September 16 - 20, 2027
Build your riding skills through obstacles, patterns, and mountain riding.
Fall Horseback Riding: What to Expect
- No horseback riding on check-in and check-out days.
- Trail rides in fall are walk and walk-trot with the possibility of lope rides if conditions permit.
- This event does not include cattle working. If you are interested in our Cattle Sorting Clinic, consider booking one of our week-long summer stays occurring mid-June to mid-August.
Become a more balanced, effective rider while enjoying an exceptional horse-centered experience in the Colorado Rockies. This four-night, adults-only educational retreat combines practical horsemanship instruction, mountain trail riding, and opportunities to try new activities with fellow equestrians who share your passion for learning.
Working Equitation provides the theme for our lessons, using classical horsemanship, purposeful patterns, and obstacles to develop balance, precision, and clear communication between horse and rider. Discover how these exercises improve your riding and put familiar skills to work in new ways.
An opening night demonstration on horse behavior by Julie Goodnight will inspire you for the weekend ahead. The learning continues with groundwork sessions to help you develop a partnership with your ranch-provided horse. Explore how communication, relationship building, and leadership on the ground lay the foundation for a more connected ride.
Throughout the retreat, choose your own path by signing up for the sessions that interest you: groundwork, mounted lessons, guided mountain trail rides, and gathering cattle on the ranch. Educational presentations and evening discussions deepen your understanding of horses and connect the day’s experiences. A friendly Working Equitation competition on Sunday offers an opportunity to put your learning into practice.
Learn Together, Unwind, and Enjoy the Ranch
Tanya “T” Cody, Lead Clinician for Goodnight Horsemanship, directs the retreat alongside our instructional team, bringing the Goodnight Horsemanship teaching philosophy to life through practical lessons and engaging activities. Special keynote presentations and training demonstrations by Julie Goodnight enrich the experience, offering insights into horse behavior, communication, and partnership.
Adult riders of varied experience levels and riding backgrounds are welcome. Come with a desire to improve, openness to coaching, and enthusiasm for learning alongside others. You don’t need to own a horse, have attended a clinic, or aspire to compete.
Between riding sessions, enjoy C Lazy U Ranch’s exceptional accommodations, dining, hospitality, and mountain setting.
Come ready to ride, ask questions, explore, and connect. Take home useful skills, fresh insights, and memorable experiences from four days devoted to your passion for horses.
- DATES: September 16 – 20, 2027
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RATES (per person per night):
- Adult Double Occupancy: from $762*
- Adult Single Occupancy: from $886*
- MINIMUM STAY: 4 nights
This event always sells out, book early!
Julie Goodnight is the Founder & Content Director of Goodnight Horsemanship. She is best known as host of Horse Master, which aired weekly on RFD-TV for eleven years. Julie’s clear and humorous teaching style and her enlightening insights on horse behavior, inspire and educate audiences everywhere. A certified Master Clinician, Julie travels the globe teaching riders and giving horse training demonstrations. She’s a published author with a syndicated column, a monthly blog and podcast, a keynote speaker, and is an active social media influencer. Julie is CEO of 2Horse Productions, an equine, nature and adventure lifestyle production company. Goodnight is the recipient of the Exceptional Equine Educator Award and CHA’s Partner in Safety Award, and resides on her horse farm in the mountains of Colorado.
Tanya “T” Cody is Lead Clinician and Program Director for Goodnight Horsemanship’s in-person programs. She has worked alongside Julie for more than 25 years as a colleague, assistant clinician, producer, and on-camera talent, and Julie chose her to carry the Goodnight Horsemanship teaching forward. T has a long history with both Goodnight Horsemanship and C Lazy U. She brings decades of broad-based horsemanship experience and a clear, practical, upbeat teaching style to riders of all levels and disciplines. Her instruction emphasizes safety, confidence, clarity, kindness, and practical horsemanship that helps riders better understand their horses.
