January 5-7, 2024

Start the new year at the ranch with our wellness-themed weekend. After a busy holiday season, you deserve a weekend to relax, unwind, and reset as we head into 2024.

We’ve curated a full weekend itinerary with yoga classes, wine tasting, a cooking class, and guided hikes all included in your nightly rate in addition to our standard inclusions. To enhance your experience, we’ve partnered with some incredible wellness leaders with a la carte classes including equine therapy and GARA classes (stay tuned for a full itinerary – activities are booked with our Ranch Concierge 45 days out). All of the wonderful Alisal Ranch offerings are still available to book during your stay for an additional cost, including horseback riding, golf, spa treatments, axe throwing, archery and air rifle.

The Wellness Weekend nightly rate includes accommodation, breakfast, dinner, beverages, all scheduled yoga classes, wine tasting, a cooking class, and guided hikes.

Below, you can explore our weekend itinerary and learn more about our guest wellness leaders (stay tuned for a finalized itinerary).

The amenities provided include two branded water canteens, a bottle of wine in each room, Wi-Fi internet access, use of the fitness center, a shuttle to Solvang, bikes, scheduled and seasonal entertainment, tennis court use, fishing bait and tackle, use of non-motorized boats at Alisal Lake, and various children’s activities, including the barnyard and kid’s arts and crafts. Part of the Ranch Fee is distributed to our service employees as additional compensation to address the need for tipping at the Ranch.

Wellness Weekend Itinerary

What is Equine Therapy?

Hosted by Core Connection, each individual will have the opportunity to work directly with horses and to explore relational patterns. Participants can experiment with different ways to ask for support, set boundaries, and give or receive affection and attention.

Alison Hunter of Core Connection explains: “Horses are completely objective with their feedback as they respond to what’s happening in the moment without their own stories, providing a fun and often silly way to play with evolving our patterns. They mirror back to us how we show up energetically in a relationship. Horses are nonjudgmental so they offer us an opportunity to explore narratives that we project onto others and how those impact our emotions and behaviors.”

Co-host, Danielle Pennewell adds: “These 1,000-pound animals teach us that (A) the only thing we can control is ourselves and (B) working with others through collaboration and partnership is the most effective approach to relationships. Horses live in herds and derive their sense of safety from the group. They teach us that even subtle movements communicate huge meaning and to be intentional with our nonverbal cues. We are always communicating, even when we think we are not.”

A Licensed Marriage Family Therapist in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, Hunter explains how she and Pennewell have applied their own training to their personal lives: “In our Equus Certification training we went through all of the exercises we are sharing with the group at this workshop and were coached by our instructors and peers throughout the year long training. I have been blessed to be around horses most of my life.” She continues: “this work helps me every day in my relationships by offering tools to tune in to my authentic self while staying in connection with those I am in relationships with.” Hunter describes this work as a delicate balance and a dance that we all engage in together. She says that relationships take energy and work. “I know, and horses remind me,” she adds, “that if you stay in tune with yourself and you stay in the conversation with others, the partnerships will be strong and rewarding.”

Pennewell, a Human Resources professional who grew up riding horses, has seen firsthand how horses can heal and transform various aspects of the human condition. “The lessons I have learned from horses have evolved over the years, and I continue to be amazed by their ability to meet me where I am and show me exactly what I need to see,” exclaims the amateur rider. “Horses have taught me how to be present and take care of my needs so that I can show up as my best self for my “herd”. They have taught me not to be afraid of my emotions, but to accept they are there and work with them to build open, authentic, trustworthy and loving relationships. It is a blessing to have a horse bear witness to all that we are and mirror back for us what we cannot see for ourselves.” Pennewell describes how horses model what it feels like to simply show up in a relationship without judgment. She explains how this experience can transform our sense of belonging: “As the founder of Equus coaching likes to say, horses provide a road map for humanity to rediscover ourselves and my partner and I have benefited greatly from their wisdom.”

These sessions will be available during the wellness weekend at an additional cost of $500/per person. Sessions are 2 hours and can be booked with Ranch Concierge prior to your arrival.