Luxe Beat Magazine APRIL 2015 | Page 29

Travel ornin ide orses at an ue erde an h red and yellow paint the horizon. In the distance, giant saguaro cactus tan in a ro i ntri guarding gates. By the time we return to the stables, the trail looms pitch dark, but Uno knows the way. Tanque Verde has made me live in the moment and bestows a sense of pride, and perhaps even a desire to conquer this sport. or att n a tar a in class with an astronomer. He has a green laser that points out constellations in the dark sky. He lets me take a photo of the moon with my smartphone through this telescope. Pretty amazing, right? Day Two of Riding Generally a glutton for punishment, I chose an hour walking trail ride before our class lesson the next morning. I enjoy the glorious view all around, but work up a few more saddle sores. Our group class is scheduled for team penning, a cattle he u it for rea fast herding competition. Five young cows enter the corral, and we work in teams of four to round them up and move them into pens at the opposite end. Thankfully, other riders in my foursome are more ro i nt t ho my o n move those doggies into the pens for ro n an my t am i ar th inn r i i yi yo i yay After lunch, I need a break from horsemanship, and take a water color class, like camp arts and crafts time. I could have listened to a naturalist speak on venomous species and taken a hi t i tho Later, the group competes at a margarita/salsa making contest. We jointly create a fantastic spicy salsa with an array of peppers and pineapple, Our margarita includes cucumber juice, fresh lime juice, tequila and is rimmed with zesty salt. We place second. ff a hay or an o t oor chicken and ribs dinner in the Cottonwood Grove. Here, couples o y to th r or i roa t marshmallows while a western singer serenades. After dinner, line an in to oot ootin oo i takes center stage. Wow, I’m becoming a cowgirl and really having fun. I sleep well. Last Day The sunrise breakfast trail ride begins my third day of riding, and the meal is perfect; cooked to order eggs, blueberry pancakes and bacon. We sit against the stunning ta o a aro ationa ar The ride back to the stables will be my last, and now I’m sad. I might not have taken to the life of a cowboy like a horse takes to oats, but I have surprised myself. I can certainly understand why 85% of Tanque Verde’s participants become return customers. Guests come back because they feel the warmth of genuine hospitality and customized care. They value a mana ro ram an ro iona taff Th y n Tan Verde Ranch outstanding in every way. I’d love to return for this out of the ordinary experience that I’ll talk about for years. is losure: I was hosted by Tanque Verde Ranch in order to write an article for a meeting planners magazine. The above story, written for Luxe Beat, is my personal account of the experience, which was o iti in ry ay ha a a t any than to th n o at Tanque Verde Ranch. 29