Ultimate Old West: The White Stallion Ranch Experience

Program Registration and Orientation: 5:00-6:30 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby 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. Remember to bring your name-tag (sent previously). Orientation. 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. Most days, we will have a choice of ranch activities led by staff that take place simultaneously. What happens each day depends on the weather, so this schedule should be considered provisional. Welcome Reception: 6:30 p.m. In the bar, we’ll be treated to complimentary appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages; other beverages available for purchase. 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.

At 7:00 p.m. we’ll have a buffet with a choice of entrées, a variety of side dishes, and dessert plus several non-alcoholic beverage choices; other beverages available for purchase.

After dinner we’ll enjoy country-and-western line dance lessons by Ranch staff. We don’t know 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. We’ll also sign up for the ranch activities of our choice tomorrow.

In the Ranch’s Sunrise Room, the breakfast buffet also offers a cooked-to-order menu with several beverage choices. Depending on the weather, dine inside or on the patio.

We’ll walk to the stables and meet our horses. The Ranch horses are extremely friendly; if you stand by the corral fence, they’ll usually gather round vying for attention. We’ll each have the same horses all week and get to know them. Ranch Staff will take us on a scenic introductory trail ride around the property this morning. Next, we will have the option to go on a fast ride or participate in cattle sorting.

At the ranch, the daily lunch buffet offers a choice of entrées, side dishes, desserts and non-alcoholic beverages; other beverages available for purchase. Depending on the weather, dine inside or on the patio.

We will have some independent time in the early afternoon before gathering for a class on natural horsemanship as well as riding tips that will help prepare us for the week ahead. We’ll then have a chance to join different activities with instruction from Ranch Staff. Cocktail hour before dinner.

Ranch buffet.

We’ll be joined by a local expert who will introduce us to some of the “critters” that live in the area. We’ll have an opportunity to meet some of the unique creatures that have adapted to their arid desert home. We’ll also sign up for the ranch activities of our choice tomorrow.

Trail ride breakfast. We’ll ride our horses to a beautiful location for our trail ride breakfast (van transportation is also available). We’ll have an al fresco cookout and ride back to the ranch after breakfast.

After returning to the ranch, we'll gather in our meeting room for a leather tooling class led by a local expert.

Ranch buffet.

After lunch we'll have a class with a ranch expert. Later in the afternoon we'll have the chance choose an additional ranch activity.

Ranch buffet.

On the front patio, we’ll enjoy a Wild West Show by a local performer. We’ll also sign up for the ranch activities of our choice tomorrow.

Ranch buffet.

We’ll have a choice of four trail rides this morning. More experienced riders may choose a fast-paced flat trail ride or a fast-paced mountain trail ride with loping. Those who are beginners may choose between a slow mountain trail ride or a slow flat trail ride. After returning to the Ranch, we’ll have a nature walk with a local expert who is an experienced desert forager and herbalist. We will learn about and observe some desert flora and fauna. This is an easy, flat hike, surrounded by several varieties of cacti and other rugged desert plants.

Ranch buffet.

This afternoon we'll enjoy an Art Class with Ute Vaughn, where you can try your hand at simple art using water colors and ink. Even if you’ve never drawn or painted, you can succeed in producing a painting that will bring you fond memories of your ranch stay. We’ll then go 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.

Ranch buffet.

After dinner, we will learn about animal behavior with a ranch expert. We’ll also sign up for the ranch activities of our choice tomorrow.

Ranch buffet.

We’ll start the day with a scenic trail ride. After we return, White Stallion Ranch’s owner, Russell True, or a member of his family will tell us about the Ranch’s history, how his family established it, and how his children are preparing themselves to run it in the future. We’ll then have a behind-the-scenes exploration of the operational facilities, including areas that guests don’t get to see, including the tack room, feed room, and the all-important kitchen.

Ranch buffet.

This afternoon we will choose between another scenic trail ride or cattle sorting. Later in the afternoon we'll have additional activities to choose from, including team penning, a fast-paced scenic ride, or archery taught by a ranch expert.

Ranch buffet. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

We’ll gather around the bonfire for a performance by a talented cowboy singer.

Ranch buffet. This concludes our program.

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!