Equine Intuitive Awareness Retreats

Healing Journeys
with NIHI’s Horse Whisperer

As part of our celebrations for the Year of the Fire Horse, NIHI Sumba will offer two exclusive equine retreats on 23-28 April 2026 and 15-20 October 2026, led by our horse whisperer Carol.

Inspired by ancient wisdom and sacred practices, these extraordinary five-day journeys include one-to-one equine healing sessions, cultural immersion and group activities with our majestic Sandalwood horses – revered for their intuitive guidance and powerful healing presence.

Brochure

DOWNLOAD

Overview

Growing up on a horse property in South Australia, Carol has always felt an intrinsic bond with horses. Embracing the challenge of working with Sumba’s beautiful yet untamed Sandalwood horses, Carol established our Sandalwood Stables over a decade ago. During this journey, Carol honed her skills in nonverbal communication, energy reading and healing, forming deep connections with the horses and the community. Her equine healing sessions have had a profound impact on guests, helping them to grow, heal and connect.

The Intuitive Awareness Retreats perfectly synergize with the spirit of NIHI and the animist beliefs of the island. Sumba’s ancient but living religion, Marapu, centres on the balance between the spirit world, humans and nature – including the island’s unique Sandalwood horses. As well as healing sessions, NIHI’s equine wellness experiences include reiki, yoga and massage, all harnessing the powerful healing presence of horses. Each experience offers a path to the transformative, healing power that flows from these majestic animals.

One-to-one equine-guided healing session with Carol, NIHI’s horse whisperer.
Energetic awareness and somatic practices inspired by Sumba’s natural elements.
Cultural immersion rooted in the island’s ancestral horse traditions.
Grounding rituals, yoga, oceanfront rides and NIHI’s signature Spa Safari.

Equine retreats with Carol are for everyone, all ages and for horseriders / non-horseriders, educational and spiritual, focused on healing, growth, and connection with both horses and self.

Group Retreat
Shared Transformational Experience With A Small, Intimate Group.
$4,000++ price per person for five days.

* Retreat price does not include accommodation at NIHI Sumba.
** Prices are in USD and subject to a 21% tax and service charge.

Places are limited. Our reservations team can assist with availability and next steps toward confirmation. Full program details will follow.

SECURE YOUR PLACE

“I was looking to connect with animals, and specifically horses, as they had always held intrigue for me. When I discovered NIHI’s equine therapy retreat I was both curious and a little apprehensive as I’ve always been slightly scared of horses, but Carol made me feel instantly safe. We were invited to simply be with the herd, to observe, to listen, and to understand. I learned how horses mirror us, how they honour boundaries, and how powerful it is to build a connection before asking anything of them. It was deeply moving. What made this even more special was working with Carol, who knows each horse by name, by story, by spirit – many from birth. You don’t return from NIHI the same. You return with a deeper understanding of yourself, of nature, and of the quiet strength in just being. This is not something I have found in any other place in the world.”

– Baroness Rebecca Wedellsborg –
MAY 2025

Get in touch

For reservations or more information, please contact our

Travel Designers

E. [email protected]
W. +62 811 3821 2910

"*" indicates required fields

URL

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Name*

Email*

Phone*

Country of Residence*

Message

Nihigram

Early mornings on Sumba carry a quiet kind of magic. Before the island wakes, the ocean is calm, the surf rolls in slow rhythm.

Surfers paddle out to greet the first light while along the shoreline, @nihi’s beloved horses wander freely, enjoying the cool sand beneath their hooves before breaking into a gallop along the 2.5km stretch of wild coastline.

In these still moments, with only the sound of waves and hooves on sand, the spirit of the Edge of Wildness truly comes alive.
.
#nihigram by @mahaloxp @lauraalexandraam

92936

Open post by nihi with ID 17999191721735161

Early mornings on Sumba carry a quiet kind of magic. Before the island wakes, the ocean is calm, the surf rolls in slow rhythm.
Surfers paddle out to greet the first light while along the shoreline, @nihi’s beloved horses wander freely, enjoying the cool sand beneath their hooves before breaking into a gallop along the 2.5km stretch of wild coastline.
In these still moments, with only the sound of waves and hooves on sand, the spirit of the Edge of Wildness truly comes alive.
.
#nihigram by @mahaloxp @lauraalexandraam

WIN a 3 night stay at NIHI Sumba to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse.

