Natural Horsemanship Retreat in Costa Rica (7 Days)

7 Days, Multiple Departures

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Natural Horsemanship Retreat in Costa Rica (7 Days)
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Itinerary
  • Location
  • Things to keep in mind

We understand Natural Horsemanship as a holistic way of keeping and training horses. We base our principle on a LOVE-based relationship that is free of judgment and includes a positive attitude, where the horse feels safe and valued.  It is based on COMMUNICATION in which we will always first listen, understand, and then share our ideas. It is surrounded by BOUNDERIES that we set to be able to be safe AND give the horse room to express himself.

The study of Natural Horsemanship will not only learn you to communicate with your horse. It will also learn you to get to know yourself. Becoming a good partner for your horse will teach you a lot about yourself and improve your focus, decision making, having a clear mind and learn to control your energy and body. 

​In the classical training, you will get into the details of the horse's body. Learn how to use flexion, moralization, and balance. Develop the perfect feeling. Refine communication where all you need is a thought, a breath an idea.

As a guest, you will learn how to train and ride bitlessly. Advanced riders with an independent seat might also learn how to connect with a horse using a bit to reach his deeper muscle tissue.

​Our horses are trained at different levels to accommodate your needs and become your perfect teacher. They will know on what they have to do to show you where to improve. 

​WE ARE EXCITED TO ACCOMODATE A GREAT LEARNING AND DEVELOPING EXPERIENCE.

About

Accommodation 

5 lessons 

2 theory lessons

3 half day tours and activities to choose from

Airport Transfers  

Full board meal

Airfare

Food

Fresh made meals (vegetarien option).

Accommodation

The retreat place counts with two guesthouses offering private, semi private and shared rooms to the guests. It provides a rustic but comfortable ranch environment with lush green, colorful flowers, endless birds and butterflies around the houses. All rooms provide high quality matraces, hot water, privacy and beautiful views.

Riding pants

Yoga clothes 

Comfortable clothes for the evenings (It can get cold)

A pretty dress/ clothes for the ceremony, dinners

Clothes for trips

Closed shoes for riding

Sneakers or hiking boots for hiking

Flip Flops, Sandals or something similar

Light longs-leave shirts to protect against sun and insects

Cap or sunhat

Riding helmet (We have plenty on the farm too)

Swimsuit

Sunscreen and repellent

Flash light

Water bottle with carabiner

Toiletries (shampoo bar & soap bar, organic and bio gradable products as our water maintains in our gardens we cannot use silicone or plastic in our soaps, we also recommend you the moon cup instead of commercial tampons for your trip)

Small backpack

Booklet and pen to make notes (For Theory lessons and personal writings)

Maybe bum bag

Your personal first aid kid (Plaster, ointment, charcoal tablets, etc.)

"Isa is a fantastic woman with a big ❤️ both for her volunteers, guests, and not least for her wonderful horses and her lovely family. I had a lifetime experience and strongly recommend this place to future guests and volunteers. I feel I got a new family and I learned so much about how to approach and ride horses in a respectful manner, Thank you so much, Isa"

- Hanne A

"I will do a quick break down of my 7 day experience. Horse Lessons I did Horse connection and Liberty package of lessons. This was an amazing deep dive into making connections with horses and learning to properly communicate with them as to make a natural partnership. I had an amazing experience with my training horse Navajo to whom I spent the entire week with. Some of the work included ground work , riding and off-rope training(liberty). Cant wait to go back and learn more! Yoga classes My classes with Analia were really great! I have pretty regular practice but it was a great opportunity to slow down and break down some of the poses and reinforce the fundamentals. Highly recommended for any level of yoga! Hosting/Food/Farm Life This was the initial draw for me and I will say I was immensely satisfied with my experience. The daily access to organic food products like milk, eggs, vegetables, fruits was such a treat! Also it is a daily working farm so I was able to interact with all the animals , explore, and even pick fruit off the trees!!! :-) Accommodations I stayed in the single room of the Villa. This was such a wonderful experience. Although there is no AC, there is plenty of fans and the jungle cross breeze is good at cooling the villas. The back balcony/patio which faces out to the farm/mountains is very lovely and scenic. My dinners and experiences with my roommates from across the globe was an amazing opportunity for cultural exchange, and provided enough memories to last a lifetime. Excursions The farm owners Isa and Milton do a great job coordinating the excursions to provide a perfect harmony between satisfying your thirst for adventure and experiencing serenity at the farm. Every trip was perfect and also extremely memorable."

- Michael W

Gallery
About The Host
Isabel Avendaño

Isabel Avendaño

Isa has been horse crazy since she could express herself. She donated her life to horses and the study of natural horsemanship & classical horsemanship. After traveling from herd to herd for 5 years in her 20s she arrived in Costa Rica to have her herd and live her dream of a sustainable horse farm. She has been teaching Natural Horsemanship & Classical Horsemanship for over a decade and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and learnings. She teaches in English, German & Spanish.

Next to her passion for horses, she has planned together with Milton the buildings you find at the retreat. She is all about ecology and nature close to community life, loves yoga, healthy food, and cooking, and is overall a passionate mom and wife.

Itinerary

Day 1

We pick you up at the airport to take you to the retreat location. We can accommodate you every time to pick you up. If you are already at a different place in the country we can arrange a different pickup location as well. 

After you settle in one of our program coordinators will meet you to plan out the week. Each week is planned individually. You will receive a set of lessons on the topic you choose. Theory lessons. And have a set of tours that you can choose from our tour section together with the other group members.

You can take a walk to explore the farm and meet the horses. 

Dinner will be served around 6pm and we appreciate if we have all needed information in case that you follow a specific diet. 

If arrival is at night you will be bought to your room by the driver and we will meet you the next day. 

Day 2

We start the day with breakfast at the community house at 8 am. Here you will meet the other guests and volunteers living at the retreat place.  At breakfast you will receive your plan to see the lessons schedule and tours. 

All about learning? Bring your notebook and take a seat next to the arena to observe the lessons and training. We kindly ask to stay calm and keep questions for after the lessons/ training. 

Lunch will be shared between the community at 12 midday. A great moment to recall the learned things and process. After lunch you might head out to a tour chooses or have a theory lesson. Depending the choice you made. 

Day 3 to Day 6

Improve your communication skills with your horse. Learn to ride in balance or gain a better understanding of the animal horse and its body. 

Enjoy the beauty of the lush green Costa Rica mountains during our beautiful nature and culture tours. 

Deepen your understanding during the theory lessons. And enjoy your time relaxing and listing to the sounds of the jungle. 

Day 7

Depending your flight we will take you to the airport. Departure is between 5 and 6 hours before your flight. If your flight is in the evening you can book an extra lesson (depends availability). 

Location
Things to keep in mind

The booking system requires to pay add-ons at booking. Payment plans can be offered. Since we need long-term planning your registration for the booked time is binding. The fee for the entire period specified by you is due upon your arrival at the farm. In case of early departure, no refund of the fee project is possible. This is true even if we have to exclude you because of a violation of our house and community rules on further project work. If you wish to terminate your participation.

If you cannot arrive we are happy to find an alternative date for your stay with us within one year. The second part of the payment can also be made in cash upon arrival.