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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.

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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

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Nihigram

Your day at NIHI begins with a little bit of magic. A refreshing morning swim, the sound of waves rolling in, and the sight of NIHI’s herd galloping freely along the shoreline below. Moments like these are part of daily life on the Edge of Wildness, where nature quietly sets the rhythm of the day.

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Your day at NIHI begins with a little bit of magic. A refreshing morning swim, the sound of waves rolling in, and the sight of NIHI’s herd galloping freely along the shoreline below. Moments like these are part of daily life on the Edge of Wildness, where nature quietly sets the rhythm of the day.

A short excursion from NIHI Sumba leads you to Coconut Cove, a quiet stretch of palm trees overlooking calm turquoise waters. The perfect setting for a gentle introduction to surfing, followed by slow moments by the sea and pizza fresh from the stone oven.

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A short excursion from NIHI Sumba leads you to Coconut Cove, a quiet stretch of palm trees overlooking calm turquoise waters. The perfect setting for a gentle introduction to surfing, followed by slow moments by the sea and pizza fresh from the stone oven.

The perfect spot to watch a sunset you’ll never forget, where the evenings feel a little wilder.
.
#nihigram by @lin_suree

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The perfect spot to watch a sunset you’ll never forget, where the evenings feel a little wilder. . #nihigram by @lin_suree

Venture along 2.5km of white sand on a morning beach ride, where the day begins with horses, ocean air, and an endless stretch of shoreline. With the sound of hooves meeting the rhythm of the waves, the ride follows the coast as the morning light rises over the palms.

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Venture along 2.5km of white sand on a morning beach ride, where the day begins with horses, ocean air, and an endless stretch of shoreline. With the sound of hooves meeting the rhythm of the waves, the ride follows the coast as the morning light rises over the palms.

Because dreams were never meant to live on paper.
They were meant to be lived.

Wake up to horses grazing, rolling green hills, and endless views of the Indian Ocean.

This is NIHI. Life on the Edge of Wildness.

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Because dreams were never meant to live on paper. They were meant to be lived. Wake up to horses grazing, rolling green hills, and endless views of the Indian Ocean. This is NIHI. Life on the Edge of Wildness.

Start your morning with a game of padel in paradise, where the ocean breeze lifts your spirit and the sound of waves sets the rhythm. At @nihi, play becomes poetry, moments of laughter, movement, and connection woven together on the Edge of Wildness. Here, padel is not just a game, but a love story shared with nature, family, and friends.

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Start your morning with a game of padel in paradise, where the ocean breeze lifts your spirit and the sound of waves sets the rhythm. At @nihi, play becomes poetry, moments of laughter, movement, and connection woven together on the Edge of Wildness. Here, padel is not just a game, but a love story shared with nature, family, and friends.

Under the New Moon at @nihi, we gather in a calm, sacred setting where the mind softens and the body unwinds. Listen to the gentle rhythm of waves rolling onto Nihiwatu Beach, while our horses wander quietly along the shoreline. Take a moment to set intentions for the cycle ahead, and create space for what’s ready to come.

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Under the New Moon at @nihi, we gather in a calm, sacred setting where the mind softens and the body unwinds. Listen to the gentle rhythm of waves rolling onto Nihiwatu Beach, while our horses wander quietly along the shoreline. Take a moment to set intentions for the cycle ahead, and create space for what’s ready to come.

Raw beauty, untamed adventure, and moments that stay with you forever. Welcome to @nihi. A place that stays with you long after you’ve left. Experience the magic in the spaces between nature and luxury. A retreat from the modern world out on the Edge of Wildness.

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Raw beauty, untamed adventure, and moments that stay with you forever. Welcome to @nihi. A place that stays with you long after you’ve left. Experience the magic in the spaces between nature and luxury. A retreat from the modern world out on the Edge of Wildness.

Today was Pasola Gaura in Sumba. Once a year, the island’s ancient traditions come vividly to life as villages gather for Pasola, one of Sumba’s most powerful and sacred rituals. From @nihi, guests have the rare opportunity to witness this extraordinary cultural event.

Riders charge across the field on horseback, hurling wooden spears in a dramatic contest between rival villages. The spectacle is intense, fast paced, and deeply symbolic.

For the Sumbanese, Pasola is far more than competition. It is believed that when blood touches the earth during the battle, it blesses the land and ensures a prosperous rice harvest for the season ahead.

A tradition centuries old, Pasola remains one of the most extraordinary cultural experiences in Indonesia.

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Today was Pasola Gaura in Sumba. Once a year, the island’s ancient traditions come vividly to life as villages gather for Pasola, one of Sumba’s most powerful and sacred rituals. From @nihi, guests have the rare opportunity to witness this extraordinary cultural event. Riders charge across the field on horseback, hurling wooden spears in a dramatic contest between rival villages. The spectacle is intense, fast paced, and deeply symbolic. For the Sumbanese, Pasola is far more than competition. It is believed that when blood touches the earth during the battle, it blesses the land and ensures a prosperous rice harvest for the season ahead. A tradition centuries old, Pasola remains one of the most extraordinary cultural experiences in Indonesia.

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Aerial view of Raja Mandaka, Chris Burch’s private villa at NIHI Sumba, overlooking the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and the resort’s 2.5 km stretch of white sand beach, surrounded by lush tropical greenery

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