Now is a perfect time to check your calendar and plan to attend "The All Women's Horsemanship Retreat" scheduled for June 27-30 (Friday-Monday) and July 18-21 (Friday-Monday).

Our "All Women's Horsemanship Retreat" is a little more casual than other events that we host here at Thacher. It is a weekend where women with the same interest and love for horses are able to be pampered and enjoy each others company as they spend hours with their equine partners. Participants arrive Friday afternoon, anytime after 2:00 p.m. to get their horses and themselves settled. We officially begin dinner at 5:30 p.m. with orientation immediately following. Participants introduce themselves and share where they are on their horsemanship journey. Participants stay right here in the dorms (2 twin beds per dorm) and enjoy three meals a day in the schools dining hall. Richard takes the information that he gleans during orientation to shape the weekend. There will be some horse socializing exercises and a trail ride on Saturday as well as cattle working (playing) on Sunday. 

Richard is very good at taking riders from various levels and keeping them progressing with their horsemanship skills. Depending on the weather you may have the afternoon off to take a nap, enjoy the pool, tour the town of Ojai, or watch Richard work "one on one" with a participant's horse in the sun - while you possibly spectate on the side lines, in the shade, with a cool drink in hand! We will saddle up again after dinner and ride into the evening. Even if it’s warm during the day, the reprieve is that it does cool down each evening! This has been a very successful event for the last six years and some ladies return annually. 

Richard enjoys all of his meals in the dining hall, with the participants so he is available throughout the weekend. If you are unable to bring your own horse you can lease a Thacher horse for $50.00 per day! (An additional $100.00 for the weekend.)

For those who would like, you’re welcome to join the Winters' for "Cowgirl Church" on Sunday morning at Thacher’s beautiful Outdoor Chapel. If you twist Richard’s arm you might get him to sing some cowboy songs Sunday evening! This is a great time to connect with your horse enhance your horsemanship skills and make some lasting friendships.


$650.00 for an "All Inclusive" weekend! Dorm room, meals, horse board and feed. What a deal!

"Balancing infinite patience with just the right measure of pushing, Richard Winters helped me banish ghosts of falling off, being run away with, and generally being out of control on horseback, replacing them with a powerful sense of confidence and clarity. The weekend I spent under his expert, personalized guidance opened a door I'd long wanted to go through. I wear my "Richard Winters Horsemanship" T-shirt with pride! 
-Joy Sawyer Mulligan - (Photo with Richard above)

 

Please call Richard or Cheryl at 805-640-0956 to register. Visa and MasterCard accepted.

The following quotes are from past "All Women's Horsemanship Retreat" participants.

"Thank you so much for providing an environment that I felt comfortable to ask questions and to learn. I have a whole new excitement for my horse and a new spark to continue moving forward!"

• Great opportunity for women to boost their confidence level in a very non-competitive environment - Thank you!
• Richard was clear, honest, tactful, and I learned so much about my horse and saw a huge improvement.
• The added touches in the rooms as well as the ice chests positioned all around really made the distances away from the barn enjoyable.
• Second time - again, absolutely wonderful experience. Thank you Richard for your quiet spirit - calmness while the rest of us were having our issues! Appreciate that you keep the experience relative to all types of riding, not just reining, cows, etc. Also, special thanks to Cheryl for setting up the rooms so beautifully: Appreciate Sarah's help - she added a lot of expertise and enjoyment to the clinic. I was amazed at her knowledge and talent, and at such a young age! Really glad she was here to help - great intuition, and has Richard and Cheryl's gentle, non-condescending spirit. Thanks!
• Thanks for a great weekend. I'll be back!
• I really enjoyed watching Richard's work with both people and horses. I have a lot of new thoughts and ideas to further my horsemanship. Cheryl's touches here and there - and everywhere made me feel pampered and spoiled! Richard has excellent people skills, never criticizes and is an excellent teacher!
• The Winters are a class act!! It was thrilling to see Sarah doing her thing, she's beautiful, sweet, bright and gracious. What a blessed family!
• Wonderful Experience. Loved Sunday Worship. Loved Guitar playing. I thoroughly enjoyed this time: Thank you so much.
• Enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and all of the extra amenities of Thacher (pool and food!) Thoroughly enjoyed Sarah and Jamie - what wonderful young ladies they are. Cheryl and Richard - you are outstanding!
• Needs to be longer!!!

                                                                             
Here’s what past participants have to say:

     "Richard is an extraordinary man with an in depth understanding of horses and their humans. More importantly, he has the gift of imparting his wisdom to those of us struggling with any number of problems and issues with our horses."                                                                    
Kay Gameiro

      "It was one of the most enjoyable and productive working weekends I've spent in my 25+ years of riding. Richard has a gift of communicating his years of knowledge and helping each person work toward their goals. The instruction, accommodations, food, --everything was exemplary. The Cowboy Church Service was the highlight of the weekend with scripture, singing and sharing of what we were thankful for. Richard is a wonderful instructor and Cheryl is a wonderful hostess with outstanding organizational skill."                                                                                          
-Jackie Morley

      "Richard's fabulous style of horsemanship left me inspired and renewed my faith in the fact that REAL people still really do exist at his level of skill. His compassion and simple respect for the horse helped many of us get through some road blocks we were experiencing with our horses. Overall the weekend was definitely a RETREAT in many ways."         
-Annie Ryan     

Plan now to be here!

All Women’s Horsemanship Retreat: $650.00 Includes meals and lodging for you and your horse beginning Friday evening with dinner through Monday morning breakfast.