BEYOND WORDS: EQUINE- ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY WORKSHOP
Rancho Las Cascadas, Mexico - February 4th through February 8th
Nestled on a mountain plateau in rural Mexico, bordered by three waterfalls, Rancho Las Cascadas is not only enchanting, offering a blend of traditional Mexican culture and up-to-date modern amenities, it is reputed to be the most hospitable hacienda in Mexico! The staff is lovely as are the horses! The Ranch is all-inclusive so all you need to do is pack your dreams and your personal goals. [ Please visit their website, or TripAdvisor, for a more complete description (www.rancholascascadas.com).]
The equine-assisted therapy will be done on the ground, no riding or horse experience necessary. For those interested in riding, you can choose to go out on the trail every afternoon. There is a group for every riding level.
There will be approximately four hours of therapeutic exercises per day in the “round pen” (the area cordoned off for the horses) with breaks for lunch, snacks, and discussion. The horses will be our co-therapist in exploring issues of intimacy and connection, boundaries and assertiveness, mindfulness, non-verbal communication, emotional self-awareness, self-regulation, acceptance and grief, among other issues. We consider play and laughter an important part of therapy and life! So, each session will also include some playtime with the horses who actually love to play!
Those of you who are interested in more advanced riding and horse skills will be able to work with Stacey in the afternoon in lieu of the round-pen therapy experience.
As you will learn and experience firsthand, horses, being “prey” animals (as opposed to “predators” like dogs) need to be highly sensitive to their immediate environment to survive. They communicate their emotions, whether fear or happiness, nonverbally, to the rest of the herd. When you work with horses, spend time with them, you become part of the herd. If you want to know what you’re feeling, ask a horse! They reflect your feelings back to you!
The workshop will consist of three days of therapeutic horse-work. The fourth day is dedicated to either a full-day excursion to San Miguel De Allende, one of the most charming cathedral cities in Mexico for shopping, galleries, exploring…and a lunch at a classic Mexican restaurant overlooking the bustling town center. Or you can choose to stay at the Ranch and partake of the various activities offered, such as trail riding, hiking, massaging, pool and hot tub, etc. There are also additional excursions you can book if you so choose.
For those of you worried about traveling to Mexico, the Ranch is safely tucked away in the mountains. The most danger you might face is having your horse decide to take a rest stop next to a huge bull. Happened…I’m alive!
The Ranch offers transfers to and from the Mexico City Airport, approximately one and one/half hours from the Ranch. These transfers will be offered once daily and we will let you know the approximate times so that you can book your flights accordingly. The cost of the transfer will be split by the number of riders. If you’d like to take your own transport, you are surely welcome.
YOUR INSTRUCTORS:
Dr. Alita Buzel is a Clinical Psychologist with over thirty years’ experience. She has been working with horses as co-therapists doing equine assisted psychotherapy and running workshops for over fifteen years. This will be her third workshop at Rancho Las Cascadas. She is the author of: Beyond Words: The Healing Power of Horses, a manual covering the whys and how’s of doing psychotherapy with horses.
Anyone who knows Alita, knows she’s serious about her work, but loves the chance to play! And horses, being the quirky animals that they are, offer her lots of opportunities to laugh! Join her in her serious, yet playful, interactions between people and horses.
Stacey Carter is a lifelong horsewoman, creator of Heart Centered Horsemanship, PATH Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning as well as being a certified yoga instructor. Her approach of listening and responding to the horse in a mindful, empathetic and respectful partnership is ideal for equine assisted therapy.
She looks forward to once again partnering with Alita and the lovely horses of Rancho Las Cascadas to provide powerful and transformational experiences for participants, as well as offering horsemanship and riding
Please feel free to contact Alita or Stacey for any questions.
Alita: buzel12@aol.com
Stacey at: heartcenteredhorsemanship@gmail.com
COSTS & DETAILS
There will be a maximum of eight participants per workshop to ensure optimal therapeutic experience.
Shared Room:
$463.00/night (including tax and 15% workshop discount)
Single Room:
$564.00/night (including tax and 15% workshop discount)
The workshop itself is $250.00 for the week. Fee can be paid directly to Stacey or Alita at the time of the Workshop.
