2025 Experience Schedule
Snow to Sunshine Escape
Kay El Bar Ranch, Wickenburg AZ
February 17th – 21st, 2025
Join Elli for this 4-day / 5-night escape to warm Arizona!
Ride under the watchful (and proverbial) eyes of the big Saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert, experience the thrill of working cattle, and improve your riding even in winter!
Kay El Bar Ranch is so historic that it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s. It offers a cozy atmosphere, family-style meals, and a variety of rooms—plus a swimming pool and hot tub!
Other fun activities include sightseeing & shopping in the high-desert community of Wickenburg, where horsey lifestyle and art come together; yoga; painting; falconry demonstration or try your hand at roping a straw bale and other yard games!
Trails & Tales Experience
Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab, UT
May 4th – 9th, 2025
This fun horsey getaway focuses on trail riding and cow working in the stunning setting of the red rocks. Red Cliffs Ranch & Lodge is a place like no other, offering comfy cabins right along the majestic Colorado River, 14 miles away from the hustle & bustle of town.
Two evening escapes will take us further into the magical landscape in & around Moab.
Bring your horse or lease one of the well-trained & reliable ranch horses – or do both!
No prior cow working experience is needed.
Fire & Ice Adventure
Iceland – July 12th – 19th, 2025
Embark on this horse lover’s dream trip to the land of fire and ice with your experienced leader Elli!
Horses, hot springs & sightseeing are the highlights of this exclusive, behind-the-scenes insider experience of Iceland. Picture yourself riding a cute Icelandic horse, tölting over hill & dale, and marveling at the magical, mystical landscape on this island. Don’t miss out!
No prior gaited horse experience is needed. Advanced riders only: Expect to canter on uneven ground, but trust that the horses and guides will take the best care of you!
Swiss Alpine Ride
Engadine Valley, Switzerland
August 17th – 23rd, 2025
This is a “full circle” moment for Elli and she can’t wait to have you along for the ride:
Explore the stunning high alpine Engadin Valley, where Elli went to college, taught as a ski instructor, and first discovered Natural Horsemanship!
You will get to:
- ~ Ride a Swiss Mountain Horse (locally known as “Freiberger”)
- ~ Experience the beauty of the Swiss Alps
- ~ Stay at historic hotels
- ~ Ride a funicular to the top of a mountain
- ~ Visit a traditional cheese-making hut at the base of a glacier
- ~ Explore St.Moritz on your day off, also known as being “Top of the World”
- ~ and, of course: taste aaaaaaall the cheese & chocolate your heart desires !!!
This event includes 4 days of riding, 1 day off, and 6 nights.
Our horse ranch, the Engadin River Ranch has horses for intermediate as well as advanced riders. The ranch offers a limited number of Western saddles, in addition to English saddles.
We will be walking, trotting & cantering through the Engadin. The trails are safe, however we will travel high above the valley at times.
There are also some steep sections where we will get off and lead our horses, physical fitness for hiking is required.
The elevation that we will be riding & sleeping at is +/- 6000ft.
Rocky Mountain Retreat
Pagosa Springs, CO
Picture this…3 to 5 days of horsemanship, adventures, and fun with your horse and your friends!
I would love to invite you to my home in this magical place of Pagosa Springs. Bring your horse and your friends! Tell me about your dream vacation. Add plenty of horsemanship to grow your Savvy. Let me show you my favorite secret spots for trail rides in the Rocky Mountains. And don’t forget to relax at the World’s Deepest Hot Springs et voilà—I present Your Private Horsemanship Retreat!
That didn’t tickle your fantasies? Well, how about some hot-air ballooning? Stand-up paddling? Cow working? Micro-Breweries? Great Sand Dunes…? Want to bring your significant other who likes to mountain bike, play golf, or fish?
Oh, you don’t want to haul your horse here? Don’t worry, ask me about the availability of a lease horse!
Contact me for more information! to find out how we can plan the most amazing Rocky Mountain Retreat just for you—with me in Pagosa Springs! Available May through September.