Why Every Horse Owner Needs This Kind of Vacation
Let me be really clear—this is not just a vacation where you go play with horses.
Yes, you’re at a beautiful ranch. Yes, you’re riding. Yes, it feels like a getaway.
But what makes this different is that you’re actually learning—a lot.
This is the kind of experience that can fast-track your horsemanship in a way that would normally take years.
Michael mentioned that he’s met people who have helped improve his horsemanship by 10 years in a short amount of time… and honestly, that’s exactly what this retreat feels like. You’re not just riding—you’re understanding why things work, how horses think, and how to communicate in a way that actually makes sense to them.
And the best part?
You can either:
- Bring your own horse and work through your real challenges
- Or use one of their horses and focus fully on your own riding and confidence
So instead of coming home from a “horse vacation” with cute pictures and the same problems…
You come home better. More confident. More capable. And actually knowing what to do next.
What the Confidence Retreat Actually Is
The Confidence Retreat is a 5-day getaway in Poplarville, Mississippi, held at Horse Haven Ranch, owned by Michael Gascon.
Each retreat is a little different depending on the group—but the purpose stays the same:
To help you feel more confident working with horses so you can go home and actually apply what you’ve learned with your own horse.
This isn’t a sit-and-watch kind of experience.
You’re actively learning through:
- Groundwork
- Riding sessions
- Real-time coaching
- Educational seminars
- Watching and learning from training horses
And because every group is different, the retreat is adapted to what people actually need—so it never feels like a one-size-fits-all program.
By the end of the 5 days, the goal isn’t just that you had a great time…
It’s that you leave feeling more capable, more confident, and actually knowing what to do next with your horse.
Meet the Gascons: The People Behind Horse Haven Ranch
Before I even get into the retreat itself, I want to talk about the people who make it what it is—because honestly, that’s the heart of the whole experience.
The Gascon family isn’t just a couple of trainers running a ranch. They are five generations deep in horsemanship, and you can feel that the second you step onto the property.
This isn’t something they learned from a course or picked up along the way—this is something that’s been passed down through their family for generations.
A Legacy of Horsemanship
Michael Gascon comes from a family of world-level horsemen.
- His dad, Jaime, is a world-renowned Paso Fino trainer with hundreds of championships
- His mom trained across multiple disciplines, from barrel racing to English pleasure
- His entire family has been involved in breeding, training, and competing at the highest levels
And it doesn’t stop there—Michael and his sister have also carried on that legacy with their own national and world titles.
So when you’re learning from them, you’re not just getting one person’s opinion…
You’re getting generations of experience behind every single thing they teach.
Their Philosophy (And Why It Stands Out)
What really stood out to me is how they approach horses.
Their entire philosophy is built around:
- Simplicity
- Clear communication
- Actually understanding the horse’s language
Not forcing. Not fighting. Not exhausting the horse.
They truly believe that you don’t need to “wear a horse out” to get results—instead, you learn how to communicate in a way the horse understands.
And honestly… once you see it in person, it makes so much sense.
More Than Just Michael
One thing I didn’t fully realize before going is how much of a family operation this really is.
- Kelsey (his wife) is an incredible horsewoman and professional trick rider
- Brooke (his sister) specializes in horse rehab and nutrition, working with hundreds of performance horses
- Jaime (his dad) is an amazing animal trainer. He not only is renowned for training horses, but also owns a dog training facility, and has trained many other types of animals as well.
- The entire family is involved in different parts of the ranch and the retreats
It really feels like you’re stepping into a full system—not just a training program.
Their Mission
At the end of the day, their goal is simple:
They want to help riders become more confident, knowledgeable, and connected with their horses.
And that’s exactly what the confidence retreat is built around—which I’ll get into next.
The Experience: What You Actually Do Each Day
Day 0: Mastermind Session (Optional Add-On)
Before the retreat officially started, my daughter and I booked a Mastermind Session with Michael (you can check it out here: https://www.gethorsehelp.com/products/mastermind-session?_pos=1&_sid=ed8be31cc&_ss=r).
This ended up being one of the most valuable parts of the entire trip.
We spent the entire day with Michael while he worked horses—and this wasn’t just watching from the sidelines. We were involved, asking questions, and getting real-time feedback the whole time.
Since my horse, Diamond, had just finished her 30 days of training with him, we were able to bring her out and work directly with her.
