Horse Speak® All-Inclusive Retreat

Guests stay in comfortable log cabins on either side of the river which are situated for privacy and to afford magnificent views of the surrounding mountains.

Meals are taken in the main lodge and particular attention is paid to the cuisine and wines served.

• Overview:

  There are over 120 riding horses on the ranch, consisting mainly of Arabians and Quarter Horse crosses (14-16hh). The Arabian horses are raised and trained exclusively for the use of the guests, who often like to visit the mares and foals. The ranch also has some excellent Welsh ponies for children. The horses are trained western and are used to being neck reined; they do not go on contact. All guests are asked to post the trot and to stay in two point or galloping position for the canters and when climbing hills. This is important to us as it keeps the horses from getting sore backs. Those who do not comfortably adapt to riding in this manner will be kept on slower rides.

• Equipment Required:

  Helmets are required, there are some available to borrow.

• Horse Breeds:

  Arabians, Quarter horses and draft crosses

• Trip Pace:

  Slow to moderate, to suit riders

• Tack:

  Western saddles with snaffle bits

• Weight limit:

  The ranch has a limited number of horses for riders over 180 lbs.

• Hours of Instruction:
  5 per day
• Instruction and Training:
  Heidi Potter is an internationally known Centered Riding® Clinician, Horse Speak® Senior Instructor, Accredited Horse Agility Trainer, Author, and CHA Master Instructor and Certifier, sharing over 50 years of horse experience. Heidi studied Centered Riding® directly with neighbor, friend and founder, the late Miss Sally Swift. Using the basics of Centered Riding she assists students of all disciplines and levels improve self-awareness, comfort, confidence, communication, and balance in the saddle. In her Holistic Horsemanship Program Heidi is committed to addressing the horse’s needs first by sharing the concept of doing everything “with” the horse versus “to” the horse. She effectively combines the Precise Equine Body Language Skills of Horse Speak with the basics of Centered Riding, and Eastern philosophies derived from her many years of training in Traditional Martial Arts. Heidi has studied Horse Speak with founder Sharon Wilsie since 2016, helping to create educational webinars and the first “Certification Pilot Program”. As the only Senior Instructor she has been teaching Horse Speak clinics and retreats since 2019. The result of Heidi’s broad experience is a unique, compassionate, mindful approach to horsemanship, resulting in calmer, safer, more enriching, and enjoyable relationships between horses and humans. She has traveled internationally to teach and present on a wide range of topics for over 20 years. She and her family own and operate the New England Center for Horsemanship located in Southern Vermont. When not traveling and teaching Heidi enjoys liberty play, time out on the trail and Western Dressage with her Cheval Canadian horse Riley.
• Types of Instruction:
  Centered Riding Instruction, Clinics and Lessons, Horsemanship Skillbuilding

There are no separate activities planned for non-riders, who can take advantage of this unique location to fly fish, hike and visit with the ranch animals. With a rental car the town of Dubois is about 40 minutes away.

Hadley teaches four flowing yoga classes a week in the ranch’s yoga yurt, Monday and Wednesday afternoons, Friday mornings, and Saturday afternoons. The classes are designed to stretch the muscles that typically become sore during riding. They are friendly for people without much (or any!) yoga experience, but they also offer something to the more experienced yoga practitioner.

At the ranch. We can provide details for services for transportation from the Jackson Hole airport or the Riverton airport.