The Retreat · South Africa · once a year
Ten days with the herd.
Living in the rhythm of the herd and the land, on 130 hectares of South African reserve. A free roaming herd, their own histories, their own wisdom, and what they show you about the relationship you carry home.
What it is
The land does the teaching.
This is not a clinic with a view. It is ten days inside the life of a free roaming herd, on open country, where the horses set the pace and the land does the teaching.
You watch, you walk among them, and slowly you learn to read what was always being said. What you find there, you carry home to the horse who waits for you.
A day on the reserve
How the days tend to run.
No two days are the same. The herd sets the pace, and we follow. A full itinerary to be shaped with Cornelia.
Carried by two of us
Built and carried equally with Cornelia Scholz of Holistic Horse Farm.
It runs once a year, and it is open to Pathways participants and to guests arriving from anywhere. You do not need to have trained with me to come. You need only to want to listen.
Your guides
Carried by two of us.
Loes van Dijk
Loes follows horses into open country, and works in freedom and consent: a return to origin. On the reserve she guides the reading of the herd, and the relationship you carry home.
Cornelia Scholz
Cornelia hosts the land and the free roaming herd, and carries the Retreat equally with Loes. Her full story and portrait, to add.
The practical
Everything you need to know.
Placeholder details · confirm what is and isn't included, plus travel.
Your stay
Sleep close to the herd.
Simple, comfortable rooms on the reserve, close to the horses and the open country. Farm meals at shared tables, and the deep quiet of the land at night.
Placeholder · real room options, board and details to be added.
Reserve your place
Once a year. A real date, a real place.
Dates to confirm
Ten days · once a year
€ 0.000
Full board included
Small group
Open now
Placeholder · send me the real dates and price and I will put them right here, where they belong.
Reserve your place →“Real, specific words from someone who came home changed go here, in their own voice.”
Before you reserve
Good questions.
No. In South Africa you join a free roaming herd who live there. The work is learning to read them, and to let yourself be read. What you learn, you carry home to your own horse.
No. Guests come from anywhere, at any level. You need curiosity and an open week, not a résumé. Pathways participants and complete newcomers sit side by side.
It is outdoor and unhurried. You walk on open ground and spend long hours with the herd, in the sun and the dust. Nothing is forced, and you set your own pace.
On reserving, we send the full practical details: the nearest airport, transfers to the reserve, and exactly what the ten days hold. Placeholder for now, real logistics to be added.
Retreat Australia.
A trek is taking shape for a future season, out in Australian country. Register your interest and you will be the first to hear when it is real.
Once a year
Come and meet the herd.
Tell me a little about you. I read every request myself, and Cornelia and I will hold you a place if it is right.