Women's Rustic Retreat - May 8-10

For those who love horses and who might not be very experienced... or have any experience at all, we invite you to Riding 4 Life Ranch, in Oliver, BC to see what horses can teach us about ourselves!

Join us for a grounded and truly wholesome weekend of hands on learning and self discovery designed specifically for those with little to no riding experience. Explore the mind, body, and soul of horsemanship with our herd of gentle giants, led by a Certified Master Instructor and Cultivating Safe Spaces facilitator, Leann Manuel.

Riding 4 Life was born out of Leann's realization that most of her successes in life have directly resulted from the many lessons she learned from horses.

"Horsemanship demands our complete participation – BODY, MIND, and SOUL - and as humans, we can’t just 'whisper' our way through it. In fact, I still cringe whenever I hear the term ‘horse whisperer’. It conjures enchanted and unlikely notions of a mystical experience with horses made complete only by the latest magical stick that serves as a Rosetta stone like talisman. While great tools and equipment are definitely worthwhile, they are all worthless until you come back down to earth and get a handle on the most important resource you already have – YOU!"

"Riding 4 Life wasn’t just born out of the realization of where my successes had come from. It was also born out of my desire to give back in a meaningful way. The horses of my teen years are largely responsible for who I am becoming today. It’s fair to say that horses rescued me from soul crushing trauma. While I may have still lived without their grounding influence, I highly doubt I’d be growing and thriving the way I am today without them. And while I am very much fulfilled when I can serve my human clients, I don’t do it primarily for them. I do it to honour the horses of my childhood, and of the future, and all the ways they've supported me in BODY, MIND, and SOUL!"

Reserve your spot here:

https://www.cognitoforms.com/Riding4Life1/WomensRusticRetreat

Number of spots: 8-10

Price:

$1,150+gst - shared standard room

$1,350+gst - private standard room

$950+gst - no accommodation

Meals included:

Friday & Saturday dinner

Saturday & Sunday lunch

Breakfast available at the hotel

Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages

Retreat Schedule:

Friday May 8th

• 3pm Check in at the Oliver Coast Hotel

• 4pm Meet at the Ranch (transportation to and from hotel can be arranged)

• Opening circle

• Meet the herd

• Grazing dinner & social

Saturday May 9th

• Breakfast provided by the hotel

• 9am Morning routines at the Ranch

• Horsemanship Demonstration

• Groundwork session with the herd

• 12:30pm Lunch served at the Ranch

• Horsemanship Demonstration

• Feel exercise

• Mounted session

• Reflection time & circle

• Dinner

• Song catching around the fire

Sunday May 10th

• Breakfast provided by the hotel

• 9am Morning routine

• Final Horsemanship session

• Lunch

• Closing circle

Packing list:

Long pants and long sleeves... They don't need to be denim necessarily but fabric suitable for saddle time and some ranch chores is recommended.

Sweaters and light jackets... While the South Okanagan can be quite mild and sunny, this time of year we do still get some damp days with some wind. Our horsemanship sessions can move under cover but the Ranch is definitely still an outdoor venue!

Hats and gloves... Some folks may want to keep the sun out of their eyes and the dirt out from under their nails.

Boots for the most part... They don't need to be a traditional cowboy type boot but they do need a stiff sole, ankle support, and at least a slight heel. A Blundstone type boot is excellent or a basic hiking boot with minimal tread works well too.

***Absolutely no soft, easily slipped on/off, or open toe footwear is permitted near the horses.

If you'd like to wear a helmet for mounted sessions we have several loaners available.

Weight limitations:

Our rider weight limit is 250 lbs or 113 kgs. However, this is a guideline and depends on factors such as rider fitness, height, and riding experience. An experienced, balanced rider puts far less strain on a horse than someone new to riding.

We are always concerned with the comfort and long-term health of our clients and our horses. Since horses also come in all shapes and sizes, not all horses can carry the same weight. Please keep these factors in mind when booking.

While we do our best to accommodate all clients, we reserve the right to arrange an alternate time or cancel a booking if we do not have a suitable horse available for you. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation with this policy.