Women Who run With Horses Retreats:
A Journey with Horse Medicine
Each year we gather with a collective of women who are feeling the call and seeking out the space and medicine of horses. We also land in a theme that feels like it wants to be held with the herd and those that feel called to journey with them. Our theme this year that felt like it wanted to be held was Transition.
If you are a woman that is cycling through a transition in her life, whether that be a physical loss, career, purpose, or life stage and you are wanting to have some wisdom of how to orient and navigate around that transition, the herd is waiting to hold you in this space.
Why Horses?
Horses can be a symbol for many things for us, each person and individual perhaps has their own meaning of what horses can be for them and what they feel called to.
For us, the way that we describe the space of horses and their medicine is here.
Horses give us a connection and access point to a place in ourselves that holds our wisdom. When we are with horses, we have to occupy ourselves in ways we don’t need to with humans.
They are a safe space for us to be witnessed because horses hold no judgements of who we are. They don't carry a bias or agenda for us, they simply offer their presence to us to be seen, and that is deep and potent medicine.
Horses also give us a mirror of what it feels like to have a spirit held in a body. Horses are both mystical and ethereal in their presence while holding a deeply grounded presence in their body. We also hold both, and sometimes those two parts of us are at odds.
Being in the space of the horses helps us to know how to hold ourselves as human beings, both the spirit and soul of who we are and the physical experience that we are walking.
We learn how to embrace both aspects of self, and not bypass either. With horses, we are given a frequency and mirror of what it feels like to hold both.
Horses and their medicine also give us a true mirror so we can witness what is within us that has to shift, what dysfunction we are carrying and where we need to see a new way of being.
When a message is delivered by a horse we are more receptive to it because we are not protecting ourselves from the baggage of another human, and being able to be receptive to what we are holding internally and how it is serving us is how we are able to shift and move on from what has kept us stuck or in patterns that feel challenging to us.
However you feel called to horses and their medicine, whether that is a knowing or something that is in the unconscious, these retreats will reveal to you why horses are calling you and what is waiting for you in their wisdom.
If you have an innate knowing that horses and their teaching and wisdom are showing up for you in this stage of the journey, this is a beautiful retreat to immerse yourself into that space and what they have for you.
The Uniqueness of our retreats
What is unique about the space we hold with our herd is that we get to journey in a herd that lives as horses are meant to, free, with space and without our agenda that we impose onto them.
We facilitate our retreats with the horses in the lead, guiding us and showing us where we need to be. We go into their space and we learn how to speak their language and look to the horses to be our guides and our teachers.
There is no manipulation or agenda that is carried by myself or those who come here. We are moving beyond where we need to have control and we trust in the space of the herd and what they wish to show us.
We journey with a herd of 29 wise equine teachers that live on 80 acres, where we come into space with them and allow them to show us what we need to witness and whose medicine we need to sit with.
Each horse, and also the herd as a collective, carries their own unique medicine and wisdom. When we allow the horses to lead, we elevate their intelligence and ability to read energy better than we do as humans. They know exactly who needs which energy and it is practice to of deep trust and also the potency of learning how to witness the magic of horses and their wisdom and how they share their medicine.
If you don’t have horse experience, we teach you how to be with horses safely, how to read their body language and understand their messaging.
If you know horses, you get to be immersed with them in perhaps a new way, where you see them as guides and teachers and learn how to read the space around them, listen to their intuitive messages and find a new way of being in partnership with the horses.
What are the places of wisdom
the horses hold?
We can never predict what is going to be uncovered in a retreat before the arrival of the women who join us.
This is because of the simplicity of the horse’s response to the energy in the moment. There is no pre-planning or pretending we know exactly what will show up because each group brings their own energy.
There is trust in knowing that what you carry as your intention for a retreat will be answered as the herd reflects the energy both of the individuals and collective who come to journey with us and the herd.
This year we felt called to deeply hold and be in the space of transition and how to hold it. In that space this is what we can receive from the herd.
How to honor our cycles and rhythms and walk in the bridging space around transition.
Learning how to hold boundaries and create sacred space for ourselves as we journey.
Creating a deeper connection to our inner wisdom and intuition and how to learn how to trust that wisdom as we walk with the transition that is showing itself to us.
Learning how to honor the cycle of rest and how to receive and call that into our lives.
Regulating our nervous system and creating new neuron pathways in our system that are more functional and supportive of our energy.
Finding the source of our inner leadership and power and how to cultivate and nurture a connection with that part of ourselves.
Sourcing out the place of forgiveness, holding space for ourselves and others in a way that truly honors who we are. This is such an important space for us as we walk with transition in our lives.
Knowing the way forward on our chosen path of purpose and having confidence that the next path will show itself.
How to walk gracefully into the unknown and trust where it will lead us.
