Rancho Baile de La Luna
Rancho Baile de La Luna
What You'll Experience
Most of your time will be spent in the arena with the horses -
engaging, observing, and learning through direct experience.
There’s no riding involved. Everything happens on the ground.
Sometimes you’ll be working with a horse on a lead rope,
simply walking together and noticing what that feels like.
Other times, you’ll be standing in the center of the space with no rope at all -
learning how to ask the horse to move using only your body, your energy, and your focus.
You might use a simple tool like a training flag or stick, but the real communication isn’t coming from the tool…
it’s coming from you.
There are also moments where you’ll do nothing at all.
You’ll stand, be still, and see what happens.
Does the horse approach you?Ignore you?
Connect…
or drift away?
And if nothing happens - you’ll learn how to respond. Not by forcing - but by becoming clearer.
At times, you’ll ask the horse to move around the space, and something interesting begins to happen.When your timing, energy, and intention come into alignment,
the horse may choose to turn toward you…
slow down…
and walk with you.
Not because it has to.
Because it wants to.
That moment of connection -
when the horse willingly joins you -
is something you feel in your whole body.
You can’t fake it.
You can’t force it.
And when it happens, you understand something immediately…
without needing it explained.
What You May Start to Notice
Throughout these experiences, you’ll start to notice patterns in yourself:
• when you hesitate vs. when you’re clear
• when you try to control vs. when you stay grounded
• when you disconnect vs. when you’re truly present
The horses respond to all of it - honestly and without judgment.
And that’s where the real learning happens.
About the Ranch
Nature, horses, and room to breathe.
Nestled in the high desert just outside of San Miguel de Allende, Rancho Baile de la Luna is a peaceful, private horse ranch where nature, stillness, and connection come together in a deeply authentic way.
Surrounded by wide-open skies, native landscape, and the quiet rhythm of ranch life, the space offers a natural pause from the noise of everyday life. Here, the pace slows. The air feels different. And there’s room to reconnect - with yourself, with the land, and with something deeper.
Home to a small herd of well-cared-for horses, the ranch is designed to support meaningful, ground-based experiences rather than traditional riding-focused activities. Whether you’re walking among the horses, sitting in observation, or engaging in guided sessions, the environment invites presence, awareness, and honest reflection.
This is not a polished retreat center - it’s a real, working ranch. That’s part of its magic. The authenticity of the space creates a grounded, welcoming atmosphere where transformation doesn’t feel forced - it unfolds naturally.
Guests often describe the ranch as calming, expansive, and unexpectedly powerful - a place where something shifts, simply by being here.
What Makes Us Special
Not a retreat center. A real ranch with real experiences.
Rancho Baile de la Luna offers a rare kind of experience - one that is grounded, authentic, and deeply connected to both horses and the natural environment.
This is not a typical retreat setting or a polished resort. It’s a real working ranch where guests are invited into meaningful, hands-on experiences with a small herd of intuitive, well-cared-for horses. The work is non-riding and experiential, allowing for genuine connection, presence, and personal insight to unfold naturally.
What makes this space truly special is the combination of horses, open land, and an environment that supports honest, unfiltered awareness. There is no pressure to perform or “get it right” - just space to be, observe, and reconnect.
Many guests come expecting something simple and leave having experienced something unexpectedly profound.
Our Philosophy
Insight through experience, not instruction.
We believe that real change doesn’t come from being told what to do - it comes from direct experience.
Horses offer a unique kind of feedback: immediate, honest, and without judgment. By working alongside them in a grounded, present way, people begin to see their own patterns more clearly - how they show up, where they hesitate, where they try to control, and where they are truly aligned.
Our approach is rooted in presence, awareness, and allowing insight to emerge naturally rather than forcing it. There is no need for prior horse experience. The horses meet each person exactly where they are.
This work is simple, but not always easy - and that’s where its power lies.
Transportation
The Rancho is located just outside of San Miguel de Allende.
Transportation is fully included in the retreat experience.
Guests will be picked up each day from the hotel in a private shuttle van and brought to Rancho Baile de la Luna, with return transportation provided after each session.
Shuttle service is also available for scheduled free time, including trips into San Miguel de Allende for exploring, dining, or relaxing in town.
Everything is coordinated for you, so you can focus on the experience without needing to think about logistics.
Weather
San Miguel de Allende enjoys a mild, high-desert climate year-round.
- Days: Typically warm and sunny
- Mornings & Evenings: Can be cool, especially in fall and winter
- Rainy Season: June through September (usually brief afternoon showers)
We recommend dressing in layers, wearing comfortable closed-toe shoes, and bringing sun protection such as a hat and sunscreen.
Cost:
This is an intimate, small-group retreat limited to 8 participants, allowing for a deeply personal and immersive experience.
Early Bird Pricing (Limited Availability)
A special rate is available for the first participants who reserve their spot.
Shared Room (Double Occupancy)
$2,750 USD per person
Private Room (Single Occupancy)
$3,350 USD per person
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Standard Pricing
Shared Room (Double Occupancy)
$2,950 USD per person
Private Room (Single Occupancy)
$3,550 USD per person
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What’s Included
* 4 full days of guided horse experiences and personal exploration
* 5 nights accommodation in a beautiful, peaceful setting
* Daily transportation between the hotel and ranch
* Airport transportation (arrival and departure)
* Nourishing meals (4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners)
* A supportive, intimate group experience
with experienced facilitators
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Reserve Your Spot
A $750 USD non-refundable deposit secures your place.