This rate includes all booked accommodations, all meals, open bar while at the Rancho (national alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks), unlimited horseback riding, the use of the Rancho facilities including our solar heated infinity pool with jacuzzi, hot tub, day in San Miguel de Allende and much more.
A 30% deposit will be needed by November 30th, 2023. Deposits are non-refundable but can be used for a future reservation within the next 12 months of booking.
Card Payment: VISA or Mastercard. Or The Ranch can send a PayPal Payment Request.
Please feel free to reach out to Katrin c/o Info@rancholascascadas.com for any questions about accommodations and payment. Katrin’s Phone/WhatsAppl: +52 1-55-1070 2080
There will be a van pickup and drop from the airport to The Ranch and back. The cost per van ($290.00) or private car (up to four people) $145.00 each way. Cost divided by passengers. There are two separate buildings at the Mexico City Airport so you need to determine which building you will be arriving and departing from. It will depend on your carrier.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
SUNDAY: February 4th: arrival at Rancho Las Cascadas. Sunset Cocktail and Hay Party to Meet and Greet People And Horses.
MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY:
8 AM - to 9 AM: EARLY MORNING YOGA LED BY STACEY.
9 AM -10:00 AM: BREAKFAST AND REVIEW OF THE UPCOMING DAY. (THERE ARE YUMMY PASTRIES, CAKES, AND FRUIT AVAILABLE ALL DAY)
10:00 AM-1:00 AM: HORSES SHOW UP FOR WORK! THEY’LL BE WAITING FOR YOU IN THE ROUND PEN.
1:00 PM-1:30 PM: REVIEW OF MORNING.
1:30 PM-2:30PM: LUNCH! (YES, EVEN MORE FOOD) SERVED ON THE PATIO, SHADED BY ANCIENT TREES, WITH A STUNNING VIEW OF THE VISTA AND WATERFALLS.
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM: THE HORSES, HAVING HAD A SIESTA, WILL BE READY FOR WHATEVER COMES NEXT!
THE GROUP THAT WILL BE DOING MORE ADVANCED RIDING AND HORSE SKILLS WILL HEAD OFF TO THE STABLES WITH STACEY.
THOSE PEOPLE CONTINUING EQUINE-THERAPY WILL MEANDER BACK TO THE ROUND PEN WITH ALITA.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM OPTIONAL MEDITATION RIDE…SLOW, GENTLE, SILENT WALK ON THE HORSES THROUGH THE LUSH MEXICAN FARM LAND. SOME TRAFFIC JAMS TO BE EXPECTED SINCE SHEEP ARE COMING HOME ABOUT THEN. TEQUILA AND TAPAS WILL AWAIT YOU UPON RETURN TO THE RANCH.
5:00 PM- 7:30 PM* – FREE TIME. THE POOL, HOT TUB, MASSAGES, WATERFALLS AWAIT! (*THERE IS NO RIDING AFTER 5:00 PM WHICH IS THE HORSES’ FEED TIME AND IN THEIR UNION CONTRACT).
AFTER DINNER THERE WILL BE SHARING AROUND THE FIRE PIT, PERHAPS LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, AND, MAYBE, SOME LAST, GENTLE HEALING EXERCISES.
THURSDAY:
AN ALL-DAY EXCURSION TO SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, ONE OF THE MOST CHARMING “CATHEDRAL CITIES” IN MEXICO KNOWN FOR ITS ARTS, SHOPPING, CAFES, AND JUST LOVELY SETTINGS. YOU CAN JOIN US FOR LUNCH AT A BEAUTIFUL, CLASSIC MEXICAN RESTAURANT OVERLOOKING THE BUSTLING TOWN PLAZA. THE EXCURSION WILL LEAVE THE RANCH AT 8 AM AND RETURN AROUND 5 PM.
OR: RELAX AT THE RANCH AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE TO YOU. YOU CAN ALSO JOIN THE TWICE DAILY RIDES.
FRIDAY: WE HAVE TO GO HOME…SIGH. LET KATRIN KNOW IF YOU’D LIKE TO TAKE THE ONCE-A-DAY VAN TO THE AIRPORT OR IF YOU’D LIKE TO ARRANGE YOUR OWN TRANSFER.
