His long eyelashes acted as a canopy shading dark eyes reaching from the depth of his soul to connect with mine. Sundance was his name. His coat gleamed, his posture perfect, his ears alert. It was my first experience in equine assisted therapy, here in authentic Amarillo in Texas This was a consultation with a horse, an inside-out process, a private affair, standing together in the ring, quiet and spiritual. Emotional responses stirred inside – an awakening of sadness and a tear, lightness of mind and a smile. Sundance seemed to sense issues I had hidden for years. He butted me in the stomach, ouch, as a signal to move tensions within, while gazing at me, sympathetically. Horses hold a superior status in Texas and, as highly sensitive animals, are effective in equine assisted therapy.
Dove Creek Equine Rescue offers coaching for groups and individuals to encourage this deeper inward connection which begins with eye contact and personal presence. The horse reflects and mirrors feelings and can assist in reducing feelings of stress to break through fears and life’s obstacles. The therapy is often described as a “journey of somatic exploration, energetic awareness, emotional intelligence, presence and spiritual connection for a new and renewed sense of clarity, purpose, and direction” And it’s available here in authentic Amarillo in Texas
Authentic Amarillo in Texas
Made famous by the Tony Christie song, Amarillo sits in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. It’s a city with a pioneering spirit, steeped in cowboy tradition and territory, Here the people hold a great respect for their land, history and culture. Looking out to the horizon, the flat landscape is like a patchwork of plains with carpets of yellow hues from daisies, golden wheat fields and native prairie grass. This is big cattle country, fresh clean air, arid and dry.
The Canyon Of Stillness
The Palo Duro Canyon State Park, is the “Grand Canyon of Texas” and the second largest in the US. Hike, mountain bike, or horse ride along the pathways of the former grazing lands of the historic JA Ranch, which was founded in 1876 by Charles Goodnight. This mindful experience is like an artist’s palette, painting a landscape which has been moulded over centuries with layers of the Spanish Skirts rock formations and the craggy face of the Fortress Cliff. (Watch out for rattlesnakes, coyotes and bobcats). It was on these grasslands where the last ruling native American tribe in Amarillo, the Comanches, and their last chief, Quanna Parker, lived inside caves, under tepees and within the canyons of the Llano Estacado. Today, it’s a place of quiet stillness, ideal for star gazing under the dark skies.
Saddle Up
One of the most thought-provoking ways to experience the land and capture its spirit is in the saddle, riding posse style along the rim of the canyon, trotting between cacti, cedar and mesquite in the open plains where the movie, Indiana Jones, was filmed. At sunset, blushed by veils of retiring light, you feel the mystic of the landscape and the lives of the past. Horseback riding at Cowgirls & Cowboys in the West, is an all-women ranch on the Los Cedros Ranch providing a genuine taste of ranching heritage. And even a typical chuckwagon dinner reminiscent of the chuck box invented in 1886 by Charlie Goodnight, is served while listening to tales of those who roamed here. It is often said that the soul of the land can be heard. Listen carefully, you may hear the thud of ghost hooves galloping around the rim. And any aching muscles after 2 hours in the saddle can be soothed by a Swedish massage at the luxurious and contemporary Awaken Med Spa.
The Texas Panhandle
The city has a different vibe with buckets of character blending old west traditions with the new. Amarillo is aglow like days of old, with its vertical neon sign which are still handmade here at the Skyright Sign Company.
Live country music strums on stages in bars and parking lots with boots tapping, stirrups jingling and hats nodding while the Amarillo Symphony, Opera and Lone Star Ballet perform in the more formal setting of the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. The art scene is vibrant. The First Friday Art Walk held at Arts in the Sunset showcases impressive works by local artists. And its hands-on. I tried my hand at glass-blowing under the guidance of Blind Bird Designs. Inspiring, educational and fun and a finished coloured glass flower for my effort! If you want to explore your wild side, grab a can of spray paint and join others enthusiasts adding to the riot of colour coating the half-buried Cadillacs at Cadillac Ranch. This public art installation was created in 1974 by the Ant Farm art collective and has become a key symbol of Route 66 culture and now one of the most visited attractions. In a similar off-beat, playful style, the Slug Bug Ranch, is a line-up of half-buried Volkswagen Beetles and old limos used by the Big Texan restaurant. This is definitely a mile of Amarillo worthy of car cruising. Don’t forget to check out Lile Art Gallery for exclusive cadilite jewellery made with paint chips from Cadillac Ranch!
