USA - Texas, Natural Horsemanship Ranch

Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.

Review received from SO of Csopak on 11/03/2020

Itineraries at this ranch can be specifically tailored to guests preferences. Mornings will usually be spend either riding or doing groundwork, learning the principles of natural horsemanship. After a home-cooked lunch, you can have a siesta until sightseeing or more riding in the afternoon. There are usually some problem horses, young or wild horses at the ranch to train and you can enjoy observing the training process in the afternoons and evenings.

Morning horsemanship lessons tend to start at 9.30am and afternoon lessons start at 4pm. Breakfast is 8:30-9am, lunch is around 1.30pm and dinner is around 7:30-8pm.

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

There are around 15 horses on the ranch, all of which are calm and gentle having been trained with natural horsemanship methods. Around 6-7 of them are used for guests riding and are mainly Quarter Horses, Quarter Ponies and Mustangs. The tack and style of riding is Western and riders will be shown how to ride Western if unsure.

Riders of all abilities are catered for at this ranch. This destination specialises in building riding confidence and is also a good choice for families with children who would like to start riding. More experienced riders who want to learn about the natural horsemanship method are also welcome and can help with the training of young and problem horse. Complete beginners can start off learning the basics of natural horsemanship through groundwork and roundpen techniques before riding out on the trails once confident.

The weight limit for this ride is 220 lb/100 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

The ranch has a great emphasis on making guests feel at home and like part of the family. Accommodation on the ranch is in the main building with the hosts. There are 2 guest bedrooms with a shared bathroom (each room has it's own sink and a toilet (half bath) and direct access to the shared part). These can be made up as two single rooms or two double/twin rooms. One of the double rooms can accommodate a family of three people (with three single beds). Rooms are allocated on a first come, first served basis. There is also a large dining and living room area where guests can relax or read a book.

The food cooked at the ranch is ranch-style: wholesome, homecooked and in abundance, perfect after a day working with horses! Fresh drinking water is on tap as well as tea and coffee. Alcohol is not provided but guests can purchase their own to bring along with you if you wish.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures You will need to get a visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver to enter or transit the USA as a visitor. You should consult the US State Department website to determine which you will need. You should be aware that if you have travelled to or have been in Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen on or after 1 March 2011, you are normally not eligible for an ESTA visa waiver and will need to apply for a US visa. Passport and Visa requirements can change from year to year depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

The climate of Houston is a humid subtropical climate. August normally ranks as the warmest month at 84.6 °F (29.2 °C) and January the coldest month at 53.1 °F (11.7 °C). The normal annual precipitation measures 49.77 inches (1,264 mm). Occasional severe weather for Houston mostly takes the form of flooding.

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

You should always bring any regular prescription drugs you may need with you.

BE AWARE: There are restrictions and prohibitions on the import of certain prescription drugs into the US. The USA Food and Drug Administration website contains further information and advice on bringing medicines into the USA.

Medical treatment is expensive and there are no special arrangements for British visitors. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

You should take suitable steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and ticks. There are occasional outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases.

Health authorities have classified the USA as having a risk of Zika virus transmission in Florida and a few parts of Texas

You can contact the emergency services by calling 911.

Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in the USA and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.

In the USA the supply voltage is 120V. If the appliance or its power supply are not dual voltage rated, the single voltage appliance will have to be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly (unless the appliance operates at 120V).

You will be able to charge batteries and cameras overnight. There is wifi available in the guest quarters at the ranch and hairdryers are provided for guests. If you want to bring a GoPro please be advised that you will have to have permission from all other guests and guides that they are willing to be filmed.

