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 deliciously hot!), 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 rich 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.
"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 was 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 shape the way I connect with them 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
Early bird
Available until 17 December 2025
Group size
Small group setting to ensure personal guidance and space for every participant
What’s included
Applications are now open. After your application we will schedule a short intake call to make sure the retreat fits your intentions and experience.
Early bird: €2.728,–
available until 17 December 2025
Full price: €2.942,–
can be paid in full or in two installments
Three-part payment plan: Available upon request