Route 66
Amarillo is conveniently located mid-way on Route 66, the “mother road” between Chicago and Santa Monica. This is the road that shaped America and celebrates its centennary in 2026. The Amarillo Historic Route 66 District, is lined with a mile of mom & pop businesses with wacky names to match; The Handle Bar for the bikers, Rusted Relics Antiques, Smokey Joe’s where bands play in the parking lot and Aunt Eeks with shelves of books & curiosities. The Nat was a music venue where the likes of Elvis and Buddy Holly played and today is a crowded bargain basement of antiques. Established in 1946, The Golden Light Café is the oldest continuously operating café on Route 66 and listed on the national register of historic places. It’s a café by day, cantina by night with music performers.
Exploring further afield is Vega and its vintage buildings, 40 minutes away. The restored Magnolia Gas station is a reminder of the golden era of Route 66, the Milburn-Price Cultural Museum’s exhibits capture the essence of small-town life while across the road is Dot’s mini-museum. Take a seat at Mama Joe’s Pies and Sweets for baked treats in a cosy, small-town setting. And with a population of just 128, Adrian marks the exact halfway point between Chicago and Santa Monica. Midpoint Café is famous not only for its ugly pies but for its photo opportunity at the “Midpoint” sign, where travellers can capture the perfect snapshot celebrating their journey on Route 66.
Cowgirl And Cowboy Boots
Make sure you have the right attire for authentic Amarillo in USA. You can buy cowboy/cowgirl hats to suit your style and steamed to fit your head but boots are a more serious choice. Beck Boots in Amarillo is a family-owned business with a rich history of handcrafting premium, customised cowboy boots. For generations, they’ve combined traditional techniques with exceptional craftsmanship to create boots that are stylish and of course, durable while still using 1940s machines from Europe. It’s worth a visit and tempting to leave as an owner of genuine Texan boots. For a customised pair, it’s decision-making all the way. After precision sizing, you decide on colour, shade, toe shape, tongue shape, sole type, heel style, spur ledge, straps preference, design and colour of stitching, number of rows…. (phew!). It is no surprise that they make 9 pairs a day, 10 weeks for a basic pair and up to a year to customise, but it’s worth it.
Accommodation
With a range of accommodation options available, The Barfield Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel downtown and steps directly onto the iconic Route 66. This restored historic building is cloaked in the heritage of the Texas Panhandle region. Cowhide covers the chairs and decorates the elevators servicing 112 stylish guest rooms. It offers an Italian Steakhouse and even a speakeasy in the basement requiring a secret code for entry to the popular bar it is today. With a storied past, secrets seem embedded in its walls. It was founded during the prohibition by the pistol-carrying business woman and financier, Melissa Dora Oliver Eakle, known as The Duchess, who became a legendary figure as a pioneer of progress. She purchased land which included the Barfield Building, founded the first opera and established the first library during the Great Depression.
Dining and Sipping
There is no chance of going hungry with restaurants to appeal to all appetites. The Big Texan in Amarillo, is a family-owned icon and famous for its 72-ounce steak challenge, (a woman holds the current title after consuming 3). They source their premium steaks from local Texas ranches and is certainly a true taste of Texas, set in a lively casual atmosphere. The Western Horseman Club in Amarillo serves hearty, homestyle favourites in a ranching-themed atmosphere in contrast to the Metropolitan Steakhouse & Seafood which is a more refined culinary experience with chandeliers and a dark draped curtained interior. Views of hangers, homes and planes zooming into the sky while tucking into hearty burritos is served at Shelby’s Diner, a nostalgic setting for local cowboys, Harleys bikers and visitors alike.
Back in the ring, Sundance nudges me, a reminder to stay in the moment with a look that urges me to move forward with renewed strength. And where better than amidst authentic Amarillo in Texas with its rich cowboy culture and canyon of stillness –a place worth singing about. https://www.visitamarillo.com
Photos provided by Amarillo CVB and editor of The Wellness Traveller
