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!

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!

Guaranteed - everyone will have a good time!

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!

Round penning is direct one-to-one, precise communication with horses, using very specific cues and instructions. When round penning is done correctly, the horse will be quieter, more compliant, and a much more willing partner in other training activities. Round penning can be an invaluable tool in developing a happier horse -- and a happier rider!

You will learn how to effectively communicate with your horse in the round pen to establish respect for your leadership position.

Your instructor will discuss some of the fundamental techniques for effective round penning using Natural Horsemanship principles. Then, these round pen techniques are demonstrated in an actual round pen session.

You will also learn about round pen body language, “volume thinking,” controlling the horse’s feet, direction, inside and outside turns, “eye changes,” the four signs of compliance, latch-on, controlling the hindquarters, building the “come here” cue, and much more! It's a real art to do this well, but you'll love learning about it and watching all the things the horses and their trainer can accomplish together.

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.

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!

After the demonstration, you'll go for a scenic trail ride, viewing the beautiful mountains and cacti that surround the White Stallion Ranch.

There will 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.

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.

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.