the Ranch, we’ll have some time for swimming or relaxing before lunch.
Lunch: At the Ranch.
Afternoon: We’ll choose from a couple ranch activities this afternoon. We’ll then walk to the arena for the Exhibition Ranch Rodeo performed by the White Stallion Ranch staff. The weekly exhibition rodeo has been a Ranch tradition for almost 50 years.
Dinner: At the Ranch.
Evening: We’ll walk out to a nearby area where we’ll be able to view the heavens just as the early Native American residents of this area did. Far away from city lights, the stars, moon, and planets are visible with amazing clarity.
Activity note: Mounting, dismounting, and riding horses (mounting block available). Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; packed dirt, mostly even terrain. Materials provided for art class.
Breakfast: At the Ranch.
Morning: First thing in the morning, join for a rock climbing class. (Limited to 6 people, available each morning.) Since there is limited space available for each activity, we’ll sign up with our Group Leader beforehand. After breakfast, we’ll learn some desert survival techniques to see if we have what it takes to live in this unique landscape.
Lunch: At the Ranch.
Afternoon: Next, we’ll have a hands-on art class (materials provided) led by an expert instructor. Using watercolors and ink, we’ll create a little memento to take home with us. We’ll then have some more time to spend with our horses, choosing between a slow, fast trail ride or team penning.
Dinner: At the Ranch. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening: We’ll gather around a bonfire for a performance by a talented cowboy singer. Then prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Ranch check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast: At the Ranch. This concludes our program.
Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!