One lucky winner and their guest will experience life on the Edge of Wildness, where horses roam the shoreline, mornings begin with the ocean, and every day feels a little untamed.

To enter:
• Follow @nihi
• Tag 2 friends in the comments
• Share this post to your story

Each comment counts as an additional entry.

Your escape to Sumba could be closer than you think. Closes 23:59 [GMT+8] on 30th April 2026. Full T&Cs available via the link in our bio.

44487862

Open post by nihi with ID 18173938774381376

WIN a 3 night stay at NIHI Sumba to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse.
One lucky winner and their guest will experience life on the Edge of Wildness, where horses roam the shoreline, mornings begin with the ocean, and every day feels a little untamed.
To enter:
• Follow @nihi
• Tag 2 friends in the comments
• Share this post to your story
Each comment counts as an additional entry.
Your escape to Sumba could be closer than you think. Closes 23:59 [GMT+8] on 30th April 2026. Full T&Cs available via the link in our bio.

Nothing can quite explain @nihi’s Spa Safari - a wellness journey like no other.

Five kilometres from the resort, the experience begins long before the first treatment. Travel by trek, horseback, or safari vehicle through villages and rolling hills until the landscape opens to a spa hidden between rice fields and the ocean.

Set across 100 acres of Nihioka, this is wellness shaped by nature. Design your own experience with open-air treatments that unfold across hours, carried by ocean breezes and guided by skilled hands. Open-fire meals, hidden coves, equine connections, and even a private villa stay are all part of the magic awaiting at NIHI Spa.

Swipe to follow the story, one page at a time.

45416

Open post by nihi with ID 18097265581788199

Nothing can quite explain @nihi’s Spa Safari - a wellness journey like no other.
Five kilometres from the resort, the experience begins long before the first treatment. Travel by trek, horseback, or safari vehicle through villages and rolling hills until the landscape opens to a spa hidden between rice fields and the ocean.
Set across 100 acres of Nihioka, this is wellness shaped by nature. Design your own experience with open-air treatments that unfold across hours, carried by ocean breezes and guided by skilled hands. Open-fire meals, hidden coves, equine connections, and even a private villa stay are all part of the magic awaiting at NIHI Spa.
Swipe to follow the story, one page at a time.

Listen to the soothing waves and behold the majesty of our horses run as you reconnect with yourself and the natural world at @nihi. Breathe in the serenity of a place where nature remains untamed with an inspiring yoga session on our oceanfront pavilion. Here you’re not just embracing moments of tranquil beauty, you’re letting your spirit roam wild and free.
.
#nihigram by @elinwarn

495583

Open post by nihi with ID 18241293544306085

Listen to the soothing waves and behold the majesty of our horses run as you reconnect with yourself and the natural world at @nihi. Breathe in the serenity of a place where nature remains untamed with an inspiring yoga session on our oceanfront pavilion. Here you’re not just embracing moments of tranquil beauty, you’re letting your spirit roam wild and free.
.
#nihigram by @elinwarn

Feel the ocean breeze as it filters through the palm trees and hoofprints are left along the shoreline. At @nihi, your days unfold with our herd never far from view. Whether they’re wandering past as you’re dining at Nio Beach Club or taking a dip in our infinity pool, you don’t need to go searching for the magic here. It finds you.

3703136

Open post by nihi with ID 18042010259740201

Feel the ocean breeze as it filters through the palm trees and hoofprints are left along the shoreline. At @nihi, your days unfold with our herd never far from view. Whether they’re wandering past as you’re dining at Nio Beach Club or taking a dip in our infinity pool, you don’t need to go searching for the magic here. It finds you.

