In April 2026 we return to the heart of South Africa for the Nomadic Horsemanship Retreat. A clinic meets retreat: a learning space to explore deeper ways of communication, timing, and feel with horses through guided, practical experience, while being invited to slow down, be present and return to a more natural rhythm of living.
This retreat is for people with a beautiful foundation in horsemanship who want to deepen their seeing, being, and training, and become aware of the subtle details that truly matter to horses. Through herd observations, bonding rituals, true liberty, mutual communication, training with consent, and trail walks through nature, we explore what it means to build a partnership that feels good for both horse and human.
You will learn the Innerbloom Horsemanship approach in a hands-on, experiential way through both theory and practical sessions. Each day, nature and the horses lead the way, inviting you to be present, observe, and reconnect with what partnership truly means.
The Holistic Horse Herd
The retreat takes place in collaboration with the Holistic Horse Farm in South Africa, where a free-roaming herd lives on 130 hectares of nature reserve. Seniors, youngsters, and horses with stories, each living in their true authenticity and carrying their own wisdom to share. Each participant will be paired with one horse to learn from and to build connection and partnership with throughout the retreat.
The Facilities
During the retreat you will live back-to-basic, embracing a more natural way of living. Accommodation is offered in safari- or glamping tents with comfortable beds. The shower and bath are outdoors (and wonderfully warm!), eco friendly and water-wise compost toilets, and a shared space to gather for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You might want to start your morning with a walk through nature, take a swim in the river during the day, or sit quietly under the Milky Way in the evening. This environment invite you into a more natural lifestyle: slowing down, living in rhythm with the land and the horses.
The Daily Flow
The retreat offers a blend of deepening theory, shared stories, new perspectives on horsemanship, and guided practical sessions that cover the Nomadic Horsemanship Program. Each day unfolds naturally, guided by the herd and the weather. There is plenty of time and space to integrate and reflect, to slow down, to enjoy nature, and be present. The days are filled with learning, yet calm in pace, allowing both humans and horses to integrate and rest in between sessions.
What it’s not
This is not an equine-assisted personal development program, although personal insights and growth often happen naturally along the way. It is not about fixing yourself or the horses. It is about learning to become a student of the horse, developing new insights and skills that every horse you meet afterwards will benefit from.
"Back home I jumped into a training weekend and got so many compliments about my work with Eve. My trainer was amazed by my softness and open mind. Working with Eve felt great. She checked in with me a lot, and I felt complete trust in her. Something that wasn’t there before. Thank you for your lessons."
—
Mia
Participant 2025
"Everything I teach during the Nomadic Horsemanship Retreat comes from what the horses have taught me.
Through decades of working with my own horses and many training horses, I’ve learned that true partnership is built on mutual understanding. It’s less about training and more about how we step into the relationship.
The foundation of the lessons I share I first discovered intuitively as a child, guided by my horses themselves. Lessons that made a huge impact on becoming part of the herd, and that still shapes the way I connect with horses today. Countless hours spent observing domestic herds living freely in the wild landscapes of South Africa, Namibia and the Netherlands have deepened that understanding. They showed me natural horse behaviour and how much of it we can bring into our horsemanship. How they communicate, connect, and maintain harmony within the herd continues to inspire everything I do.
During the retreat I’ll share these lessons with you: from observing herd dynamics to experiencing the bonding rituals that shaped my work, from true liberty to training with consent, and finally exploring trail walks and adventures that deepen equal partnership."
—
Loes van Dijk
We make sure you experience the full Nomadic Horsemanship Program during the ten days, including both theory and practical sessions. Although, there is no fixed schedule. Our days follow the rhythm of the weather, the land, and the horses. Each moment unfolds naturally, guided by what the herd, the environment, and the group bring to the day.
We start with learning from the herd dynamics. Through observation and presence you will learn to recognise body language, patterns of connection, and the subtle ways horses communicate. You will start to read not just what happens, but why it happens, how intention and energy ripple through the group.
This is where understanding begins. You will learn to see horses as they truly are: sensitive, social, and deeply aware beings. Every gesture and every interaction tells a story about connection, trust, safety, and relationship.
From observing the herd, we step into connecting with the horses. Through bonding rituals and true liberty, you will explore how to build trust without pressure or expectation, guided by curiosity, rhythm, and presence.
True liberty is a space where your horse is free to express, respond, and share ideas, free to join you, and free to opt out. You will learn to understand when to move closer, when to give space, and how to listen when your horse speaks through movement, body language, breath, or stillness. This is where horses invite you into their world.
As connection deepens we begin to explore training with consent and develop mutual communication skills. You will learn how to train while keeping the conversation with your horse alive, guiding your horse to your ideas while staying open to their feedback and curiosity.
We work with the principles of intention, feel, clarity, and timing, how to make an idea clear without force, how to invite instead of demand, and how to keep emotional safety and partnership at the core of everything you do. You will experience what it means to lead and be led, to adjust energy, and to communicate in a way that builds confidence and willingness for both of you.
Everything we have explored comes to life here. You will take your partnership out into nature on horsemanship walks through wilderness, along sandy riversides, through aloe fields, and across rugged trails. This is experiential learning in its purest form.
You will face new situations together and your horse will show you where you can grow. Every step is an opportunity to deepen your feel, awareness, and timing. Moving through the ancient landscapes is where you discover what it means to move through challenges together, learning to become a true partner to your horse.
Integration is an essential part of the journey. Learning settles when there is space to rest, to breathe, or to step away completely.
Every day there is time to slow down, to journal, to read, or to simply be and enjoy the simplicity of life. Moments of stillness, naps in the shade, swims in the river, and quiet evenings under the stars create balance for learning and integration. During the retreat there will be at least one full day dedicated to rest and integration.
"During these ten days I will share a way of working with horses rooted in awareness, softness, and mutual understanding. A journey guided by the wisdom of the herd, where we slow down, become present, and rediscover true connection with horses and with nature.
You will leave with a deeper sense of mutual partnership and the confidence to continue growing with horses, long after the retreat has ended."
—
Loes van Dijk
Dates
17 to 26 April 2026
Arrival on 16 April, departure on 27 April
Location
The Holistic Horse Farm, Herbertsdale, South Africa
Language
English
Group size
Small group setting to ensure personal guidance and space for every participant
What’s included
Investment
Full price: €2.942,–
can be paid in full or in two installments
Three-part payment plan: Available upon request
Applications are now open. After your application we will schedule a short intake call to make sure the retreat fits your intentions and experience.
We know a retreat in South Africa feels like a big decision. Here are the questions we hear most often, answered honestly.
Travelling to South Africa
Both Johannesburg and Cape Town are great entry points into South Africa.
If you’re joining the retreat directly, we recommend flying via Johannesburg (the airport is called OR Tambo International Airport) as there are more frequent domestic connections to George, which makes the journey smoother.
If you’re planning to travel around South Africa before or after the retreat, just book what fits your travel plans best.
The journey is much more manageable than it might seem at first glance. There are two main options depending on where you fly from:
Overnight flight (for example via Zurich or Paris)
You fly through the night and arrive at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport in the morning. It’s a 10 to 11 hour flight. From there, a short domestic flight of about 1.5 hours takes you directly to George Airport, where we will pick you up.
Day flight (for example via Amsterdam)
You fly during the day (around 11 hours) and arrive at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport in the evening. In that case we recommend booking one night at a nearby lodge or hotel, where a driver will pick you up from the airport. The next morning you continue by domestic flight to George (1.5 hour flight), where we will pick you up.
The day flight is our personal favourite, since it gives a relaxed travel schedule. We have good recommendations for lodges near Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport and are happy to help you figure out the best route from wherever you’re travelling.
Many of our participants come alone and say it’s one of the best decisions they made. We select our group on people with the same mindset and values when it comes to horses.
