PUBLISHED WHENEVER A LITTLE CORRAL DUST NEEDS KICKIN’ AROUND Of The Riders AlisalWINTER 2019 Your Guide to WINTER FUN THE HOTTEST ACTIVITIES THIS WINTER Winter at the Alisal is a special time If getting out on the greens, or getting In addition to riding activities there are If fishing, boating, shooting or archery of year. The mornings are crisp, the into nature is your thing, our winter also great opportunities to learn how to is on your vacation wish list, then your afternoons generally mild, and the pace schedule is full of options that will care for and communicate with horses. stay should surely include a trip up to is a bit more relaxed than the hectic please. We offer a fun disc golf course In our Manes & Tails program guests the Alisal private lake. We have all the summer season. To many regulars, and instruction, as well as 18-holes of all ages can learn to groom and lead fishing equipment, a fleet of bass boats, winter at the Ranch is their favorite time of challenging traditional golf on our horses. There are many other unique experienced guides and plenty of open of year with plenty of activities and a little Ranch Course. For nature lovers, be options for horsing around that you will water waiting to help you cast away your more elbow room to enjoy them. sure to check out our popular evening find listed in our Winter Activities Guide cares. On the shore there are air rifle nature walk called Owl Prowl, where available in-room or online. and archery ranges, to give you that little For the youngin’s this winter, there are our naturalist takes a group out to see extra taste of the Wild West. a couple new programs. Animal lovers what’s up, when the sun goes down. Horseback riding isn’t the only popular (six-years of age and up) can sign up for riding at the Ranch. More guests Add in campfires, movie nights and even Lil Ranchers, a hands-on educational Of course, horse lovers and those every year are including a road bike a brand new life size chess set (built by program that lets kids get to know the who would like to learn more about our adventure as part of their Alisal the pool area) and you see why winter barnyard animals better and learn how equine friends, always have a whole host experience. The rolling hills, dotted at the Alisal gets a big “yee-ha” from to care for them, feed them and see of great options at the Ranch. For the with wineries and quaint villages, create families and friends lucky enough to visit what the ranching life is all about. For adventurous types with a hankering to the perfect backdrop for a guided bike at this special time of year. the young and young-at-heart, we also explore the hills above the Ranch, there excursion. If you want challenging offer Slime Time, where we provide all is a new Scenic Half Day Picnic Ride, exercise, our guide can take you on the ingredients so that slime lovers can that includes a tasty lunch in a secluded routes used by world-class cyclists. If create colorful goo, play with it and then spot. Another new offering this winter, leisurely site-seeing is more your speed, take with them. There are also organized are Private Group Trail Rides. Led by a then stops at some local tasting rooms, a scavenger hunts, candle making classes, wrangler, you and your posse of friends lavender farm and other scenic locations and much more, to keep even the most and family set out for a couple of hours can easily be incorporated into your active youngsters busy and happy. on some of the Ranch’s favorite trails. casual ride. View Winter Activity Guide WINTER 2019 RIDING HIGH In the SADDLE ALISAL GM REFLECTS ON HER FIRST TWO YEARS How do you run a world-class coming to the Ranch. The recent and beverage team. The result has It’s been a great last two years and resort that needs to stay current, success has allowed for continued been a new emphasis on using we encourage you to stop by, tip but do it in a way that still honors renovation and refreshment of the the freshest local ingredients and your hat and let Kathleen know the history and traditions that make guest lodgings and investment into finding more efficient ways to seat how she can help make the Ranch the property so unique? That was the recreation areas. As an example, and serve guests, so food can be even better. the challenge facing Alisal General the horsemanship program added deliciously cooked to order. Manager, Kathleen Cochran, One project on when she took over the reins at the Kathleen’s to-do list, is Ranch two years ago. It didn’t take “I have always had honoring the traditional her long to find out guests at the natural surroundings Alisal were her greatest resource an open-door policy by incorporating more for understanding how important native drought tolerant certain traditions were. “I have towards our extended plants into the Ranch’s always had an open-door policy Alisal family...” landscaping. The natives towards our extended Alisal family are more consistent with and when guests seek me out with the authentic Western suggestions, it helps me evolve the feel and the natural look, Ranch in the right direction. As a over 40 new horses to the herd. The fulfills the vision of one of bonus I get to understand our guests younger horses and the old favorites the owners, Mrs. Jackson. better and they get to understand help meet the needs of riders of all The process of blending my vision for the Ranch as well,” skill levels. Also, in the past two more natives with the says Cochran. Whatever the secret years, some great new hires have current plantings has is, the last two years have seen helped breathe new energy and already begun. more guests and groups than ever expertise into the Ranch’s food WINTER 2019 FEATURED WRANGLER JENNIFER SORENSON We are pleased to highlight one of the guests on her rides and recalls our star wranglers who has for the last one special outing with a mother six years, called the Alisal home. Jen and her two elementary school-aged Sorenson grew up in the Santa Ynez children. “We were in the middle of Valley and has been around horses, the ride and the young boy got a much of her life. Prior to becoming bloody nose. He didn’t want to make part of the Alisal family, she assisted a fuss about it, but I handed him a a well-known equine veterinarian in handkerchief and it soon stopped. the area. Jen loves being in nature From that time on, we were buddies and helping guests discover the and he stopped by the barn to ‘say beauty of the many Ranch trails. And hi’ a few times before he and his when she is not out on a ride with family left.” Creating lasting Alisal special guests, you can find her on memories is what Jen looks forward the tennis courts giving a few lessons to providing all her riders. You will here and there. Her favorite rides are find Jen on one of her two horses, out by the Alisal Lake, where wildlife either Guinness or Chance. She will and adventure seem to be around be mighty happy to make your ride, every corner. She loves bonding with Alisal special. Thanks Jen! View Horseback Rides HORSE TALES & Programs THIS MONTH’S FEATURED HORSE His Horse Tale: Our featured horse is the one and Name: Marmaduke Color: Liver chestnut with flaxen mane & tail only, Marmaduke, who arrived at the Alisal when he was Breed: Belgian draft cross Age: 13 years old just 2-1/2 years old. He was purchased from Gary and Lisa Novatt, a local family that resides on a neighboring ranch, and now at 16, has proven to be one of our most trusted and versatile horses. This big, lovable boy is a Belgian draft cross and is the second biggest horse in our herd, weighing approximately 1800 lbs! But don’t let his size fool you, he is a teddy bear and a jack-of-all-trades here at the ranch. He does it all, from taking our guests on our beautiful guided trail rides, to running barrels and sorting cattle in our Wednesday night Summer Rodeos. You will also find him wrangling in the herd, or just getting pampered in our new Manes and Tails program (his favorite!). Some of his other favorite pastimes include: splashing in the water trough, being washed and brushed, and causing mischief in the barn with his many hidden talents! One of his “talents” includes untying himself and then all of his fellow horses in the corrals! If you ever want to find him, he’ll likely be in the front of our corral, attached to his “special collar” that we had made just for him to try and prevent the mayhem caused by our favorite boy. Meet Our Previous Be it on the trail, in the corral, or back at the arena, “Marmy” is sure to give you a great ride and show you Featured Horse that big guys know how to have fun! Thanks Marmaduke, for being you!! WINTER 2019 More about Dining at the Alisal COOL WEATHER FAVORITES FROM THE KITCHEN Fresh, local and seasonal be highlighted in some delectable Executive Chef Anthony Endy.