http://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/rss/feedsThe Sugar & Spice Ranch, located in the Cowboy Capital of the World, is just a short drive West of San Antonio in Bandera, Texas. We specialize in creating.Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:04:45 -0700http://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/season-delighthttp://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/season-delightIt's been a great season so far. The first women-only weekend is in the books, and we had such a wonderful time riding with a great bunch of ladies.The best part of this job is meeting all the great people and making new friends. That's pretty much true for all the guests too. Guests make new like-minded friends and that friendship usually carries on well after their trip to our ranch is done. There is a beauty in all of it.This season we will have many more Mother & Daughter weekends. To watch the bonding process between a mother and her girl through our horses can sometimes leave you speechless. Our next weekends for moms & their daughters are 10/12-10/15 & 10/19-10/22 either of which can be 2 or 3 night stays. Contact us for availability for any and all other future weekends that we have not mentioned to secure your weekends.We'll also have some great Family weekends that are always so much fun, filled with lots of laughter and we'll have additional women-only weekends. Our next women-only weekend will be 11/09 ~ 11/12!But what we are all excited about is our Christmas Break Horse Camp that will run 12/26~12/31. This year we are welcoming girls coming alone as well as mother & daughter teams. It's a great way to spend a part of your holiday break ... riding horses, learning to care for them, relaxing in our cowgirl bunkhouse that overlooks the horse pasture, enjoying morning coffee or tea on the porch watching the horses and later visiting with the ranch animals and of course, enjoying delicious homestyle meals with other guests and making lifelong memories with newfound horse loving friends.There isn't anything better than days spent here on the ranch, riding, enjoying nature and of course, falling in love with all of the beautiful horses that create an amazing experience you all will never forget.Join us this season! We'd love to share our world of horses with you all... The Sugar & Spice Ranch Horses! MNSSun, 30 Sep 2018 15:30:00 -0700http://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/a-special-new-letter-to-all-from-miss-leighhttp://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/a-special-new-letter-to-all-from-miss-leighThings are really heating up for this summer!! We have so many horse crazy girls coming to the ranch for a week or even 2 weeks of total horsemanship time. Here at the ranch, you will be assigned a horse of your very own to feed, groom, ride and ultimately connect with on a level that you alone with your horse can only understand. We are not a dude ranch, and we are not your typical summer camp where you ride a bit and craft a bit and share your horse with other riders and campers. You will live the ranch life like no other place on earth. Imagine getting up in the morning to feed cats and kittens, horses, dogs and puppies, chickens and chicks and collect eggs that you will….yes, have for breakfast each day!! Oh, and baby goats!!! We have the cutest twin baby goats…..Sugar and Spice!!! You’ll fall in love with all the animals, and the experience will change you and stay with you for a lifetime! If you’re looking for a healthy, wholesome environment for your daughter, then we are exactly what you have been looking for. All summer weeks are available for girls coming alone or for mothers & daughters wanting to spend some time creating incredible lifelong memories!!We have more really fantastic additions to the ranch are our new horses!!! We have 2 new herd members that will be participating at the ranch for summer camps and all weekend packages starting in April! Cinnamon or Cinny is a beautiful Arabian mare, and she is such a sweetheart! We can not tell you how much you are going to love her! She’s the perfect mount for advance beginners all the way up to advanced riders! She has made friends with Captain and pretty much never leaves his side! Our other new addition is Thunder! He is a “been there done that” kind of horse, and his job is to make sure moms that have little to no experience enjoy a safe and happy time in the saddle. He makes everyone who rides him look like a pro and loves the trails without any issues at all. We have some new projects going on, and you will see the improvements when you arrive immediately! One of the improvements is a new security gate with a gate code that will be given out to the parents so that you can rest assured that the ranch will be safe and secure while your daughters are attending summer camp….also, while mothers & daughters are attending, the moms will have access to the gate code so that they can run errands into town or go for some ice cream at local general store. Another new upgrade is our yard fencing. It’s getting a makeover with piping and horse fencing so that the horses can graze on the front pasture while the Labradors can stay in the yard! Oh, and it will certainly improve the views of the lovely sunsets that the ranch is now very famous for. Greg has been invaluable in all the work that he puts in here at the ranch making sure that all the projects get done and get done right! He is truly a God send to me and our little piece of heaven! I’d also like to take this time to give so much