all experience levels welcome
Whether you’re a first-time horse owner or an advanced horse trainer, you’ll feel right at home at one of our all-inclusive horse retreats. You can ride one of our amazing Paso Finos, Quarter Horses, or bring your own horse!
From general horsemanship and trail riding to retreats focused on confidence, colt starting, or advanced riding, you’ll have the opportunity to relax as much as you want and to learn as much as you want.
Possible horse retreat topics and education opportunities may include, but are not limited to:
Groundwork & Horsemanship Sessions
Obstacles
Horse Soccer
Trick Training
Driving
Jousting
Trail Rides
Trick Riding/Roman Riding
Mounted Shooting
Liberty
Reining
Roping
Horse Tag
And so much more!
What's Included In A Retreat?
Enjoy our picturesque ranch nestled in the gently rolling hills of beautiful Southern Mississippi. You can ride our world-famous Paso Finos or bring your own horse to enjoy and learn on.
5 Days and 6 Nights of lodging
Stay in our Peaceful Cabins, Cowboy Quarters, Or beautiful western-style Hotel
Hookups for RVs, Campers, and LQ trailers
Stabling and stall care of any horse or horses you bring
Amazing home-cooked meals each day
Entertainment and fun (everyone knows we can throw a party!)
Horsemanship education with Michael Gascon (The Horse Guru)
Education on safety and how to read horses
Your Questions Answered
Find answers to common questions divided into categories to make it easy for you to find them. Can't find your answer here? Just reach out and my team is happy to help!
TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS
The closest is Gulfport, MS (about a 45-minute drive) and the lowest priced tickets are usually for New Orleans, LA (about a 1.5 hour drive).
We highly recommend renting a car. You may be able to get here with Uber for the way here, but there is a very slim chance of Uber getting you back to the airport since our ranch is in the country. You can also contact a limo service in advance in New Orleans which charges $200-300 per way at 504-957-5062.
Our address is 270 H Burge Road, Poplarville, MS 39470 if you would like to enter it into your GPS. We are going to be a big black gate with the Horse Haven sign.
No, we have a huge pasture where you can pull in directly to your parking spot. No backing is necessary!
Everyone can plan to arrive AFTER 5 PM Central Time on the evening before the start of your retreat to get settled in with you and your horse (if you are using one of ours, you will be assigned a horse on Day #1) and depart on the day after your retreat BEFORE 11 AM Central Time.
Unfortunately, no, we do not allow anyone to show up before 5 PM Central Time on the night before your retreat starts or stay any later than 11 AM Central Time the day after. We recommend checking for layover facilities on your way here and planning your trip accordingly.
When you register for a retreat on the events page, you are able to pick your on-site housing option including a Cabin, Hotel Room, or Cowboy Quarter Room. All of the bed options are listed on the rooms available.
There is a room availability map when booking your tickets where you can see which rooms are open and what size beds each has.
The Cabins and Cowboy Quarter rooms have private bathrooms. The Hotel rooms have 2 shared bathrooms.
Yes, you absolutely can. However, the price per participant and auditor is the same. This is also an option if you notice your retreat date that you are interested in is sold out. Please reach out to us and see if there are any hook-up spots available.
AT THE RETREAT
We normally have between 12 - 20 people during our retreats, including participants and auditors. Don’t worry, we make sure everyone gets plenty of time to do and work on all of the sessions!
We don’t have a specific age restriction, but the rider must be old enough to take instruction and have at least basic horse knowledge to use one of our horses or bring their own. All children under 18 must be under the supervision of a parent at all times.
Yes! We have a mix of men and women during our retreats. Some of the men come by themselves, others come with their wives, children, or friends. This is a fun event for everyone to attend!
Participant spots allow you to bring a horse or use one of ours and fully participate in all of the sessions throughout the week. Add-on auditors to your room will allow them to be a spectator for the retreat sessions and cover room & board. Auditors do not get to ride during the event.
Please plan to bring yourself, your horse (if you’re bringing one), a great attitude, and a willingness to learn and try new things.
