Practicing connection with horses & humans
Growing Edge Equine*imity
feel the shift in yourself, with horses!
What if joy with children was the norm?
Experience hands-on, equine-assisted, embodied re-learning of how we show up in relationships; with ourselves, our parters, and our children.
Feel this shift in the presence of horses! Practice new skills where there is no judgment, and you have the space to grow into your truest self.
- For parents, caregivers, educators, and professionals who work with children
- Supports personal and professional development through self-reflection, inner healing and growth
- Attachment Theory, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Brain Development, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Resilience, Self-Determination Theory, Self-Directed Education, Natural Horsemanship, and much more!
- Self-awareness, Co-Regulation, Social Emotional Learning, Self-Compassion, Nonviolent Communication, Perspective Taking, Conflict Resolution, Collaborative & Proactive Solutions, and so much more!
At a glance...
- In-person multi day educational retreats in the woods of Northern Vermont
- Equine-assisted experiential learning offering non-riding activities with horses and mini donkeys
- Intentionally small cohorts of 4-8 participants creates space for a more personalized, authentic, & deeply connected experience
- 6 hours/day of content, including horse activities and reflective group conversations
- Built-in time for integration, rest, and community building each day
- Room and board provided onsite
- 3 live zoom meetings over the following six months to answer questions and support integration
Logistics
who & what
- Children deserve to be treated in a way that honors their full dignity and worth as human beings regardless of their age.
- Relationship is our goal. We prioritize connection, care, collaboration, mutual respect, and trust in our interactions.
- We shed the "power over" paradigm for one of "power with".
- We are willing to question and unpack cultural conditioning around expectations, time, shame, worth, value, learning, and peoples' roles in society.
- We are all interdependent and interconnected!
- We embrace a Growth Mindset and focus our attention on seeing unexpected opportunities.
- We intentionally cultivate the internal resources and external supports to build resilience in the face of life's challenges.
- We commit to slowing down and building in moments for reflection throughout our days, to deepen our understanding of ourselves and others.
- We believe that everyone (including ourselves!) are doing the best they can in every given moment, and practice compassion for ourselves and others.
- We lean to view all behavior as a form of communication, not manipulation. We become detectives for the underlying needs.
- We practice self awareness and compassion.
- We develop practices for real & deep self care: mind, body, and spirit.
- We learn strategies for supporting our brains and nervous systems when they are stressed beyond their limits.
- We name our values and bring our actions into alignment so we can grow beyond surviving and thrive!
- We develop communication patterns and tools to address conflict in ways that meet everyone's needs and preserve (actually strengthen!) connection in our relationships!
Small & personalized In-Person educational nature-based Retreats in northern vermont: equine-assisted learning for parents and educators!
$850 per day
~~includes room and board~~
payment plans & scholarships available
we'd love to work with you, please reach out!
- Six hours of content a day -- Equine activities and reflective discussions from 9:00am to 12:15pm and 2:15pm to 5:30pm daily.
- Two hours of built-in integration time each day -- We know learning new ideas can feel overwhelming; enjoy a nap, quiet walk in the forest, or networking with your fellow participants over a two hour lunch break from 12:15 to 2:15 each day.
- Horse and donkey activities -- All equine activities are ground-based (non-riding) and may include: guided observations, demonstrations, mindful grooming, conscious approaching and early connections, relationship building and communication through energy and body language, as well as haltering and leading through simple patterns. We may pair up and role play as horses, to gain perspective and deeper insights through verbal feedback.
- Reflective discussions -- Following each activity we will reflect upon observations made and engage in group discussions to draw connections between our experiences with the horses and our relationships with ourselves and our loved ones. We may watch educational videos to deepen our understanding of the science behind our practices.
- Homemade meals -- Communal meals over lunch and dinner. Make-your-own breakfast, options provided. Vegetarian and gluten free options available with every meal.
- Lodging onsite -- Bunkhouse style in our family's cabin.
- Handouts -- Packets with informational handouts, guided reflective worksheets, and extensive resource lists provided.
- Follow-up meetings -- Three 90 minute group zoom meetings will be scheduled over the following six months, to provide support as you integrate what you learned into real life situations.
How it works
What we'll cover
- Live fully in the present moment
- Are honest, authentic, and congruent
- Communicate primarily non-verbally
- Are highly attuned to energy and their environment
- Have a large electromagnetic heart field
- Provide immediate, objective & non-judgmental feedback through their relational responses to us
- Require us to be present, honest, grounded, and clear in our interactions
- Are sentient beings with their own experience, history, and emotions
why horses?
we learn from horses...
- Body (somatic) awareness
- Emotional awareness
- Awareness of our environment
- Self-regulation
- Co-regulation
- Presence & emotional congruence
- Clear and compassionate communication
- Perspective taking and awareness of others' experiences/needs
- Communication through body language and energy
- Clarity, goal setting, and follow-through
- Healthy boundaries
- Reflection and problem solving
- Creative thinking
- Self confidence
- Addressing ruptures and repairing relationships
- Building mutually trusting and respectful relationships
Horses are amazing guides because they...
Drawing the Parallels with children...
- Both horses and young humans have a heightened attunement to the emotional and energetic state of those around them, particularly their primary caregivers
- Both horses and young humans experience the world with more present moment awareness; their systems are less cluttered with concerns for the future or past than an adult's
- Both horses and young humans have an underdeveloped (or nonexistent) frontal lobe of the neocortex. This is the part of the brain in charge of executive functioning skills such as: abstract thinking, reasoning, planning, and goal-oriented behavior.
