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Missouri

Horsemanship: Basics and Beyond in the Ozarks

Program No. 23158RJ
Saddle up and get ready to ride! Learn about equine behavior, grooming, saddling and riding a horse as you enjoy the tranquil forests of the Ozark Mountains.

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Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

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At a Glance

Journey to the foothills of the Ozarks for a week-long immersion into the basics of horsemanship. Experience the bond between human and horse for the week as you learn animal science basics, grooming, saddling, western riding style and enjoy ranch life. The experience wouldn’t be complete without a four-mile bluff ride followed by a picnic lunch, seeing a farrier demonstration. Spend an afternoon getting to know your fellow Road Scholars during a tasting and exploration at a locally owned winery, and delight in cowboy campfires to round out each evening.
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
I exercise for fun, not to win contests. I like to explore at an easy pace, stopping to snap photos and smell the roses. Varied terrain doesn’t scare me, but let’s not do anything too extreme.
Micro Group
Micro Group
These adventures feature our smallest group size, with 12 participants or fewer.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Groom, saddle and feed your horse all week as you experience a special relationship with your new friend and develop your equine behavior knowledge.
  • Depending on your skill, learn the basics of Western Riding, from tack and groundwork to neck reining — and even take on an obstacle course to show what you have learned!
  • Enjoy cowboy life with a barn dance, campfires, and a farrier demonstration.

General Notes

The Retreat Difference: This is a Road Scholar Retreat program. Our Retreat programs offer a tranquil respite from daily life in locales that lend themselves to outdoor exploration, reflection, or study. The accommodations may be basic in nature, but the facilities offer communal spaces to gather and to relax. During the week, opportunities usually exist for some combination of light exercise, a locally sourced meal, or evening entertainment. This is a Micro Group program, with 12 or fewer participants.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
How to Think Like a Horse: The Essential Handbook for Understanding Why Horses Do What They Do
by Cherry Hill
Roadside Geology of Missouri
by Charles G. Spencer
Washington County, Missouri: including its History, the Horine Cemetery, the Hughes Mountain State Natural Area, and More
by Sharon Clyde
Missouri Geology: Three Billion Years of Volcanoes, Seas, Sediments, and Erosion
by A.G. Unklesbay and Jarry D. Vineyard





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.