He walked us through groundwork step-by-step and introduced us to the Horse Help Challenge grading system, which gave us a really clear understanding of where she’s at and what to focus on moving forward.
After that, he brought out his Paso Finos and we got to ride them—which was such a cool experience. He taught us how to gait and helped us feel the difference in movement and communication.
Throughout the day, he was also working with other training horses, so we got to see exactly how he approaches training in real time.
One of the coolest moments?
We watched a beautiful Friesian gelding get his first ride ever. He had only been in training for about two weeks, and seeing how calm and prepared he was for that first ride really showed how effective Michael’s process is.
Later, we brought Diamond back out, got her tacked up, and I was able to ride her for the first time since training.
Because we’re still working through some suspected pain issues with the vet, it was a short ride—but even in that short time, I could feel the difference in her.
It gave me a really clear picture of what she’s capable of once everything is fully sorted.
Now, this mastermind session is not included in the retreat—it’s an add-on.
But if you’re considering going, I would 100% recommend doing it.
You get true 1:1 time with Michael, personalized instruction, and the chance to work through your specific horse and situation before the retreat even begins.
Day 1: The Respect Series
Day one dove straight into groundwork with what Michael calls the Respect Series.
If you brought your own horse, you worked with your horse. If you didn’t, you used one of his—and either way, everyone was working through the same system.
The goal was to move through his grading system until your horse essentially “flunked”—which showed you exactly where the gaps were.
Because of Diamond’s suspected pain issues, I kept things lighter with her. I focused on backing and desensitizing work, and then switched to one of Michael’s horses for the riding portion.
That in itself was really helpful—it let me keep progressing and learning without pushing Diamond past what she was comfortable with.
After riding, we moved over to “Woody,” which is a fake horse used to practice your seat.
And honestly… this was harder than it sounds.
It really breaks down your position in a way you can’t ignore—you feel every imbalance, every habit, everything.
Once the structured part of the day was done, it didn’t just stop there.
Michael kept working training horses, and we stayed to watch—and learn.
And this became a theme throughout the retreat…
Even when the “day” was technically over, there was always more to absorb if you wanted it.
Day 2: Obstacles, Confidence, and Controlled Chaos
Day two was all about obstacles and helping your horse move through things that feel scary.
We worked in the “Thunderdome,” which is a covered round pen filled with different challenges—tarps on the ground, tarps hanging in the air, and even things like a soccer ball.
Michael taught us how to properly desensitize our horses using tools like pool noodles, and how to guide them over tarps and through obstacles without creating fear or tension.
This wasn’t about forcing them through—it was about helping them think their way through it.
I started working with Diamond again for this portion, and then switched over to a Tennessee Walker for the riding portion.
And then… things got really fun.
We had a full-on pool noodle fight on horseback.
It sounds chaotic (and it kind of is), but it’s actually an amazing way to build confidence—for both rider and horse.
We also had a tack talk, where Michael walked us through different types of tack, when to use them, and why.
We talked about:
- Bits (what to use and when)
- Saddles
- Pads
- And other equipment that can make a big difference in your horse’s comfort and performance
Day 3: Horse Health + Games That Actually Teach You Something
Day three started with a nutrition and horse care talk with Brooke.
This was one of those sessions where you realize how much you don’t know—but in a really helpful way.
We learned about:
- Keeping horses healthy
- Deworming practices
- Signs of EPM
- Supplements and what actually matters
After that, we switched gears into more hands-on, fun activities—but still with a purpose.
We had a soccer tournament and more pool noodle sword fighting on horseback.
And yes… there were winners and losers.
My team was the winner of the losers (which honestly still felt like a win 😂), and my daughter was on the losing side of the winning teams.
Day 4: Horse Care, Mounting, and Getting Soaked
Day four was a mix of practical skills and real-life horse care.
We started with a horse care demo with Jaime, which was incredibly valuable.
Then we had a ground mounting class, where we learned how to properly, safely, and effectively mount from the ground.
This is one of those skills that seems simple—but when it’s broken down correctly, you realize there’s a right way and a wrong way.
We also did a bathing demo… and then went on a trail ride.
And fun fact—before this, I had never bathed a horse.
So after the ride, I volunteered to help bathe the horses…
…and ended up giving myself a bath too.
Day 5: Cattle, Competition, and Riding on Another Level
The last day was packed.
We learned about cattle sorting, and then actually got to compete.
My daughter and I were on the same team—and we ended up winning.