appreciation to my amazing staff! Brittany, who you all know from, last year if you attended, will be here again for another summer and she is my veteran of the ranch! She is so dedicated to all her responsibilities around here! I am thrilled to have her here again for the summer and for all our weekend packages! If you are new to the ranch, you will love her, too. She’s a joy to be around. Isabelle is another of my right-hand gals and has really settled into her role here. She has been working with us for the last 6 months, and I couldn’t be happier with her. She is a senior at Bandera High and will be graduating and going off to college in the fall but, she won’t be going far as she will be attending UTSA so you will surely see her here at the ranch on weekends after she heads off to school. She is a very bright and articulate young lady with a very exciting future. She plans on a career in writing and who knows, next time you get a newsletter from the ranch I may employ her to do it!! Next, we have one of my favorite young ladies in the entire world!! She is a former camper and student of mine from the time she was 4 years old, Elizabeth!! She is now 16 years old and is returning to camp as one of my interns, and since she has been here so many times as a camper she will now take all her knowledge that she has obtained and apply it to helping all the campers this year! I sure hope to see many new faces this year and am so looking forward to seeing many familiar ones as well. Our schedule for the summer will be fairly unchanged, and we do have some new activities but, our most popular ones with be back, including Tuesday night massages for the moms who find the need to relax after many days in the saddle!In closing, I cannot wait to dive into this summer with all the energy and passion for what I do! I have been blessed more than I ever imagined with lifelong friends made here on the ranch and the gift of being able to share my world of horses with you and give you the amazing connection only found through horses! There is so much we can learn about ourselves and each other through these majestic, soulful, and giving beings! Please, join us for the incredible experience of “Bonding Mothers & Daughters Through Horses” (our mother/daughter camps) or “Bonding Young Ladies Through Horses” (our girls only camps) It would be an honor to host you and share my world with you all!Fondest most heartfelt regards,Leigh E. McCourt, Founder, and OwnerThe Sugar & Spice Ranchwww.SugarAndSpiceRanch.com830-460-8487 Tue, 03 Apr 2018 13:27:00 -0700http://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/big-news-and-limited-timehttp://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/big-news-and-limited-time Can you believe the summer is nearly done? We had an incredible season here at The Sugar & Spice Ranch with several weeks of Girl-Only campers and several weeks of Mother & Daughter camps. A definite SOS (sold out summer 🤠)!So, so much fun and how lucky are we that we get to meet so many wonderful people and offer them an opportunity to step into our world of horses. Truly, we feel blessed in what we do every day. With just a little bit of down time, we are getting ready for Fall, Winter and Spring sessions.We have a few things coming up that you might be pretty happy to hear about and consider. One important one is that we will be offering "Last Years" prices to anyone who books any package for any dates before November 30, 2017.Get in on this pricing and book your summer camp or your getaway weekends now. "Last Years" pricing means just what you think it is ... some might consider it our current pricing because starting December we'll have a slight increase in our packages. It'll be the first time in nearly ten years that we do.One of the ways you just might benefit from "Last Years" pricing is by booking our NEW Girls-Only Christmas Camp Week which will run December 26 ~ January 1. What a fabulous way for your girls to spend part of their holiday break and it's one heck of a sweet Christmas present!Another way to SAVE with "Last Years" pricing is by booking another new package ... our Girls-Only Spring Break Camp.All of our packages are all-inclusive so your lodging, meals, tack, horses, lessons, are included in the price. Spa treatments, massage, and yoga are available upon request at additional cost.Space is going to be limited! We accept just eight people per session, and we are already getting calls so be the next to connect with us and save on any package for any dates as long as you book before November 30. (MNS082717)Sun, 27 Aug 2017 06:43:00 -0700http://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/new-doings-at-the-ranchhttp://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/new-doings-at-the-ranchWe have some very exciting news for all our clients old and new. For the last 12 years, we have been opening our ranch home to you and hosting you with lodging, meals, riding and pool fun. We have a gorgeous bunk room that has housed you all for all these years within our ranch house home. Well, here is the fantastic news! We have purchased a new cabin that is going to be delivered to the ranch within the next couple of weeks, and we are going to get fast to work on getting the interior finished and floor plan created to house you all in a secluded area that will abut the horse pasture. Imagine waking up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee in your cozy cabin and sitting out on the porch and greeting the sunrise with the horses right next to you over the fence!! This has been a goal of