This retreat is designed to help you create a better bond with your horse, gain more confidence in your/your horse’s abilities, and try things outside of your comfort zone while helping you work through any problems you may be having with your horse. We suggest that you bring anything that you need for your horse (hay and grain, fly spray, etc.).
Your horse will need to be UTD on vaccinations suggested for your region and a current negative Coggins. Shavings will be provided in the all-inclusiveness of the retreat.
For yourself, please bring any medical items, sunscreen, bug spray, or other personal items you may need. Dress in layers!! If you have a special lawn chair or folding chair that you prefer, please feel free to bring that with you for the parts of the day where you are watching me teach and work with other retreat horses.
We will have food and drinks for all parts of your stay here, including three meals and snacks throughout the day.
Once you purchase a retreat ticket, you can list any allergies or dietary restrictions on your registration form so we can accommodate however we need to.
Once you purchase your retreat ticket, you will be emailed a retreat itinerary, ranch map & unloading/check-in details, and more. This also includes your registration form and waivers to be signed digitally.
We have a no photography and no videography rule at our facility. We try to have a photographer throughout the event to take highlight/promo photos and videos that you can have access to, but is not guaranteed. When it’s a professional that we hire in, they usually have a gallery you can purchase pictures from.
After parking your horse trailer, we have you unhook your trailer so you can drive to the on-site accommodations with your bags. After you get settled into your room, everything for the retreat is within a 3-5 minute slow walk (stalls, arenas, etc.) so you can choose to drive back and forth or walk.
There are 2 designated smoking areas down by the hotel. We ask that you only smoke in these two areas. There is NO SMOKING near the barns, arenas, riding areas, or on the trails.
RETREAT SCHEDULE
We will have a more detailed itinerary included in the welcome gift when you arrive at our location. You can please plan to participate from approximately 9 AM - 5 PM every day of the retreat. There will be a combination of one-on-one training, group training, obstacles, trails, discipline work, and outside clinicians involved in your week with us. It’s going to be action-packed and a guaranteed great time.
DAILY SCHEDULE:
8 AM – Breakfast
9 AM – Start Time
12 PM – Lunch
5 PM – End Time
6 PM – Dinner
Free Time To Mingle After Dinner!!!
*Lunch & Dinner Times May Vary Slightly – We Will Hear The Bell!!!
TUESDAY: Horsemanship
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Afternoon Activity – Come Get Me Trick
WEDNESDAY: Obstacles
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 1
Afternoon Activity – Trail Ride
THURSDAY: Soccer Game & Sword Fighting
Group 3
Group 4
Group 1
Group 2
Afternoon Activity – Liberty & Trick Riding/Roman Riding
FRIDAY: Cattle & Roping
Group 4
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Afternoon Activity – Trail Ride
SATURDAY: Gaiting & Cantering
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Afternoon Activity – Trick Training
Unfortunately, we do not allow anyone to ride around or do anything outside of the group activities. Please do not venture off with your horse on your own or ride around the farm before, during, or after the retreat sessions.
No, this is your vacation! If you want to attend all of the sessions, do it! If you want to sleep in and attend later, that’s perfectly fine.
Yes, the retreat day starts at 9 AM each day, but you can attend when you’re ready if you’d like to sleep in!
ABOUT YOUR HORSE
Yes! If you plan to bring a colt starting horse, there is an added fee for you to be able to use one of our horses while your horse is being worked for the week.
Yes, we can address problem horses that you are already able to ride yourself and work with them throughout the week. If your horse has enough problems or severity of problems that you don’t feel comfortable riding them, we would suggest bringing a different horse, sending your horse for training prior to the retreat, or riding one of ours in order for you to get the most out of the retreat.
Absolutely! This is a great idea if your horse has any problems that you want us to work with before you come for your retreat. You get to spend your retreat week working with your horse and getting all of your questions answered.
Please reach out to us at info@gasconhorsemanship.com to see if we have any openings prior to your retreat date. You can also leave your horse for training after the retreat if there is availability.
No, only one horse is included per participant and NO other animals are allowed at our facility.