After that, we worked again with the Paso Finos, learning how to gait and refining that skill.
And then we took it even further…
We had a class on how to ride bridleless.
Which is one of those moments where you realize just how much everything you’ve been learning all week comes together.
The Breakthrough Moments (Confidence, Fear, and Reality Checks)
This is where everything really clicked.
One of the biggest breakthroughs wasn’t even mine—it was my daughter’s.
She’s only 11, and at this point she had been riding about once a week for around 6 months.
During the retreat, she was able to canter for the first time.
And not just that—her overall riding improved drastically over the week.
Seeing that kind of progress in such a short amount of time was honestly incredible.
For me, the breakthrough looked a little different.
I’ve been working through the Horse Help Challenge with my rescue horse, and I had been struggling—not because I wasn’t trying, but because I didn’t fully understand what I was supposed to be doing.
And that’s something I think a lot of horse owners can relate to.
At one point, I was just hand grazing Diamond and casually working through the respect series…
And Kelsey happened to see me.
She gave me a few simple pointers—and that was it.
But those small adjustments completely changed how I understood what I was doing.
It was one of those moments where everything just clicked.
And that’s the biggest takeaway for me:
Hands-on learning makes all the difference.
You can watch videos, read posts, and try to figure things out on your own—but when someone can see exactly what you’re doing and give you real-time feedback, your understanding (and confidence) levels up fast.
By the end of the retreat, I didn’t just feel like I had learned new things…
I felt like I actually understood them—and that made me so much more confident going forward.
What Makes This Different From Regular Lessons or Clinics
This isn’t a clinic. It’s not an expo. And it’s definitely not just a few hours of riding and then going home.
You’re living it.
You’re surrounded by people who do this at the highest level—trainers, barrel racers, trick riders, and Paso Fino show horse professionals with national and grand national titles.
And you’re not just watching them… you’re learning from them all day long.
Every conversation, every demo, every ride, every moment—there’s something to take away from it.
That’s what makes this so different.
In a typical lesson or clinic, you get a short window of instruction—and then you’re left to figure it out on your own.
Here, you’re fully immersed.
You see how things are done.
You ask questions in real time.
You watch other horses.
You connect the dots faster.
And because of that, your learning doesn’t just happen in one session—it compounds all day, every day.
It’s like compressing years of experience into one week.
Who This Retreat Is Actually For (And Who It’s Not)
Honestly? This retreat is for everyone.
But if I had to be really specific…
I believe every single person who is just getting into horses should do this retreat.
Because this is where you build your foundation the right way.
Instead of guessing…
Instead of piecing together advice from a million different places…
Instead of developing habits that you’ll have to fix later…
You learn:
- How horses actually think
- How to communicate clearly
- What to look for
- What to do (and what not to do)
And that changes everything.
That said—this isn’t just for beginners.
There were people at the retreat ranging from kids to retired riders, and every single person got something out of it.
So whether you’re:
- Brand new to horses
- Feeling stuck in your progress
- Lacking confidence
- Or just wanting to level up your horsemanship
There’s something here for you.
The only people this might not be for?
People who don’t actually want to learn.
Because this isn’t passive—you’re involved, you’re thinking, you’re applying what you’re learning in real time.
And that’s exactly why it works so well.
Is It Worth It? My Honest Thoughts
Yes—it’s absolutely worth it.
When you look at the price, you’re not just paying for a few lessons.
You’re getting:
- Food and drinks included
- Lodging
- Horse board (if you bring your own horse)
- Daily riding and hands-on instruction
- Access to multiple trainers and disciplines
- Educational seminars
And most importantly—you’re leaving with a wealth of knowledge that you can take home and actually apply.
That’s what makes this different.
You’re not spending money on something temporary.
You’re investing in skills, confidence, and understanding that will impact every ride you have moving forward.
And for me, that alone makes it worth it.
What I’d Do Differently (And What I’m Doing Next)
Honestly? Not much.
If anything, I would just come even more prepared to absorb everything—because there is so much to take in.
But one thing I can say for sure…
I’m doing this every year now.
This isn’t a one-time experience for me—it’s something I want to keep coming back to, to continue building my skills and confidence.
I’ve already planned ahead and will be attending again in 2027 (date TBD).
Because once you experience this kind of learning and growth, it’s hard to go back to anything else.
And honestly… this is the kind of “vacation” that actually changes you—and that’s the kind worth repeating.
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