Waking up at @nihi in the Year of the Fire Horse and seeing horses wander past your window and into your villa’s large private garden isn’t an everyday occurrence. It`s a sign. A reminder that unexpected moments are always possible, especially here. This is the kind of quiet magic that simply happens at NIHI Sumba and there is no better place to welcome the year ahead than on Sumba where horses are part of the island’s soul.

49615369

Open post by nihi with ID 18119025229613918

Waking up at @nihi in the Year of the Fire Horse and seeing horses wander past your window and into your villa’s large private garden isn’t an everyday occurrence. It's a sign. A reminder that unexpected moments are always possible, especially here. This is the kind of quiet magic that simply happens at NIHI Sumba and there is no better place to welcome the year ahead than on Sumba where horses are part of the island’s soul.

One of the most rewarding and heartfelt experiences at NIHI Sumba is visiting a local school with the Sumba Foundation tour. Through the tireless work of the @sumbafoundation, supported by @nihi, education, along with access to clean water and dedicated malaria clinics, has transformed daily life across the island.

Sitting in a classroom surrounded by eager students is a powerful reminder of why this work matters, and of the future it helps shape. Through school lunches, essential supplies, health and hygiene programs, English and computer classes, and scholarships, the foundation is opening doors that once felt out of reach.

As communities grow healthier, children are able to dream bigger and smile wider, and Sumba continues to prosper while preserving the traditions that make it so unique.

3758

Open post by nihi with ID 17878859847491310

One of the most rewarding and heartfelt experiences at NIHI Sumba is visiting a local school with the Sumba Foundation tour. Through the tireless work of the @sumbafoundation, supported by @nihi, education, along with access to clean water and dedicated malaria clinics, has transformed daily life across the island.
Sitting in a classroom surrounded by eager students is a powerful reminder of why this work matters, and of the future it helps shape. Through school lunches, essential supplies, health and hygiene programs, English and computer classes, and scholarships, the foundation is opening doors that once felt out of reach.
As communities grow healthier, children are able to dream bigger and smile wider, and Sumba continues to prosper while preserving the traditions that make it so unique.

Golden hour at @nihi isn’t just a beautiful sunset that you watch. It’s an experience that stays with you. Horses move along Nihiwatu’s shoreline, water buffalo stand quietly by the tide, and the culture of Sumba unfolds in its most natural setting. This is how a day comes to a close on the Edge of Wildness.

283497

Open post by nihi with ID 18116021617617010

Golden hour at @nihi isn’t just a beautiful sunset that you watch. It’s an experience that stays with you. Horses move along Nihiwatu’s shoreline, water buffalo stand quietly by the tide, and the culture of Sumba unfolds in its most natural setting. This is how a day comes to a close on the Edge of Wildness.

Experience a one-of-a-kind healing experience at NIHI Spa, where you can unwind under palm trees, lulled by ocean waves, and in the gentle presence of horses.

Retired horses now guide guests on a journey of connection and calm. This soulful equine massage is part of NIHI Spa’s Equine Wellness offering, alongside equine reiki and yoga. You can include this unique massage in your half or full day at NIHI Spa.

128752

Open post by nihi with ID 17964493509035963

Experience a one-of-a-kind healing experience at NIHI Spa, where you can unwind under palm trees, lulled by ocean waves, and in the gentle presence of horses.
Retired horses now guide guests on a journey of connection and calm. This soulful equine massage is part of NIHI Spa’s Equine Wellness offering, alongside equine reiki and yoga. You can include this unique massage in your half or full day at NIHI Spa.

In every corner of @nihi, magic unfolds. As morning light spills over the crescent hill and finds our wandering herd, a coffee arrives quietly to the breakfast table. While one gallops along 2.5 kilometres of untouched sand, another pauses and absorbs the calm of the vast Indian Ocean.

On the Edge of Wildness, days begin with adventure and stillness existing side by side.

3816106

Open post by nihi with ID 18057678656401348

Your Wishlist

Day 1

Enter Your Details

NIHI Sumba

NIHI Bali Office

Equine Intuitive Awareness Retreats

Healing Journeys
with NIHI’s Horse Whisperer