After his talk, he'll take you on a tour of the ranch, including behind-the-scenes areas that most people don't get to see, including the tack room, feed room and the all-important kitchen!Lunch: Lunch in the Ranch's dining hall. Most of the time, they serve delicious homemade cookies for dessert - everyone makes sure they get one or two of them at the end of the meal. By the way, the food is scrumptious!Afternoon: After lunch, everyone will go to the corrals to meet the horses. You'll learn about the different breeds of horses and see their many different colorations and markings.
You'll also receive general safety instructions for holding, leading and grooming a horse. Part of this session will be hands-on.
The horses are so much fun to watch! In the cool of the early morning and evening hours, they romp and play in the corrals behind the casitas. If you go up and stand by the corral fence, several horses will come up to you, wanting to be patted and talked to. They're really delightful creatures, and respond to your attention with obvious requests for more of the same!
You'll then go to the movie theater to watch an instructional riding video, followed by a scenic trail ride, where you'll have a chance to apply some of the lessons you've observed.Dinner: Dinner will be on the patioEvening: After dinner, you'll be treated to country western dance lessons. Even if you haven't danced before, you'll find that this is a joyful, companionable experience that will allow you to meet more Ranch staff, other guests at the Ranch, and experience a great form of exercise.
Guaranteed - everyone will have a good time!Lodging: White Stallion RanchMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A cowboy breakfast cookout will be a great early morning experience - there's no food better than that cooked in the great out-of-doors!Morning: After riding back to the Ranch, there will be a one and a half hour clinic where you can either just observe or try your hand with a lasso. Kids and adults will have a grand time with this experience!Lunch: Lunch in the dining hallAfternoon: After lunch, you'll have an opportunity to see how the ranch animals (including the long-horned cattle!) are cared for. You'll learn about feeding them, grooming them, shoeing the horses, and lots more - and get a chance to help groom and feed them as well. You'll also learn how to put the saddle and bridle on.
You'll then have some free time, followed by the Prickly Pear Margarita hay wagon ride (families included!)Dinner: Dinner on the patioEvening: This evening, you're in for a real treat. Almost everyone has looked at the stars and the moon (and planets, too, if they knew what they were looking at!), and sometimes it's difficult to see those things well if there are city lights making it so bright that you can't observe as you'd like to.
At White Stallion Ranch, there aren't any "city lights" to get in your way. As soon as it gets dark, you'll walk out to a selected area where you'll be able to view the heavens just as the early Native American residents of this desert setting did - the stars, moon and planets will all stand out, and there will be more stars visible than you could possibly imagine existed.
Adults and children will have an opportunity to view the magnificence through telescopes as well as binoculars (we'd encourage you to bring some; even inexpensive ones make viewing more pleasurable). A local astronomer will tell you about what you're seeing, how and when it's best to look for certain stars and planets, and how to expand the experience if you choose to do so after returning to your homes.Lodging: White Stallion RanchMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Natural horsemanship is the philosophy of working with horses by appealing to their instincts. It involves communication techniques derived from wild horse observation in order to build a partnership that closely resembles the relationships that exist between horses.
Horses are social herd animals, evolved for social interaction and the ability to escape predators. The horse has a highly developed communication system practiced primarily through body language. It is possible for humans to learn to use body language to communicate with the horse. Horses use ear position, head position, speed of movement, threatening gestures, showing of teeth and swinging of hips, and many other gestures to communicate. They are quick to escalate a behavior if early warnings are not heeded. Similarly, in natural horsemanship, the handler or trainer uses body language along with other forms of gentle pressure with increasing escalation to get the horse to respond.
Horses are quick to form a relationship of respect with humans who treat them in this fashion. The object is for the horse to be calm and feel safe throughout the training process; the horse that feels this way with his handler is quick to bond with that person.
The human must be knowledgeable of the horse's natural instincts and communication system, and use this knowledge in their work with the horse. The results can be remarkable!Lunch: Lunch in the dining hallAfternoon: In the afternoon, you'll have a chance to learn about "those who have vanished," the Hohokam Indians. Your instructor, Arlo Ogden, will show you some examples of the tools they used and talk about what we know about these ancient people.
There will then be some free time for a swim or some games - or even a nap! Ranch personnel will spend time with the young people, and grandparents can relax as they choose for awhile.
Afterwards, there will be a late-afternoon trail ride.Dinner: Dinner on the patioEvening: After dinner, there will be a "Critter Show" featuring some of the unusual living creatures that have adapted to the Sonora Desert climate. Most of them can be held (including the tarantula!) and enjoyed. The presenter will tell you what the critter had to do to be able to live with such temperature extremes and so little water.Lodging: White Stallion RanchMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The facility exhibits more than 300 live animal species, including mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters, hawks, bighorn sheep and hummingbirds in natural habitats.
Paths lead visitors through landscapes containing more than 1,300 species of plants indigenous to the Sonoran Desert region, including desert grasslands, cactus and desert gardens.
A pollination garden complex shows interactions between insects, birds, bats and plants, and a fenceless enclosure allows javelinas to explore hillsides and take mud baths.
A simulated walk-through limestone cave features a collection of regional gems and minerals. A display about how the planet has evolved with explanations of erosion, volcanic and seismic activity and plate tectonics also is featured.
This is an absolutely incredible place to visit; kids and adults will be fascinated by the variety of exhibits and things to do.
Following the visit, the vans will travel back to the Ranch for lunch.Lunch: Lunch in the dining hall at the RanchAfternoon: In the afternoon, there will be some time to learn some western-style crafts, play some games and learn more about horses.
Children and adults can do these things, but if the adults want some time to relax, Ranch personnel will work with the young people.
Make some things to take home to show to friends and family, including some leather-craft and a watercolor and ink art piece.Dinner: Farewell Dinner in the dining hall.Evening: After it gets dark, everyone will go outside and enjoy a real western bonfire, hear a cowboy singer present some songs (and you can sing along, too). There will be time for some socializing and a program closing afterwards.Lodging: White Stallion RanchMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner