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 Sharpe.

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 Sharpe 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 Sharpe, 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.

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“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