mine for as many years as I have shared my ranch with you all and now it is fast becoming a reality. Our plan is to have the cabin ready for the first week of summer camp and will be adding another probably by the fall. The second cabin will be a spa and boutique carrying all our Sugar & Spice tank tops, tees, coffee mugs and hand-picked boutique clothing by Ellena, my daughter who also operates the spa and its services! I hope you’re as excited about this as I am.......I can’t wait to see you all here and share my world of horses with you and our new bunkhouse!!! For reservations and questions on all our packages, please, feel free to contact me directly. I just love getting to know my clients over the phone so that you can arrive here and be greeted by a friendly face to put with my voice!! Sincerely, Leigh E. McCourt, Owner Sun, 19 Feb 2017 06:32:00 -0700http://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/a-special-placehttp://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/a-special-place Do you have a special place? My heart skipped a beat when one of our longtime guest and a dear friend shared with us a short essay that her young daughter wrote about her stays at The Sugar & Spice Ranch. It is young girls like Naisa that make what we do at the ranch so special and so worthwhile. Take a moment to read Naisa's essay titled My Special Place. My Special Place By Naisa Fulford Do you have a special place? I am talking my special place that I go visit almost every year in the summer for a week. Ms. Leigh’s Ranch! Woo wee, it is hot during horseback riding. I ride a boy horse whose name is Liberty. I love to go around the obstacle course on him. Liberty is a feisty horse. The best part of grooming him is braiding his tail. I ride two times a day. Two times, can you believe it! I ride Liberty 13 times before I have to leave. After horseback I can go to the swimming pool, catch and release the kittens, and play board games with my mom. I play water wars in the pool and play shark attack. The kittens are so quick I can barely catch them. The board games are really entertaining especially when I beat my mom. “Dinner,” says Ms. Leigh. We have some spicy food that is really good. My favorite meal is a spicy rice and bean dish. After dinner we roast strawberry flavored marshmallows and make s’mores with Patricia. Mmm, yummy! I eat at least four s’mores before bed. Miss Patricia is Ms. Leigh’s daughter that helps out during our stay. She is really funny. I stay up and play in the pool. Then we get back to the mini house and go nighty-night. I love the ranch for all these reasons. I hope you have a really special place too. Spring Break and Summer Camps at The Sugar & Spice Ranch in Bandera, TX Little girls make memories for a lifetime and Mothers bond with their Daughters in a most beautiful way. Relaxing in the pool after a day of riding is always a welcome activity at The Sugar & Spice Ranch. By: Maria Norcia Santillanes Sun, 22 Jan 2017 06:04:56 -0700http://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/little-girl-dreamshttp://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/little-girl-dreams There are a lot of little girl dreams floating around our ranch! We see those dreams come true when girls and their moms come together to learn about ranch life, caring for horses and honing riding skills. Mother And Daughter Guest Ranch Camps and Packages include Girls Only Horseback Riding Camp, Holiday Packages Riding Horses, Mother and Daughter Riding Camps and Returning Summer Campers. Everyone bunks together in a real western bunkhouse in the Texas Hill Country. A horse is chosen for each gal based on skill, and you get to care for and ride that same horse for the week or the weekend. Moms will feel like a kid again, and Daughters will get the camp experience of a lifetime! And there is so much more! Learning to care for your horse includes learning how to tack up, groom, bathe, feed, turn out, and of course, ride your horse. You'll do virtually everything together -- including riding and swimming -- and on the last day of camp participate in a team horse show. Mothers and Daughters will learn about each other working as a team and bond in a way that will be special for each. And of course, there is that very special something about horses that teaches you about yourself, what you're made of and they help you to build confidence in who you are. Summer 2017 early enrollment is happening now and will end on December 15. It includes special pricing and a first opportunity to get the dates you want. But if you can't enroll by then, we will still be taking reservations as long as there is space. We do fill quickly, so we suggest you plan early. Give new meaning to your relationship with your daughter(s) at The Sugar & Spice Ranch. Post by Maria Norcia Santillanes 12/2016Mon, 05 Dec 2016 03:19:00 -0700http://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/fall-is-in-the-airhttp://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/fall-is-in-the-airFall is such a sweet time of year. It a time when we enjoy cooler days, and it's an excellent time to ride some horses. Then again, it's always a splendid time to ride horses at The Sugar & Spice Ranch. This month, it's not too late to get in on a great Woman's Only Weekend Friday, October 28th ~ Monday, October 31. It's a fun way to experience what it is like to own horses and to live on a working horse ranch. Our WOW (women-only weekend) sessions run from September through May on one of the last weekends of the month and are all-inclusive (lodging, all