Each retreat has a unique blueprint of which horses show up to guide us, what themes emerge and the horses know for each group of women exactly what wisdom and medicine is required for the collective and the individual.
As part of our retreat, you will deepen into:
Understanding the language of horses and how to interpret it.
Knowing the voice of your own intuition and how to seek it out.
Cultivating practices and rituals that empower your own inner space of existence and nurture the voice of clarity and wisdom from within.
Receiving the space you need to be held, as women we are often holding so deeply for others, that we need to know what it feels like to be held.
Grounding into the wisdom of the herd and the land and carrying that energy forward to you in your life as you need it.
If you are a woman who is feeling that you need:
Support during a transition you find yourself currently in and the strength to navigate it.
Clarity on your path of purpose and how to walk forward in it.
Healing of your nervous system and a space of support where you can be held and receive the medicine that is seeking you.
Stronger practice of holding self, knowing your rhythms, intuition and how to empower that space.
Or you are simply feeling that call and knowing that you need to journey with the horses and their medicine.
This retreat is for you.
What People Are Saying:
“I've been privileged enough to visit Hillary and her herd at Epona Rise 2 times in the past 7 years and both times I was deeply nourished and held by the medicine of what I needed. One thing that immediately comes to mind as I write this is the level of consistency and reliability that Hillary offers. I first spent time with her 7 years ago and life took me in a different direction, only to return to her 7 years later, and honestly- I felt like so much of what was originally there was still there. And not in a bad way at all. In the most supportive and magical way. Hillary has clearly found her calling and the land that she calls home and invites others to is a sacred space. There are not a lot of people out there who are doing what Hillary is doing in the way that Hillary is doing it. I don't actually know anyone that is. She really nurtures the space for the wildness and authenticity of the herd (and whoever comes to visit) while also creating safety and a loose structure to be held by. Something that I notice each time I've come to visit Hillary is that she really allows space for what needs to show up or emerge to come. She is not a micro-manager by any means- and she really owns the space that she stands as a guide, teacher, and space holder. This is deeply reflected in the herd- how safe and supported they feel, despite what their previous stories or journeys might've been. To run a space like that and support a herd like that takes a lot of wisdom, mastery, and confidence. And the land itself is just so beautiful. There is not a lot 'to be done' when you are on retreat there, and the more you lean into being and listening- the deeper the medicine will take you. I'm just waiting to return!”
— Chloe E.
“My experience at Epona Rise was spectacular! Through Hillary’s intuitive and expert guidance, my time spent with the horses was rejuvenating, insightful and peaceful. The “horse medicine” that she taught me helped me process my own journey and personal thoughts and issues I had going on. Hillary made me feel safe and in good hands physically and emotionally allowing me to explore and grow personally. She spends some time in the beginning teaching safety around the horses which is really important for both the people and the animals and carries through the rest of the retreat. The structure of the retreat was a good balance of time spent with the horses, reflecting as a group and downtime. Hillary is also flexible in that she adjusts according to the needs of the group on a particular day.
The horses are well cared for and were a calming presence for me. The horse fields an and surrounding mountains and nature are simply breathtaking. The accommodations are clean and maintained with modern amenities. Being a city girl from New York, it was a good mix for me of feeling part of nature but not “roughing it”.
— E.G.
“My experience at Epona Rise Retreat Center was phenomenal. I went for a Women Who Run with Horses Retreat and it was everything I was hoping for and more. Hillary was great with details about my stay and so very accommodating. The cabins are so ideal idyllic and comfortable. The lodge is beautiful, clean, and very homey. Our meals were outstanding and the staff was so very friendly! It is situated on the most beautiful land and is an easy drive from Kamloops. The content of my retreat was just what my soul needed. The horses there are so majestic and therapeutic. The land itself I believe has healing power with its vistas and creek. I would highly recommend Epona Rise Retreats to anyone looking for a great experience!”
— AManda Parish
What is included in a retreat:
4 nights in a private cabin for your stay (we include an extra night of accommodation for your travel needs)
3 days to immerse yourself in the space of our herd and land.
Healthy and Vibrant Catered Meals
Shuttle to and from the ranch.
Our retreats are small and intimate gatherings so we are able to tend to both the group needs and also each individual woman that is seeking us out.
2024 Retreat Dates:
July 5th - 7th 2024
September 6th - 8th, 2024
Investment:
$1750 CAD + Tax
We are always happy to create a custom payment plan that extends past retreat attendance. If you feel called to this retreat and require a custom or extended payment plan, please get in touch and we are happy to set that up for you.
$500 non-refundable deposit is due to hold your space (you can forward your deposit to any future retreat date if you can’t make the current retreat date)
Custom extended payment plans can be created as you need them. Once you claim a space we will be in touch with next steps and create a payment plan that feels supportive for you.
*Retreat investment is final and non refundable. If you are not able to make the retreat, you are able to forward the investment to future retreat experiences.*
