Horse Connection, Liberty & Yoga
Find all available dates in calender below or
in the booking form.
This retreat can also be booked without yoga.
For any special wishes feel free to reach out.
communication, liberty and free riding
Price
starts at 1800$ US includes 13% VAT
Includes
Accomodation (private room option)
Full board
Airport Transfers
2 Groundwork Lessons
3 Riding Lessons
Liberty workshop
Horse Connection Lesson
Theory Lessons
Trail Ride
Farm Tour
Hotspring & Coffee Tour
1 tour of choice, like river or chocolate tour
fresh herbal wake up teas
6 Yoga Lessons
includes all entrance prices, meals, transfers,
not included airfares, tips, sovernirs, personal expenses
Use the limited discount code: HORSE to receive a disount on your booking.
Feel the flow...
Join us for our unique and carefully designed educational retreat to connect with horses, nature and your inner strength. This retreat combines the daily practice of yoga, the study of Natural Horsemanship and some wonderful local tours. Natural Horsemanship helps to improve your body consciousness, focus and leadership. Within the yoga and the horses you will be present and in the now. Breath in the fresh air and peace of our cosy mountain farm. Practice mindfulness and go in contact with yourself through your equine partner. Feel yourself and your horse moving together in harmony and during your yoga class. Soak in the life and peace of our jungle surroundings.
In Costa Rica the day starts early, please dont worry that we start early too, you will feel fresh and awake. Start your day with a fresh made herbal tea from our garden. The yoga class held by a professional and strong yogi who will guide you through your class in flow and with ease. Yoga helps you to improve your strength and balance, mental as well as physical. After a hearty breakfast including fresh and local ingredients you will be with your horse in a natural horsemanship groundwork or riding class. The study of Natural Horsemanship will not only bring you closer to the majestic and high spiritual being of the horse but also improve your self confidence, awareness, consciousness and focus. Becoming the leader of your equine partner can teach you to also become your own leader and not have others influence your decisions and ideas without your consent. After your horse class you can stay with the herd on our stunning mountain pasture, take time to just be and breath. The afternoons include a mix of activities making every day special and different. After a healthy and delicious dinner we will be falling asleep to the sound of the jungle.
Calendar
Course Includes
Prices
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7 days/ 6 nights accommodation in a shared room (private options)
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Airport Transfers
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fresh made meals (we can accomodate your personal diet)
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fresh made smoothies and teas
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5 Horsemanship sessions: groundwork, liberty and riding
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2 Theory lessons
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1 Liberty Workshop: Theory and practical
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6 Morning yoga sessions
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herbal tea circle: pick your tea from our medicinal garden
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hot springs & coffetour
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horse connection class
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mindfulness trail ride
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1800$ US without yoga
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2100$ US shared room
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2700$ US privat room
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4700$ US couple/ friends in private room
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This course can be booked without yoga with a discount.
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Extras:
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Extra Lesson Private: 65$ US
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Massage: around 60$ US
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Horse Connection & Liberty
Immerse into the learning of the horses language.
Gift yourself time to fully immerse into the horse world together with our passionate horsewoman isa and her precious herd at Finca Soley. Learn how to communicate with horses using your energy, intentions and body language. After being partnered up with your equine partner you can learn with him together what it means to become a friend with a horse. Improve your timing, mental strength and leadership while having the best teacher in the world: a horse. Become one with your horse riding with only one or even without reins (for experienced riders) and on only a bareback pad. Test your creativity and precision while playing with your horse in liberty. Once you make friends with a horse there are no more limits.
This course is for people who want to really connect with a horse. No matter if you finally follow your dream and start getting in contact with horses or if you even own your own horses back home and want to bring new inspirations with you, we will pick you up where you are and make sure you will get the best out of this course.
Besides the horses you can enjoy Finca Soley surroundings on the included nature and culture tours within this program. Visit hot springs to relax, hike and visit a local attraction in our area.
Each program will be carefully and individually adjusted to your wishes and needs. At Finca Soley we work on a private scale with one on one attention to our guests.
Retreat Sample Schedule (might be due to changes)
Day 1
3pm: Farm Tour
We take you on a walk through our tropical mountain farm and you will learn about eatable and medicinal plants we grow here.
4.30pm: Tea Circle
Pick a leave from our medicinal garden to prepare your herbal tea. We will sit together to meet and set goals, discuss wishes for the retreat.
6:30 pm: Dinner
Day 2
6.15 am. Herbal Tea
6:30 am: Yoga
8 am: breakfast
9 am: Theory Lesson
What is Natural Horsemanship?
10 am: Horse Connection Lesson
Ground Work: All students will be paired up with a horse/pony and we learn the basic principles on how to communicate with our horses using body language
12 am: lunch
3 pm: Awareness Trail Ride
We ride out, practicing presence with our horses and discover the stunning views of the area.
