One year Brit and I will succeed in our dream of bringing you guys and the retreat across the pond...one day :)

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bring the retreat this side of the pond!!! we have horses here too!!!!

Probably get them cheaper too :)

If I knew now that I needed to plan ahead for an extra $100, I would be able to do it. I could also chip in $10-$20 extra for another woman who might not be in as stable of a financial situation.

I'll do a retreat in the UK any time there's a way--I would love that! We need a location, means of travel, food, volunteer cooks, and...oh yeah, a bunch of people who want to come.

'stable' hahahahahahaha - nice!

As for a UK retreat, Matt you had better start swimming practice or rowing practice soon!

If people were serious then most of that list would be checked off. I live in a sea of fields and lovely property. But there are really nice grounds nearer to the airport you'd come in at. Having said that, it takes 15 hours to travel between the most northly point and most southern ...so we have a large area of possibility.

I have a few contacts in the event management sector who could help find somewhere and maybe get it at a lower price. So it's a more tangible possibility if people were willing to come :)

I would LOVE to do the horse thing. I never did an equine therapy or anything, but I used to work with horses, and I know it's therapeutic for sure. I actually have a real job again, so if I can start planning for it now, I could swing the 100 extra as well. I have a friend who is going to come with me this year. I'm pretty sure she would be into it as well. We dig creatures, big time :)

Say, do we know dates yet, for this year?

Yes, dates are May 16-19. Equine event will happen, providing people understand it means an additional cost--but it'll also be cool. Horses, team-building/obstacle course stuff, and food.

Sounds wonderful (although I am very scared of horses - they are so big and snorty).
Can you arrange some sunshine too?

Consider it done!
And if you don't like horses, how can you stand me? "Big and snorty" sounds like a pretty accurate description.

big and snorty?!!!!!

matt you just cracked me up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

i would absolutely definetly come to a UK retreat. so would others here.

it would be a dream come true!

methinks we need to have a serious discussion about that.

Hi, I am new here but I just wanted to share my expereince with horses and how much it has helped me in my healing. I have ridden horses for many years now and I still own my horse and after I was raped I believe riding and having her helped me in ways that I dont even know how to explain. Horses have a way in which I truly believe that they can see inside your soul. They will understand things about you that you dont even know about yourself. They are such amazing animals. If anyone is interested in a book about horses and their healing potential for those with trauma, check out The Tao of Equus. The woman who wrote the book runs a horse farm around helping survivors of all kinds of trauma, its very insightful.

Anyways, just some thoughts from a newby here. Have good day!

I have used equine therapy numerous times. It really helps calm the soul. I used to attend on a weekly basis for 18 months until I moved away from the therapy stables I spent time at.

My favourite horse developed equine gastric ulcers, and this made him unridable for about 8 weeks. I was devastated and went backwards, but then the yard manager came up to me one day and said very wise words to me, which I apply to my daily life now as well. She said: “You can stand there moping and let the world go by, or stand up to your challenges and be a part of the solution. Learn what has caused the ulcers, and help your therapy friend overcome them”.

So I learned all about equine ulcers, and how to treat them. I read sites such as https://equineulcers.online/equine-gastric-ulcer-treatment/ that I eventually took over the treatment of his ulcers.

I became so confident in my new found ability, that I joined the rehab team and was able to help others from a personal shared experience.