Horse Illustrated Magazine

If riding in the Rocky Mountains while staying at a luxury five-star resort sounds good, add in yoga classes and personalized instruction from clinician Julie Goodnight, and you’ve got a weekend made in heaven.

Thanks to a partnership between Goodnight and the family-owned C Lazy U Ranch in Granby, Colo., three special days are offered each fall and spring for women who want to practice yoga, learn to improve their riding, and take in the stunning beauty of the Rockies. Riders stay at the nearly 100-year old dude ranch, where they are paired with one of the ranch’s 200-plus horses or can bring their own.

The retreat includes yoga sessions taught by a professional yoga instructor for students at all levels. Riding clinic sessions with Goodnight and her staff are tailored to help riders learn at their own pace. The rest of each day is spent on trail riding and enjoying the other ranch amenities, including fly fishing, guided hikes, mountain biking, tennis and more. A one-hour complimentary archery lesson is included, and cattle pushing clinics and spa treatments are available add-ons.

The ranch’s location makes trail riding one of the biggest attractions at the C Lazy U.

“We have over 100 miles of trails and 8,500 acres of terrain to ride on,” says Brady Johnson, director of sales and marketing for the C Lazy U. “We do slow, medium and fast rides, and guests can enjoy varying levels of riding, where we provide instruction as needed. The scenery is spectacular. We are nestled right up against the Continental Divide, Rocky Mountain National Park and Indian Peaks.”

Guests are welcome to bring their own horses. For those traveling from far away or who prefer not to trailer in, the remuda horses are a great alternative.

Johnson points out that there is a horse for every size, shape and ability.

“We personally fit you to the perfect horse that you can call your own for the duration of your stay,” he says.

In The Area

For those who want to linger on past the weekend retreat, the Granby area of Colorado offers a variety of other sights and activities. Rocky Mountain National Park is about a half-hour drive from the ranch, and is know for its high peaks, pristine lakes and flower-filled meadows. Visitors to the park can camp, fish and hike through the vast forests.

The city of Denver is less than two hours away, and features museums, restaurants and access to the Colorado River, where rafting tours are available.

For more information about Julie Goodnight’s Yoga Retreat, visit www.juliegoodnight.com. For details on the C Lazy U Ranch, visit www.clazyu.com.

Audrey Pavia is a freelance writer and the author of Horses for Dummies. She lives in Norco, Calif., with her two Spanish Mustangs, Rio and Milagro.

This article originally appeared in the October 2016 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!