6:30: Dinner
Day 3
6.15 am. Herbal Tea
6:30 am: Yoga
8 am: breakfast
9 am: Horse Connection Lesson
Ground Work: Learn how to move with your horse using body language and energy
11 am: lunch
12 pm: Orosi Hot Springs
We take a car ride down passing the beautiful lake of Cachi to the volcanic thermal springs of Orosi. The installations also host a coffeetour included.
6 pm: dinner
Day 4
6.15 am. Herbal Tea
6:30 am: Yoga
8 am: breakfast
9 am: Bitless Riding Lesson
Riding Lesson: Riding with one rope. Mounting with mounting block, move your horse using energy and body language from the saddle
12 am: lunch
2 pm: Theory Lesson
Learn about the different characters of the horses and how to adjust your leadership strategies
3 pm: Horse Connection Liberty Class
We join the herd in their pasture and become part of the group.
6 pm: dinner
Day 5
6.15 am. Herbal Tea
6:30 am: Yoga
8 am: breakfast
9 am: Bitless Riding Lesson
Riding Lesson: Balanced seat, smooth transitions with seat aids
12 am: lunch
2 pm: Tour of choice from the group (example: river tour, chocolate tour, botanical garden)
6:30 pm: Dinner
Day 6
6.15 am. Herbal Tea
6:30 am: Yoga
8 am: breakfast
9 am: Liberty Workshop
Theory: understanding the different tool and methods
Ground work: Liberty one on one lesson
12 am: lunch
2 pm: Bitless Riding Lesson
Riding: neckring riding (for advanced riders), obstacle riding for beginners and intermediate
6:30 pm: Dinner
Day 7
6.15 am. Herbal Tea
6:30 am: Yoga
8 am: breakfast
9 am: Summary - closing
Meet your Instructors
Milton Avendaño
Milton grew up in the jungle of Nicaragua. He has a great knowledge of the plants, animals and nature in Central America. He finds the sloth and explains you what this plant can be used for. Milton has built Finca Soley’s structures and houses.
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 year in her 20s she arrived in Costa Rica to have her own 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 on sharing her knowledge and learnings. She teaches in English, German & Spanish.
We work together with different yoga teachers. Here are a few.
Analía
“Hi, my name is Analía, I am a yoga teacher since 2014. I am passionate about the internal work, self-knowledge and the use of the body as a tool to discover and heal oneself. Because of that I have been studied yoga, astrology, reiki and psychology.
My classes search for a space to observe, feel and contemplate our existence to look for patterns that manage our lifes, and to identify those that doesn’t make us good. We experience that paying attention to our body; the ways we can move it and the feelings and thoughts this provoke.
I love vinyasa, so, my yoga classes are usually fluid but with and emphasize in biomechanics and in the ways we sculpt the postures from within. However, I have some studies in ashtanga yoga, hatha yoga and devaya yoga (the yoga of colors and chakras). I believe in the practice of yoga beyond the postures. I think that the key is in breathing and in the full attention that we cultivate during the movement.
I hope we can meet soon and share this powerful practice.”
Steven
"I am a Yoga instructor, a Thai Massage therapist and a passionate dancer and agroecologist. Over the years, I have developed a growing interest in multiple styles of yoga, meditation and different movement practices like dance, acroyoga and contact improvisation which has deeply transformed the way I move and the way I teach. I have a strong motivation towards my own consistent personal practice to keep exploring, learning and sharing. I have always been open to different philosophies and teachers, which keeps being a source of inspiration to expand my perspectives. I focus on developing physical, mental and emotional agility through movement, breath and meditation techniques. My purpose is to awaken and maintain our resilient, sensitive and intuitive nature and to live our lives aligned with who we truly are exploring the potential of our unique creative energy."
the horses
In the horse connection and liberty retreat you will get partnered up with one of our horses that has been trained in Natural Horsemanship and liberty. All horses have been trained at Finca Soley by isa and her students and are at different levels. Our horses live in a herd on big pastures with access to roofed area and hay and receive daily care and training. The weel being of our horses is our number one focus. Within our herd you will meet your perfect partner to form a deep friendship.
We have spanish saddles as well as felt and english saddles.
Maximum riders weight for beginners is 80kg. Advanced rider 90 kg.
Accomodation
Finca Soley 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, fans, hot water, privacy and beautiful views. In our area we live well without A/C.
Casa Perla
Casa Perla counts with 2 bedrooms, 2 porches, 1 bathroom with shower and an open kitchen living area. It has hot water and you have access to a washing machine.
Sustainable building: The toilet flush uses rain water, the porch is made with bamboo and some walls contain recycled glass bottles. Casa Perla has loads of nice and bright windows with hummingbirds and butterflies around it. All windows are screened. One bedroom has a king size bed the other bedroom one has a built in loft and accommodates four single beds comfortably and with great privacy.
Casa India
Casa India is an octagon building with 3 bedrooms and onsuite 3 bathrooms. Each room has an individual entrance. 2 bedrooms have a built in loft to provide extra space and privacy, sharing one of the rooms with a loft is a great semi private option and you will feel very comfortable here. All showers have hot water. Casa India has a big kitchen living area to be shared by the 3 rooms. Here you find our horse library and DVD area.
