Rugged limestone hills wander along prickly pear cacti, yucca shrubs, and towering oak trees. This is Texas Hill Country, a horseback rider’s paradise. In fact, the city of Bandera is known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World.”
Rancho Cortez, however, is more inclined to cater to the cowgirls. With its Girls Horse Camp running through June and July, the young ladies will form an unforgettable bond with their horses while experiencing an authentic ranch lifestyle.
The week-long camps afford eight- to 16-year-old girls with the opportunity to learn the true meaning of horsemanship. While in attendance, the campers will experience the challenges and responsibilities of riding, loving, and taking care of horses. The camp relishes in welcoming back returning campers and greeting new crops of cowgirls.
“It is certainly a pleasure to see the girls check in each year for their exciting week of girls camp, many of whom come back year after year,” Rancho Cortez Office Manager (Name) said. “It is such a fun time for all of us, and each end of week is bittersweet to see one group leave but another join for the next week.”
These groups are intentionally small in number so the professional instructors can give each camper as much attention as possible. Whether you’re a novice rider or an equestrian expert, the camp welcomes you. It is the staff’s goal to sharpen each camper’s horsemanship skills and have them leave with memories that last a lifetime.
After a week of practicing equestrian skills, each camper gets the opportunity to participate in a local rodeo, competing in a barrel race against the time clock. With the staff’s professional instruction, the ranchers in training are sure to be prepared for the big day.
The rodeo is the only thing the kids have to prepare for, as delicious meals, rustic Western lodging, and the horses are all provided. Just remember your boots, blue jeans, and a little extra spending money for ice cream, gift shop souvenirs, and the six-dollar gate fee at the rodeo.
The Ranch is about much more than just riding, though. It allows girls to make lifelong companions, form a bond with their four-legged friends, learn about horses, and apply the lessons to their life. Whether horseback riding is a serious career path or just a way to get away from it all, the Ranch offers an unforgettable introduction to horses.
“We love offering the girls the opportunity to learn about horses,” Rancho Cortez Owner Larry Cortez said. “And then hearing how they go on to great things in the horse industry just does our hearts good knowing our groundwork paid off.”
Offering multiple weeks’ worth of equine excitement during its June and July Girls Horse Camps, Rancho Cortez is in the heart of Cowgirl Country.