meals, tack, horses, lessons, etc.) Everyone gets to bunk together as a group in our beautiful bunk room. We accommodate all levels of experience, and we have two riding lessons per day, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. You can also pamper yourself with unique Spa Treatments by Miss Ellena (at an additional cost). It's just a great way to relax and recharge in time for the winter holidays. Plus you'll meet new friends and experience the sweetness and the spirit of some magnificent horses. Check out our website to learn more details and to reserve your stay! _________ ~Maria Norcia Santillanes Fri, 07 Oct 2016 10:45:00 -0700http://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/labor-day-weekend-the-right-time-for-saddles--matshttp://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/labor-day-weekend-the-right-time-for-saddles--matsMaria Norcia Santillanes - July 23, 2016 Saddles & Mats is one of our favorite events that we hold only a few times each year. The next will be Labor Day weekend, September 1 ~ 5 and we hope you’ll join us.So what is it about yoga and horseback riding? Well, yoga, of course, is good exercise, helps you stretch out tight hamstrings that will assist with comfortable riding. It will create suppleness in your body and with practice will give you great flexibility. Yoga builds core strength and core strength helps with riding posture.But what’s more is yoga and riding both are about being present. When you are on the mat breathing through the poses, focusing on your body, you are present in the moment. Breath and focus are important when you are riding as well, allowing you to keep your posture, flow with the movement of the horse and stay-in-the-moment. Both yoga and horses make you innately seek the connection, and when it happens, it’s joyful. It’s why the two activities go together so well and why we are happy to include Saddles & Mats in our Women’s Only packages. This Labor Day weekend, Allison Kara is returning to The Sugar & Spice Ranch to lead our Yoga sessions. Allison studied at the Kripalu School of Yoga, the premier educational organization dedicated to the inquiry into what creates a fulfilled human life. They teach the art and science of yoga to tens of thousands of people each year. We are delighted to have Allison lead our yoga sessions and helping each of our guests to relax and focus while enjoying horseback riding in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.If you are interested in joining us for Saddles & Mats, it's highly recommended you book your all-inclusive stay as early as possible as we are accepting only eight women for this highly sought-after getaway retreat.In our next few posts, we’ll give you the scoop on our mother & daughter weekends that will be available throughout the fall. Moms and their daughters or favorite girl get to care for and ride horses together, learn a thing or two about each other and strengthen their bond. It’s a priceless experience! We will also have information about our 2017 summer camps for which we are once again offering early enrollment. Sat, 23 Jul 2016 00:00:00 -0700http://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/summer-camp-salehttp://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/summer-camp-saleMaria Norcia Santillanes - June 1, 2016 Don't Miss This! Use Code June Sale! To Book Your Summer Camp Week. Feel Free To Call Miss Leigh With Any Questions About Reserving Your Stay Or Adding On A Spa Treatment With Miss Ellena, Our Licensed Esthetician. We're Looking Forward To Having You With Us This Summer. Wed, 01 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -0700http://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/were-delighted-to-have-youhttp://www.texashorsecamps.com/blog/post/were-delighted-to-have-youThis blog is the block of time we enjoy so much when we stop, slow down and connect with you.It's one of the things we love most about social media sharing. The very thought that potentially we are connecting with people all over the country and the globe is very exciting. We have many good friends from Europe and Australia. It's always nice to hear from our friends in Italy. They have a keen interest in and understanding of American riding since they too ride 'western', and I'll bet you'd be surprised to know there are many working cowboys in Italy. Knowing this helps us to connect to a bigger picture, one where we are all just different versions of ourselves. Bracciano Traditions | Italy | www.lifeinitaly.com | Buttero: Italian Cowboys in Bracciano So much has been going on at the ranch including Ms. Patricia's prom which as you know is an exciting time for a senior of high school. Soon she will be off to college and ready to take on the world. You go, girl!Ms. Leigh finally found time to take a mini-vacation with her sister and now she is back, rested and ready for the coming summer camp 2016. Nothing makes her happier! Mothers and daughters will be arriving in the beautiful Hill Country for riding and bonding and of course, making memories.Ms. Ellena is making the world gorgeous with her spa treatments. As many of you already know, Ms. Ellena is a licensed esthetician and offers a menu of delightful treatments for guests of the ranch. Mom's, be sure to schedule a relaxing facial or one of other many treats while you are here at the ranch. You'll be glad you did!So the porch is swept, the pool is ready, and the horses are keeping watch for you, from wherever you may be coming.We're delighted to have you as our guest!Sun, 01 May 2016 00:00:00 -0700