Horse of the Sun Ranch Programs
Horse of the Sun Ranch, 28271 Old Hwy 80, Pine Valley, CA 91962
About
Horse of the Sun Ranch Programs include horseback riding, riding lessons, feeding and grooming horses, and natural horsemanship lessons with a herd of 14 horses. Children and teens can also take part in archery, crafts, leather crafting, laser tag, gardening, hiking, animal husbandry, pony rides for kids, and a petting zoo. The programs include Ranch Day Camp sessions in spring, summer, and fall, Mini Ranch Camps, horsemanship lessons, team-building day retreats, family ranch days, home school programming, and equine-assisted day retreats.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Ranch Day Camp has spring, summer, and fall sessions; Mini Ranch Camp 1 is a 2-hour group session for TK–8 on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month; Mini Ranch Camp 2 is a 2-hour group session for grades 9–12 on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month; horsemanship lessons are offered in 30-minute or 60-minute formats.
• Price: Horsemanship 1 30-minute lesson TK–12 is $50 per session; Horsemanship 2 30-minute lessons TK–12 once per week are $200 per month; Horsemanship 3 60-minute lessons TK–12 once per week are $299 per month; Mini Ranch Camp 1 and Mini Ranch Camp 2 are each $100 per month; special rates are available for Active Duty Military Families, Veterans, and First Responders.
Horse of the Sun Ranch Programs are a program site of the Armed Services YMCA San Diego and serve active-duty military families, veterans, and the public through respite and retreat programs, including equine-assisted day retreats shaped around themes such as leadership development, team bonding, effective communication, or emotional awareness. The ranch offers a Natural Horsemanship Program with monthly subscriptions that match participants with a horse from the herd, Ranch Days that can be joined on scheduled days or booked as a private event, and a Home School/Charter School Program that includes horseback riding, feeding and grooming horses, archery, gardening, hiking, and other activities. Mini Ranch Camps include animal husbandry, archery, leather craft, riding, and additional ranch activities, and Volunteer Ranch Retreats provide equine-assisted day retreats for families, teams, or groups, with volunteer opportunities available for daily operations, horse care, ranch maintenance, and special events.
Equine-assisted day retreat facilitators are certified through programs including EAL, Equus, and Touched by a Horse. Horse of the Sun Ranch lists Regina Butala Favre as a contact for the ranch. The Horse of the Sun Ranch mission is “to connect people with horses—and in doing so, reconnect them with themselves, their families, and the natural world,” and the Armed Services YMCA mission is “The Armed Services YMCA enhances the lives of military members and their families in spirit, mind, and body through programs relevant to the unique challenges of military life.” The Armed Services YMCA is Charity Navigator 4-Star Rated, has a Charity Watch A Grade, and holds a Candid Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency.
Last updated March 15, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Ranch Day Camp has spring, summer, and fall sessions; Mini Ranch Camp 1 is a 2-hour group session for TK–8 on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month; Mini Ranch Camp 2 is a 2-hour group session for grades 9–12 on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month; horsemanship lessons are offered in 30-minute or 60-minute formats.
• Price: Horsemanship 1 30-minute lesson TK–12 is $50 per session; Horsemanship 2 30-minute lessons TK–12 once per week are $200 per month; Horsemanship 3 60-minute lessons TK–12 once per week are $299 per month; Mini Ranch Camp 1 and Mini Ranch Camp 2 are each $100 per month; special rates are available for Active Duty Military Families, Veterans, and First Responders.
Horse of the Sun Ranch Programs are a program site of the Armed Services YMCA San Diego and serve active-duty military families, veterans, and the public through respite and retreat programs, including equine-assisted day retreats shaped around themes such as leadership development, team bonding, effective communication, or emotional awareness. The ranch offers a Natural Horsemanship Program with monthly subscriptions that match participants with a horse from the herd, Ranch Days that can be joined on scheduled days or booked as a private event, and a Home School/Charter School Program that includes horseback riding, feeding and grooming horses, archery, gardening, hiking, and other activities. Mini Ranch Camps include animal husbandry, archery, leather craft, riding, and additional ranch activities, and Volunteer Ranch Retreats provide equine-assisted day retreats for families, teams, or groups, with volunteer opportunities available for daily operations, horse care, ranch maintenance, and special events.
Equine-assisted day retreat facilitators are certified through programs including EAL, Equus, and Touched by a Horse. Horse of the Sun Ranch lists Regina Butala Favre as a contact for the ranch. The Horse of the Sun Ranch mission is “to connect people with horses—and in doing so, reconnect them with themselves, their families, and the natural world,” and the Armed Services YMCA mission is “The Armed Services YMCA enhances the lives of military members and their families in spirit, mind, and body through programs relevant to the unique challenges of military life.” The Armed Services YMCA is Charity Navigator 4-Star Rated, has a Charity Watch A Grade, and holds a Candid Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency.
Last updated March 15, 2026.
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