- This means that both horses and young humans are biologically incapable of willful plotting, manipulation, or deceit.
- Increased ability to notice, name, and navigate your emotions and somatic sensations
- An introductory knowledge of the brain and nervous system
- Understand the importance of rhythm in regulating your, and your child's, brain and body
- Proactive & in-the-moment practices to ground yourself and come into regulation
- Experience the process of co-regulation as both the recipient and the provider
- Explore self-care practices to proactively resource yourself
- Practice reframing situations and using curious and open language
- Unpack what it feels like in your body to set healthy boundaries, and practice setting them
- Learn to read body language and non-verbal signals
- Practice active listening and perspective taking
- Recognize and honor your own emotions and needs
- Tune into the wisdom of your body & recognize your emotions as valuable messengers
- Develop skills for clear & compassionate communication
- Build a tool belt for the tough moments: learn proactive strategies to prevent common areas of tension & conflict, develop skills for in-the-moment conflict resolution, and explore restorative practices that support reflection, repair, and growth beyond the conflict
What Knowledge & skills Will You Come Away With?
You will walk away with a greater trust in your instincts and a deeper understanding of the science behind them, practices for proactively resourcing yourself to stay grounded, skills for healthy communication and boundaries, and tools for navigating conflict with care and connection
a view from our farm
Want to get a feel for our community first?
Join us for our free monthly virtual chats! Two hours of informal space to connect and engage in thoughtful discussions on what it means to truly understand and trust our children, and ourselves!
Settle into this cozy space with a special mug & your favorite tea.
The third Saturday of every month, 7:00 to 9:00 pm eastern time.
Contact us for details.
Free Monthly Communi-Tea Chats
Our fee covers direct retreat expenses, including animal care, lodging, the ingredients for meals, and any handouts or supplemental materials we provide. It also covers both facilitators’ preparation time, retreat hours, and the three follow-up calls. We are both highly committed lifelong learners and we also intentionally invest in our own continual personal and professional development.
We accept payment plans and are happy to work with you to craft a payment plan that supports the needs of everyone involved.
We understand that this price point may be outside of some peoples’ ability right now, and there is no judgment in that. If you believe this retreat would greatly benefit you and your family, please reach out. We have a limited number of scholarships available, and we are happy to talk with you about what would make a retreat experience possible for you at this moment in time.
If you feel moved to contribute to the scholarship fund, donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and will go directly to providing retreat experiences at a reduced rate. Thank you!
A note on our pricing
Intrigued but want a vibe check? Let’s talk!
I offer free one hour long connection calls via Zoom.
This is a space for us to get to know each other and see if working together would be a good fit.
Click the button below to send me an email with your name, general location in the world, and a sentence or two about your family and your goals.
I will reply within 72 hours to schedule your call.
Free One Hour connection calls with Halie
Are you feeling called to join a supportive cohort of caring individuals as together we question cultural norms, release patterns of frustration, shame, and judgment, and step into authentic presence, peace and joy?
To immerse yourself in the quite beauty of nature, build community, discover resources, and learn with the most adorable horses and miniature donkeys ever?
To reflect and reparent yourself while being held in a community of like-minded people?
To experience this shift alongside others equally committed to raising thriving kids who know that they are intrinsically worthy, respected, and loved unconditionally?
To expand your tool belt for supporting kids who are free to explore, discover, and follow their own unique paths as they grow into caring, confident, and conscientious members of their communities?
This is your invitation. Let's Grow Together!
We can't wait to meet you!
We Would Love For You To Join Us!
FAQs
We are located only 45 minutes north of the popular vacation town of Stowe VT, we are just off VT Route 100, and only 25 minutes from I-91. We are 1 hour and 15 minutes from the Burlington International Airport, and only 30 minutes from the Canadian border. We are approximately 4 hours from Boston, 6.5 from NYC, and 2.5 from Montreal.
We are located in rural northern Vermont, so there is no public transportation such as buses or taxies. We are easy to reach by car, and you can rent a car near any airport you may fly into. While these are country roads, you can arrive without leaving paved roads.
While these retreats are designed for adults, if your child (children) would feel comfortable joining our group activities/discussions without causing disruptions (and depending on the comfort of other participants in sharing their personal journeys in the presence of young folks) we may be able to accommodate them. If another trusted adult would be interested in coming to spend time with the kids, we have extensive and easy walking trails in our forest, and local hikes and adventures they could go on. Jay Peak Resort is only 20 minutes away, and they have extensive kid-friendly activities.
No, our retreats do not provide therapy and we are not licensed therapists. We offer personal and professional development coaching, which does draw heavily from the same resources as mental health and therapeutic models.
If you are interested in bring multiple people to a retreat we may be able to offer a reduced rate depending on your needs. Please refer to our note on pricing for information on our sliding scale and scholarships. If you are interested in a private retreat, please reach out for details on events and rates.
Yes! If you would like to plan a custom retreat for your community or organization please reach out via email. We are happy to tailor content to your group's interests. We require a minimum of four (4) participants and will need to schedule your group around any preexisting retreats. We also offer private family retreats, please inquire for details.
No, but it may be considered on a case by case basis.
No, but we can work on select accommodations depending on your needs. The horse activities are in pastures and an arena which are generally flat, and easily accessible by car.