The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the retreat.
Spaces are limited and tend to fill quickly. If you feel called to this experience we encourage you to reserve your spot early.
Cancellation Policy
* Deposits are non-refundable
* Cancellations made 30+ days before the retreat may be transferred to a future retreat (subject to availability)
* Cancellations within 30 days of the retreat are non-refundable unless your spot is filled
A Note on This Experience
This retreat is more than a getaway - it’s a chance to reconnect with yourself in a grounded, supportive environment.
The horses, the land, and the group dynamic all play a role in creating meaningful, lasting shifts.
If you feel the pull, trust it.
Our Facilitators
Amy Spencer
Amy Spencer brings over 45 years of lived experience with horses, shaped by a life spent between Mexico and the United States. Fluent in both Spanish and English, she moves सहजly between cultures as well as within the subtle, unspoken language of horses.
Her work focuses on biomechanics and the therapeutic art of equitation, exploring how horse and human move, communicate, and find balance together. She is a Certified Horsemanship Association instructor and a Certified Equine Therapist through the Grown Our Concept, integrating somatic awareness with equine partnership.
Amy’s approach is grounded in both practical skill and embodied presence. As a daily practitioner of Kundalini and Pranayama yoga, she incorporates breath, awareness, and energy into her work, creating a safe and supportive environment for deeper connection and transformation. Her decades of spiritual study inform a quiet, steady presence that supports both horse and human in finding alignment and trust.
She is a thoughtful and experienced teacher, offering clear guidance while allowing each individual to develop awareness through direct experience. Her work complements the retreat by bringing attention to the physical and energetic relationship between horse and rider, supporting a deeper understanding of connection, communication, and presence.
Marti McGinnis
Marti McGinnis is a lifelong creative, facilitator, and pioneer in equine-assisted learning, with over 40 years of experience guiding individuals through experiential and transformative processes. With a Master’s degree in Communication and decades as a professional artist, her work brings together authentic expression, human connection, and the intuitive wisdom of horses.
Since the early 2000s, she has been actively involved in the evolution of equine-assisted practices, holding advanced certifications and contributing to programs that integrate horses, creativity, and personal insight. She is an EAGALA Level 2 Certified Equine Specialist and a certified Equine Assisted Learning facilitator through the Equine Assisted Learning Academy. In 2024, she completed a Level 2 Certificate in the Therapeutic Use of Person-Centred Creative Arts through the Association for Person-Centred Creative Arts in the UK.
Marti is the Co-Founder of HorseJourneys and the Founder of QuantumSparks, where she has designed and facilitated workshops that help individuals access deeper self-awareness through direct experience rather than theory. Her current work, Charcoal Horse, reflects the culmination of her path, offering experiences that are both grounded and creatively alive.
Her approach is non-riding and experiential, blending equine-assisted learning with creative practices such as drawing and reflective art. Through presence, observation, and creative expression, she supports participants in discovering clarity in a way that is personal and lasting.
Jocelyn Rausten
Jocelyn Rausten is a Mindvalley Certified Life Coach who brings a grounded, intuitive, and compassionate approach to her work. While early in her formal coaching career, she has over 2 years of experience working with clients and has long been recognized for her natural ability to listen deeply, reflect insightfully, and guide others with clarity and care.
She holds a degree in Biology and Chemistry from Lewis & Clark College, bringing a thoughtful and holistic perspective to human behavior, growth, and personal development. Jocelyn is especially skilled at creating a space where people feel truly seen and heard, often helping them access their own insights in a way that feels natural and empowering.
Her calm presence and thoughtful questions gently uncover patterns, beliefs, and possibilities that may not be immediately visible. She offers guidance that is both supportive and practical, helping individuals gain clarity while identifying meaningful next steps.
Jocelyn is particularly drawn to working with young adults and those navigating transitions, identity, and life direction. Her work complements the experiential nature of Spirit Horse Journeys by providing space for reflection, integration, and deeper understanding.
Chris Rausten
Chris Rausten is the founder of Rancho Baile de la Luna and the creator of Spirit Horse Journeys. She is the visionary behind the experience and the one who holds the container in which it all unfolds.
With over 50 years of experience with horses, her journey began at the age of seven and has shaped nearly every aspect of who she is. Horses have been her teachers in responsibility, intuition, resilience, and care, influencing her sense of adventure, her internal guidance, and her deep respect for the relationship between humans and animals.
Her path is rooted in a lifetime of learning. From early years riding freely to later studies in dressage and natural horsemanship, along with decades of hands-on care, training, and observation, Chris approaches horses as both a student and a steward. She continues to study and grow, including her ongoing involvement in working equitation, where she actively trains and competes.
Alongside her work with horses, Chris has been on a lifelong path of personal and spiritual exploration. Since her teenage years, she has explored a wide range of perspectives on growth, awareness, and the deeper patterns that shape human experience. This inner work informs the way she holds space, bringing depth and presence without the need to direct or define the experience.
As the creator of the retreat, Chris has designed both the physical space and the overall experience, building it step by step with intention and vision. Her role is to guide the flow, support the facilitators, and maintain a grounded and cohesive environment where participants can fully engage in their own process.
She brings a steady, intuitive, and nurturing presence while holding clear structure when needed. She observes, guides, and intervenes when appropriate, always with the intention of supporting both the individual and the group as a whole.
At the heart of her work is a simple belief that when a space is held with care and authenticity, meaningful experiences unfold naturally.