Pack as you usually would for a holiday, for e.g. sunglasses, toiletries and then these are your Horse Riding holiday essentials. If you are unsure, please speak with your Travel Consultant:
ESSENTIALS FOR ALL RIDING HOLIDAYS
Riding helmet – complying with current EU & British standards – (some locations can provide them but if possible bring your own for comfort and correct fit)
Riding boots designed for riding and walking
Chaps
At least 2 pairs of riding trousers – jodhpur’s/breeches are best for anything, except western riding (Jeans)
Long sleeved shirts
Lightweight waterproof
Water bottle
Mobile phone

WARMER CLIMATES
Lightweight long sleeved shirts – light colours are best
Insect repellent/sun screen

RANCHING
Jeans for western saddles
Shoes with heels

Provided by hosts
Riding helmet

This is an 8 day /7 night programme with 6 days riding. The ranch weeks operate Thursday to Thursday from January to May and from September to November.

2025: 20 Mar (Full); 27 Mar (Full); 23 Oct (Full); 30 Oct (Full)

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E. Annie Proulx’s three books of Wyoming short stories (“Close Range”, “Bad Dirt”, “Fine just the way it is”)

Mary O’Hara’s “Flicka” triology.

The Virginian” by Owen Wister (a classic one) and

Zane Grey’s Western novels.

C.J. Box (i.e. “Open Season”) and

Craig Johnson (i.e. “The Cold Dish”).

Cowboy poet Baxter Black 

“Where Rivers change Direction”, a memoir by Mark Spragg about life on an early dude ranch.

“Where the Rivers Run North” by Sam Morton, a historical novel.

“The Meadow” by James Galwin.

Lone Star: A History Of Texas And The Texans by by T. Fehrenbach 

Discovering Natural Horsemanship: A Beginner's Odyssey by Tom Moates.

.Monty Roberts books, particularly ‘The Horse Whisperer’

Notes From A Big Country by Bill Bryson and

Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck.

For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible on horseback visit www.thelongridersguild.com 

Also a fantastic place to acquire your equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com

Take along a good book to read or perhaps take a hike in the surrounding countryside when you are not riding. Guests can be taken to visit various local sights such as the charming city of Brenham for a taste of old-town Texas; local Western stores and world-famous ice cream at Blue Bell Creameries.

Your host at this ranch, Juan, is originally from Spain and has been practising natural horsemanship techniques since the early nineties. He has been lucky to have the chance to learn from and work with horsemen such as Alfonso Aguilar, Buster McLaury, Mike Sears, Chris Cox, Martin Black and Craig Cameron and he keeps attending clinics regularly. In 2011 Juan was the first European trainer to participate in the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover in Fort Worth, Texas. In Texas, he collaborates with True Blue Animal Rescue. Juan regularly participates in fairs and events in the U.S. and Europe. In April 2013 and 2014 Juan participated in the Horsemen's Re-Union in Paso Robles, CA, where twenty of the best horsemen from different countries started forty colts in six days.

His book about Horsemanship has been published in Spanish and German and Juan presented it at Equitana in Germany in March 2015. Currently Juan is collaborating with the University of Vic and the University Autonoma of Barcelona in Spain. Apart from the work with colts and 'problem' horses, Juan focuses on helping riders to overcome bad experiences or ride with more confidence.

Juan manages the ranch together with his wife Ira, who is originally from Germany. She also assists Juan in the horse training and courses at the ranch. Ira started riding in Germany at the age of six and has been eager ever since to learn more about horse behavior and training. She has had the opportunity to learn with breeders and trainers in Germany, Spain, Idaho and Texas.

The USA has 4 main times zones - Eastern Standard Time (EST), Central Standard Time (CST), Mountain Standard Time (MST) and Pacific Standard Time (PST). Vermont is on EST, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah are all on MST, California is on PST. Weights and measures are imperial although weight is always expressed in pounds, not stone. The US gallon is 3.8 litres in contrast to an imperial gallon which is 4.2 litres. Mobile telephone: 4G and 5G is widely available throughout the US in cities, towns, villages and along main highways with AT&T having the best overall coverage and T-mobile offering better speeds in cities. There is NO cell reception at the ranch, but there is WiFi in our saloon and office. There are still a few rural areas which have the older CDMA telephone networks. To be able to call from these areas we recommend buying a cheap Verizon phone from eg Walmart (from $13) and topping up with credit. Almost all hotels and airports offer free wifi connection.