From a logistics perspective, you’re never navigating it all alone. We’re here to help and are there for you if questions come up.
If you’d like a familiar face when you land in Johannesburg, we can arrange for one of us to travel there and meet you at OR Tambo International Airport to help you navigate or get to your accommodation. This is available for an additional fee.
And if you’d like to travel with someone else from the group, we’re happy to connect you with other participants so you can share the journey.
No, and this is one of the most pleasant surprises for people travelling from Europe. South Africa is in the same time zone as most of Europe (UTC+2), so there is no jet lag to deal with. You arrive, you settle in, and you’re fit to join the retreat.
April is South African autumn, warm and golden, typically 20 to 25°C during the day, cooler in the mornings and evenings. One of the most beautiful times to be in the Garden Route.
Safety
It’s a fair question and we want to answer it honestly. South Africa is a big and diverse country, and like anywhere, some areas require more awareness than others. Our location is in the Garden Route, between Mossel Bay and Stilbaai (very touristic in the summer) in a quiet and safe part of South Africa. The farm is remote, and the few neighbours in the area all know each other well.
From the moment you land at George Airport, you’re met and taken care of. You spend the retreat within the rhythm of the farm and the group. For any travel through larger cities along the way, the same common sense applies as anywhere in the world: keep your belongings close, be aware of your surroundings, stay in well-reviewed accommodation.
We’re happy to help you plan your travel, so you arrive feeling prepared and at ease.
Mossel Bay and George both have good hospitals within reach of the farm. We recommend taking out travel insurance with medical coverage, standard practice for any international trip.
The retreat
This is not your common natural horsemanship course. This retreat is designed for people with a solid foundation in horsemanship who are ready to go deeper, learn to see patterns and read the horse’s body language, and how to apply these insights into our horsemanship. You’ll discover a deeper layer of being with horses and different ways to become a partner for your horse.
If you’re unsure whether it’s the right fit, just reach out. We schedule a short intake conversation with every applicant anyway and are happy to answer all your questions.
Are you just starting out with horses or natural horsemanship? Please reach out too. If there's enough interest, we'd love to organise a retreat with a programme specially designed for those at the beginning of their journey with horses.
The Holistic Horse Farm is in the Garden Route, near Herbertsdale, a little village between Mossel Bay and Stilbaai. This area is quite touristic in summer and we can tell why: the ocean breeze is amazing and nature is gorgeous. The farm itself is a bit further inland and has a unique microclimate.
It’s remote and unhurried, exactly the kind of place where you can actually slow down.
You’re in South Africa, so why not make the most of it? Here are a few things we love about the region and beyond.
Safari and the Big Five
South Africa is home to some of the world’s most iconic wildlife. On a safari game drive, you have the chance to spot the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. All living wild in their natural habitat. But the wildlife doesn’t stop there: expect zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, and hippos roaming freely across vast and breathtaking landscapes.
We’re happy to share our recommendations with you.
Stilbaai
Just a short drive from the farm, Stilbaai is a laid-back surfers’ village with beautiful beaches, shops, bars and restaurants. It’s the perfect place for those who love the ocean, go surfing, snorkeling. A perfect way to unwind before or after the retreat.
The Little Karoo
A little further inland, the Little Karoo is a semi-arid region of wide open landscapes, dramatic mountain passes, and a character entirely its own. Dry, ancient, and endlessly spacious, a very different world from the lush Garden Route coast, and absolutely worth a detour.
The Garden Route
The Garden Route gets its name from the lush, almost tropical vegetation that stretches along the southern Cape coast: indigenous forests, rivers, lakes, and lagoons meeting a dramatic and ever-changing coastline. It’s one of South Africa’s most celebrated regions, and once you’re here, it’s easy to understand why.
Whether you’re looking for a backpacking adventure or a more luxurious stay, we’re happy to share our local recommendations and insider tips for wherever the journey takes you.